Development of new approach methods (NAMs) for pesticide risk assessment

Pesticides are widely used in agriculture to protect crops and increase yields. However, their overuse can lead to environmental pollution and health risks. Understanding how pesticides break down in the environment and within organisms is crucial for assessing their potential harm. To develop new computer modeling techniques to predict how pesticides degrade in the environment and within organisms. This will help us better understand the risks associated with pesticide use and develop strategies to minimize them. In this project, we will focus on two key degradation processes by: (1) studying how pesticides break down in the air and water, particularly at the interface between the two. (2) investigating how CYP enzymes in organisms, break down pesticides, especially those containing specific chemical groups. By using advanced computer simulations, we aim to predict how different pesticides will degrade in the environment and how environmental factors and chemical structural features will influence the transformation and kinetics of product formation. This research will contribute to a safer and more sustainable agricultural future by addressing the diverse transformation products from the active ingredients in pesticides products.

Faculty Supervisor:

Xianming Zhang

Student:

Partner:

Duy Tan University

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Environmental Science and Technology

University:

Concordia University

Program: