EFFECT ON PLANTS OF SULFADIMETHOXINE USED IN INTENSIVE FARMING (PANICUM-MILIACAUM, PISUM-SATIVUM AND ZEA-MAYS)

Animal wastes from intensive farming are generally collected for field fertilisation. They contain drugs that pollute soil. To evaluate the effect of sulphonamide contamination in terrestrial systems, sulphadimethoxine has been subjected to standardisable laboratory tests using seeds of Panicum miliaceum, Pisum sativum, and Zea mays. The drug alters normal post-germinative development and growth of roots, hypocotyls and leaves in the three species; this toxic effect depends on the bioaccumulation rate, and is higher for C-4 plants (Panicum and Zea) than for a C-3 plant (Pisum). The environmental risk of sludge application on soils and the possible contamination of food chains are discussed.