Potted garden pea grown in presence of pre-emergence herbicides: Impacts on soil enzymes and human health

Pre-emergence herbicide residues in pea cultivation can pose significant health risks to nontarget organisms, including humans. To assess the impact of these residues on soil and human health, garden peas were grown in an agricultural soil (MAT) and potting mix (POM) treated with dimethenamid-P, metazachlor, and pyroxasulfone. Dehydrogenase activity in MAT soil was not significantly affected by these herbicides. However, in POM, herbicide application resulted in significantly higher dehydrogenase levels, likely due to the higher organic matter content promoting microbial activity and moisture retention. In contrast, phosphatase activity levels remained relatively consistent across untreated and treated samples of both MAT and POM. Herbicide residues in pea pods, shoots and roots were measured to evaluate potential human health hazards. The detected…