The combined effect of sulfadiazine and copper on soil microbial activity and community structure

Elevated concentrations of heavy metals and antibiotics often coexist in agricultural soils due to land application of large amounts of animal manure. The experiment was conducted to investigate the single and joint effects of different concentrations of sulfadiazine (SDZ) (10mgkg^-1 and 100mgkg^-1) and copper (Cu) (20mgkg^-1 and 200mgkg^-1) on soil microbial activity, i.e. fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolysis, dehydrogenase (DHA) and basal respiration (BR), microbial biomass and community structure estimated using phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA), and community level physiological profiles (CLPP) using MicroResp™. High concentration of SDZ or Cu significantly reduced microbial activity during the whole incubation period, while the inhibiting effect of low concentration of SDZ or Cu was only visible within 14 days of incubation. The total PLFA concentration was reduced by SDZ and/or Cu, which resulted from reduced bacterial and actinomycetic biomass. The addition of SDZ and/or Cu decreased the bacteria:fungi ratio, whereas only the addition of high Cu concentration significantly decreased Gram⁺:Gram^- ratio. The addition of Cu obviously inhibited the dissipation of SDZ, which could affect the combined effects of both on microbial activity, biomass and community structure. Principal component analysis of the CLPP and PLFA data clearly revealed the notable effects of SDZ and/or Cu on soil microbial community structure.

Dissipation and metabolism of tebufenozide in cabbage and soil under open field conditions in South China

The novel nonsteroidal ecdysone agonist tebufenozide is capable of controlling a wide range of lepidopteran pests. However its intensive use in vegetables has raised concerns towards the safety of food and environment. Here, we developed an easy and reliable method to analyze tebufenozide in cabbage and soil by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The average recoveries of tebufenozide ranged from 72.01% to 101.10% with the relative standard deviations (RSD)<6%, and the LOD and LOQ were 0.02µgg^-1 and 0.05µgg^-1, respectively. According to the dissipation study, the half-lives of tebufenozide were 2.96 and 4.08 d in cabbage and 4.95-7.70d in soil, respectively. The final residues were determined below the maximum residue limit (MRL) (0.5mgkg^-1) after a pre-harvest interval (PHI) of 7d. Moreover, its major metabolites were identified by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) on LTQ-Orbitrap XL, which leading to the first report of the degradation pathway of tebufenozide in cabbage. The present study is expected to provide basic data for the use guidance and safety evaluation of tebufenozide in agricultural crops and environment.

Behaviour of mesotrione in maize and soil system and its influence on soil dehydrogenase activity

The aim of this study was to investigate the dissipation of mesotrione and effect on dehydrogenase activity (DHA) in maize and soil system. The paper for the first time describes behaviour of this herbicide applied at various doses (separately or in mixture with other herbicide) in acidic and alkaline environment. The experiments were conducted using the method randomized blocks in four repetition cycles. Chemical application in seven variants at recommended doses of herbicide were performed. The sample preparation was performed by a modified QuEChERS method and the concentrations of mesotrione in maize and soil were determined by the liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The limit of detection was 0.0005mgkg(-1) and quantification 0.001mgkg(-1). The dissipation of mesotrione were described according to first-order (FO) kinetics equation with R(2) were between 0.8794 and 0.9934. The initial deposit of herbicide in soil and maize was higher in an acidic environment (0.06-0.18mgkg(-1)). A positive correlation between an alkaline pH and the rate of dissipation in soil was observed. The results showed that the time after which 50% (DT50) of substance has been degraded was different for both plant and soil. DT50 for soil was within the range 3.2-6.0days and 2.9-4.4days, for the maize 3.9-4.8days and 3.4-4.5days in an alkaline and an acidic environment, respectively. Concentration of mesotrione at applicable MRL level of 0.05mgkg(-1) in maize was achieved at 0.5-5.9days and at proposed MRL of 0.01mgkg(-1) at 8.8-15.8days. The results indicate that the application of mesotrione affected on DHA in the soil. One day after application this herbicide, concentration of DHA in soil was lower than in control plots, but after 21days was observed trend of increasing DHA.

Behaviour of mesotrione in maize and soil system and its influence on soil dehydrogenase activity

The aim of this study was to investigate the dissipation of mesotrione and effect on dehydrogenase activity (DHA) in maize and soil system. The paper for the first time describes behaviour of this herbicide applied at various doses (separately or in mixture with other herbicide) in acidic and alkaline environment. The experiments were conducted using the method randomized blocks in four repetition cycles. Chemical application in seven variants at recommended doses of herbicide were performed. The sample preparation was performed by a modified QuEChERS method and the concentrations of mesotrione in maize and soil were determined by the liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The limit of detection was 0.0005mgkg(-1) and quantification 0.001mgkg(-1). The dissipation of mesotrione were described according to first-order (FO) kinetics equation with R(2) were between 0.8794 and 0.9934. The initial deposit of herbicide in soil and maize was higher in an acidic environment (0.06-0.18mgkg(-1)). A positive correlation between an alkaline pH and the rate of dissipation in soil was observed. The results showed that the time after which 50% (DT50) of substance has been degraded was different for both plant and soil. DT50 for soil was within the range 3.2-6.0days and 2.9-4.4days, for the maize 3.9-4.8days and 3.4-4.5days in an alkaline and an acidic environment, respectively. Concentration of mesotrione at applicable MRL level of 0.05mgkg(-1) in maize was achieved at 0.5-5.9days and at proposed MRL of 0.01mgkg(-1) at 8.8-15.8days. The results indicate that the application of mesotrione affected on DHA in the soil. One day after application this herbicide, concentration of DHA in soil was lower than in control plots, but after 21days was observed trend of increasing DHA.

Dissipation and adsorption of isoproturon, tebuconazole, chlorpyrifos and their main transformation products under laboratory and field conditions

Assessment of dissipation constitutes an integral part of pesticides risk assessment since it provides an estimate of the level and the duration of exposure of the terrestrial ecosystem to pesticides. Within the frame of an overall assessment of the soil microbial toxicity of pesticides, we investigated the dissipation of a range of dose rates of three model pesticides, isoproturon (IPU), tebuconazole (TCZ), and chlorpyrifos (CHL), and the formation and dissipation of their main transformation products following a tiered lab-to-field approach. The adsorption of pesticides and their transformation products was also determined. IPU was the least persistent pesticide showing a dose-dependent increase in its persistence in both laboratory and field studies. CHL dissipation showed a dose-dependent increase under laboratory conditions and an exact opposite trend in the field. TCZ was the most persistent pesticide under lab conditions showing a dose-dependent decrease in its dissipation, whereas in the field TCZ exhibited a biphasic dissipation pattern with extrapolated DT90s ranging from 198 to 603.4days in the ×1 and ×2 dose rates, respectively. IPU was demethylated to mono- (MD-IPU) and di-desmethyl-isoproturon (DD-IPU) which dissipated following a similar pattern with the parent compound. CHL was hydrolyzed to 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCP) which dissipated showing a reverse dose-dependent pattern compared to CHL. Pesticides adsorption affinity increased in the order IPU<TCZ<CHL. IPU transformation products showed low affinity for soil adsorption, whereas TCP was weakly adsorbed compared to its parent compound. The temporal dissipation patterns of the pesticides and their transformation products will be used as exposure inputs for assessment of their soil microbial toxicity.

Residue decline and risk assessment of fluopyram + tebuconazole (400SC) in/on onion (Allium cepa)

A method was validated for estimating fluopyram and tebuconazole in onion on LC-MS/MS using dispersive QuEChERS. Three sprays of a combination fungicide fluopyram + tebuconazole (Luna experience, 400 SC) were applied @ 75 + 75 and 150 + 150 g a.i. ha^-1 at an interval of 10 days on onion using Knapsack sprayer. First spray was made at bulb setting stage. Spring onion samples were drawn at 0 (1 h), 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, and 20 days and matured onion bulb at harvest (52 days) after the last spray. Soil samples were also drawn at harvest. Foliar application of the combination product resulted in 1.14 and 2.86 mg kg^-1 fluopyram residues on spring onion at standard and double dose, respectively, one hour after the last application. The levels of fluopyram residues gradually declined and recorded 0.25 and 0.58 mg kg^-1 on 20th day of application with half-lives of 8.8 and 9.1 days at standard and double dose, respectively. For tebuconazole, the corresponding residues observed after 1 h (0 day) of application were 0.92 and 2.29 mg kg^-1. The levels declined gradually to 0.12 and 0.33 mg kg^-1 on 20th days with half-life of 6.7 to 7.7 days at standard and double dose, respectively. Here, we are proposing a pre-harvest interval of 7 day for fluopyram and tebuconazole in spring onion when applied at 75 + 75 g a.i. ha^-1 (400 SC). Risk assessment was done by calculating hazard quotient and by comparing theoretical maximum residue intake (TMRI) with maximum permissible intake (MPI). In all the cases, results of the study showed that HQ (Hazard Quotient) ≤1 and TMDI < MPI. Hence, the use of this combination product can be recommended with pre harvest interval of 7 days. The data can be used in establishing MRLs (maximum residue limits) for spring onion after considering multilocation trials.

Physics of metabolic organization

We review the most comprehensive metabolic theory of life existing to date. A special focus is given to the thermodynamic roots of this theory and to implications that the laws of physics-such as the conservation of mass and energy-have on all life. Both the theoretical foundations and biological applications are covered. Hitherto, the foundations were more accessible to physicists or mathematicians, and the applications to biologists, causing a dichotomy in what always should have been a single body of work. To bridge the gap between the two aspects of the same theory, we (i) adhere to the theoretical formalism, (ii) try to minimize the amount of information that a reader needs to process, but also (iii) invoke examples from biology to motivate the introduction of new concepts and to justify the assumptions made, and (iv) show how the careful formalism of the general theory enables modular, self-consistent extensions that capture important features of the species and the problem in question. Perhaps the most difficult among the introduced concepts, the utilization (or mobilization) energy flow, is given particular attention in the form of an original and considerably simplified derivation. Specific examples illustrate a range of possible applications-from energy budgets of individual organisms, to population dynamics, to ecotoxicology.

Dissipation kinetics of alpha-cypermethrin and lambda-cyhalothrin residues in aboveground part of white mustard (Sinapis alba L.)

Dissipation of simultaneously applied insecticides alpha-cypermethrin and lambda-cyhalothrin was studied in a minor crop, aboveground part of white mustard (Sinapis alba L.). A validated gas chromatographic method (GC-ECD/NPD) was used to determine insecticide residues. Analytical performances were very satisfactory, with expanded uncertainties not higher than 14% (coverage factor k = 2, confidence level 95%). Dissipation of alpha-cypermethrin and lambda-cyhalothrin in white mustard followed first-order kinetics (R(2) between 0.953 and 0.995), with half-lives of 3.1-4.6 and 2.9-3.7 days respectively. Based on the results of this two-year study and the relevant residue regulation, alpha-cypermethrin and lambda-cyhalothrin treatments can be considered safe for crop protection, feeding animals and the environment.

Reduced persistence of the macrolide antibiotics erythromycin, clarithromycin and azithromycin in agricultural soil following several years of exposure in the field

The macrolide antibiotics erythromycin, clarithromycin and azithromycin are very important in human and animal medicine, and can be entrained onto agricultural ground through application of sewage sludge or manures. In the present study, a series of replicated field plots were left untreated or received up to five annual spring applications of a mixture of three drugs to achieve a nominal concentration for each of 10 or 0.1mgkg(-1) soil; the latter an environmentally relevant concentration. Soil samples were incubated in the laboratory, and supplemented with antibiotics to establish the dissipation kinetics of erythromycin and clarithromycin using radioisotope methods, and azithromycin using HPLC-MS/MS. All three drugs were dissipated significantly more rapidly in soils with a history of field exposure to 10mgkg(-1) macrolides, and erythromycin and clarithromycin were also degraded more rapidly in field soil exposed to 0.1mgkg(-1) macrolides. Rapid mineralization of (14)C-labelled erythromycin and clarithromycin are consistent with biodegradation. Analysis of field soils revealed no carryover of parent compound from year to year. Azithromycin transformation products were detected consistent with removal of the desosamine and cladinose moieties. Overall, these results have revealed that following several years of exposure to macrolide antibiotics these are amenable to accelerated degradation. The potential accelerated degradation of these drugs in soils amended with manure and sewage sludge should be investigated as this phenomenon would attenuate environmental exposure and selection pressure for clinically relevant resistance.

Application of modified attapulgite in phthalate acid ester-contaminated soil: Effects on phthalate acid ester dissipation and the composition of soil microbial community

The effects of modified attapulgite (MA) on the dissipations of the plasticizers di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in soil, as well as on the composition of soil microbial community, were studied. DBP, DEHP (50 mg kg(-1) in soil, respectively), and MA (1, 5, and 10 % in soil) were mixed thoroughly with soil and incubated for 60 days. DBP- and DEHP-contaminated soils without MA were used as the controls. Both of DBP and DEHP residues in bulk soils and four soil fractions were measured at five incubation times 1, 7, 15, 30, and 60 days, and their dissipation kinetic equations were analyzed. The microbial phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) concentrations were also measured at the end of experiment. Our results showed that the effect of modified attapulgite on DBP dissipation was related to its dosage in soil. The DEHP dissipation was both inhibited by MA at the 5 and 10 % rates in soils. The application of MA changed the content percentages but did not change the concentration order of phthalate acid esters (PAEs) in soil particle-size fractions. The total microbial PLFA content was significantly increased by 5 and 10 % MA in the contaminated soils. Meanwhile, the gram-negative (GN)/gram-positive (GP) ratios increased when MA was applied at the dosages of 5 and 10 % in DBP and 10 % in DEHP-contaminated soils. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that the change of bacteria PLFA, especially the GN bacterial PLFA, depended on the dosages of MA added into soil. The application of MA into soil has a positive effect on reducing the eco-toxicity of PAEs in soil based on the analysis of the soil microbial PLFA.

Inverse modeling of the biodegradation of emerging organic contaminants in the soil-plant system

Understanding the processes involved in the uptake and accumulation of organic contaminants into plants is very important to assess the possible human risk associated with. Biodegradation of emerging contaminants in plants has been observed, but kinetical studies are rare. In this study, we analyse experimental data on the uptake of emerging organic contaminants into lettuce derived in a greenhouse experiment. Measured soil, root and leaf concentrations from four contaminants were selected within the applicability domain of a steady-state two-compartment standard plant uptake model: bisphenol A (BPA), carbamazepine (CBZ), triclosan (TCS) and caffeine (CAF). The model overestimated concentrations in most cases, when no degradation rates in plants were entered. Subsequently, biodegradation rates were fitted so that the measured concentrations were met. Obtained degradation kinetics are in the order, BPA < CAF ≈ TCS < CBZ in roots, and BPA ≈ TCS < CBZ << CAF in leaves. Kinetics determined by inverse modeling are, despite the inherent uncertainty, indicative of the dissipation rates. The advantage of the procedure that is additional knowledge can be gained from existing experimental data. Dissipation kinetics found via inverse modeling is not a conclusive proof for biodegradation and confirmation by experimental studies is needed.

Stereoselective analysis of novel chiral fungicide pyrisoxazole in cucumber, tomato and soil under different application methods with supercritical fluid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

Various new chiral pesticides have been registered and used in crop yields. However, few studies have focused on the environmental behavior of such new registered chiral compounds on the stereoisomer level. In this study, an effective and sensitive chiral analytical method was first developed to detect pyrisoxazole stereoisomers and then further applied to investigate the stereoselective dissipation in vegetables and soil using supercritical fluid chromatography/tandem triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Optimal separation condition was achieved with IA column using CO2/MeOH (75:25) as mobile phase at 2.0 mL/min in 5 min, 35 °C and 2400 psi. The average recoveries in all of the matrices at four spiking levels ranged from 84.0% to 105.6%. Significant stereoselective dissipation was observed in cucumber and tomato under both application modes. (-) Pyrisoxazole A and (-) pyrisoxazole B were preferentially degraded in cucumber under foliar spraying mode. In contrast, (+) pyrisoxazole A and (-) pyrisoxazole B were preferentially degraded in cucumber under soil irrigation mode. (-) Pyrisoxazole A and (-) pyrisoxazole B were degraded faster than their antipodes in tomato under both application modes. However, no significant stereoselectivity was observed in soil. The results of this study could help facilitate more accurate risk assessments of pyrisoxazole.

Dissipation rates and residues of fungicide azoxystrobin in ginseng and soil at two different cultivated regions in China

The maximum residue limit (MRL) for fungicide azoxystrobin in ginseng has not yet been established in China. This is partially due to the lack of its dissipation and residue data at China's main ginseng production areas. In this work, the dissipation rates and residue levels of azoxystrobin in ginseng roots, plant parts (stems and leaves), and soil in Beijing and Jilin Province, China were determined using gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The mean half-life of azoxystrobin in ginseng plant parts was 1.6 days with a dissipation rate of 90 % over 21 days. The mean half-life in soil was 2.8 days with a dissipation rate of 90 % over 30 days. Dissipation rates from two geographically separated experimental fields differed, suggesting that these were affected by local soil characteristics and climate. Maximum final residues of azoxystrobin in ginseng roots, plant parts, and soil were determined to be 0.343, 9.40, and 0.726 mg kg(-1), respectively. Our results, particularly the high residues of azoxystrobin observed in ginseng plant parts, provide a quantitative basis for revising the application of this pesticide to ginseng.

Phytoremediation of crude oil-contaminated soil employing Crotalaria pallida Aiton

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the phytoremediation potentiality of a herb named Crotalaria pallida which are abundantly grown on crude oil-contaminated soil of oil field situated at upper Assam, India, so that this plant could be used to remediate hydrocarbon from contaminated soil. To evaluate the potentiality of the plant, a pot culture experiment was conducted taking 3 kg of rice field soil mixed with crude oil at a concentration of 10,000 (10 g/kg), 20,000 (20 g/kg), 30,000 (30 g/kg), 40,000 (40 g/kg), 50,000 (50 g/kg), 60,000 (60 g/kg), 70,000 (70 g/kg), 80,000 (80 g/kg), 90,000 (90 g/kg), and 100,000 (100 g/kg) ppm. Ten numbers of healthy seeds of C. pallida were sown in three pots of each concentration for germination, and after 15 days of germination, single healthy seedling in each pot was kept for the study. A control setup was also maintained without adding crude oil. The duration of the experiment was fixed for 6 months. The results showed that uptake of hydrocarbon by the plants was increased with increasing the concentration of crude oil in the soil up to 60,000 ppm. After that, uptake of hydrocarbon by the plants was found to be lower with increasing doses of crude oil concentration. Uptake of hydrocarbon by the shoot was found to be maximum, i.e., 35,018 ppm in 60,000 ppm concentration. Dissipation of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) from the soil was also gradually increased with increasing concentration of crude oil in the soil up to 60,000 ppm. Maximum dissipation, i.e., 78.66 %, occurred in 60,000 ppm concentration of crude oil-mixed soil. The plant could not survive in 100,000 ppm concentration of crude oil-mixed soil. The results also demonstrated that there was a reduction in plant shoot and root biomass with an increase of crude oil concentration. Furthermore, results revealed that the shoot biomass was higher than root biomass in all the treatments.

Development, validation and application of a sensitive analytical method for residue determination and dissipation of imidacloprid in sugarcane under tropical field condition

A simple and sensitive analytical method has been developed and validated for the determination of trace amounts of imidacloprid in/on sugarcane sett, stalk and leaf. The method optimized in the present study requires less volume of organic solvent and time. Hence, this method is suitable for high-throughput analyses involving large number of samples. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of the method were 0.003 and 0.01 mg/kg, respectively. The recovery and relative standard deviation were more than 93 % and less than 4 %, respectively. Thus, it is obvious that the analytical method standardized in this study is more precise and accurate enough to determine the residues of imidacloprid in sugarcane sett, stalk and leaf. The dissipation and translocation of imidacloprid residues from treated cane setts to leaf and stalk were studied by adopting this method. In sugarcane setts, the residues of imidacloprid persisted up to 120 days with half-life of 15.4 days at its recommended dose (70 g a.i./ha). The residues of imidacloprid were found to be translocated from setts to stalk and leaf. The imidacloprid residues were detected up to 105 days in both leaf and stalk. Dipping of sugarcane setts in imidacloprid at its recommended dose may result in better protection of cane setts and established crop because of higher initial deposit (>100 mg/kg) and longer persistence (>120 days).

Arbuscular mycorrhizal wheat inoculation promotes alkane and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon biodegradation: Microcosm experiment on aged-contaminated soil

Very few studies reported the potential of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis to dissipate hydrocarbons in aged polluted soils. The present work aims to study the efficiency of arbuscular mycorrhizal colonized wheat plants in the dissipation of alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Our results demonstrated that the inoculation of wheat with Rhizophagus irregularis allowed a better dissipation of PAHs and alkanes after 16 weeks of culture by comparison to non-inoculated condition. These dissipations observed in the inoculated soil resulted from several processes: (i) a light adsorption on roots (0.5% for PAHs), (ii) a bioaccumulation in roots (5.7% for PAHs and 6.6% for alkanes), (iii) a transfer in shoots (0.4 for PAHs and 0.5% for alkanes) and mainly a biodegradation. Whereas PAHs and alkanes degradation rates were respectively estimated to 12 and 47% with non-inoculated wheat, their degradation rates reached 18 and 48% with inoculated wheat. The mycorrhizal inoculation induced an increase of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria by 56 and 37% compared to the non-inoculated wheat. Moreover, an increase of peroxidase activity was assessed in mycorrhizal roots. Taken together, our findings suggested that mycorrhization led to a better hydrocarbon biodegradation in the aged-contaminated soil thanks to a stimulation of telluric bacteria and hydrocarbon metabolization in mycorrhizal roots.

Abamectin in soils: Analytical methods, kinetics, sorption and dissipation

Abamectin is a broad-spectrum antiparasitic agent that has been widely employed in veterinary medicine and has also been used as a pesticide in agriculture. Veterinary drugs may reach the soil and may be transported to surface and ground waters, posing risks to terrestrial and aquatic organisms. Sorption, transformation and transport processes are primarily responsible for the fate of these substances in the environment. In this study, the sorption and the aerobic dissipation of abamectin in Brazilian soils (sand, clay and sandy-clay) were evaluated. For sorption studies, batch equilibrium experiments were performed. Sorption and desorption isotherms were fitted to the Freundlich model. Abamectin showed a high affinity to soil particles, with Freundlich sorption and desorption coefficients ranging from 44 to 138 μg(1-1/n) (cm(3))(1/n) g(-1) and from 89 to 236 μg(1-1/n) (cm(3))(1/n) g(-1), respectively. Dissipation of abamectin was evaluated in sterile and non-sterile soils in an aerobic and dark environment under controlled temperature and humidity. The time required for a 50% reduction of the amount of abamectin present in non-sterile soils was up to 4 days, and the time period for 90% dissipation was up to 12 days. In sterilized soils, there was no reduction in the concentration of abamectin over 37 days of exposure, suggesting that aerobic microbial degradation must have been the primary mechanism responsible for the dissipation of abamectin in soils.

Dissipation kinetics of spinosad from tomato under sub-tropical agro-climatic conditions

The dissipation of spinosad in/on tomato and soil was studied at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, under field condition. The optimized sample preparation technique using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV detector gave the limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.05 μg g(-1) of tomato. Spinosad residues were below the determination limit in/on tomato fruits after 15 days of application for recommended dose (51 g a.i. ha(-1)). The half-life of spinosad was in between 3.18 to 3.74 days for the recommended dose. Similarly half-life of 4.14 to 4.71 days was observed for double the recommended dose. The study also investigated the persistence of spinosad in soil and it has been found that half-life of spinosad in soil was 5.49 to 6.36 days for the recommended dose and 6.76 to 6.91 days for double the recommended dose. Based on the CODEX-MRL of spinosad (0.3 mg kg(-1)), pre-harvest interval (PHI) was 7.54 days for the recommended dose of spray.

Effect of different rates of spent mushroom substrate on the dissipation and bioavailability of cymoxanil and tebuconazole in an agricultural soil

Physicochemical methods to immobilize pesticides in vulnerable soils are currently being developed to prevent water contamination. Some of these methods include the use of different organic residues to modify soils because they could limit the transport of pesticides and/or facilitate their dissipation. Spent mushroom substrate (SMS) may be used for these purposes. Accordingly a study was conducted under laboratory conditions to know the dissipation and bioavailability of the fungicides cymoxanil and tebuconazole over time in a vineyard soil amended with two rates of spent mushroom substrate (SMS) (5% and 50% (w/w)), selected to prevent the diffuse or point pollution of soil. The dissipation of cymoxanil was more rapid than that of tebuconazole in the different soils studied. The dissipation rate was higher in the amended soil than in the unamended one for both compounds, while no significant differences were observed between the amended soils in either case. An apparent dissipation occurred in the amended soil due to the formation of non-extractable residues. Bound residues increased with incubation time for tebuconazole, although a proportion of this fungicide was bioavailable after 303days. The major proportion of cymoxanil was tightly bound to the amended soil from the start, although an increasing fraction of bound fungicide was bioavailable for mineralization. Soil dehydrogenase activity was significantly affected by SMS application and incubation time; however, it was not significantly modified by fungicide application. The significance of this research suggests that SMS applied at a low or high rate to agricultural soil can be used to prevent both the diffuse or point pollution of soil through the formation of non-extractable residues, although more research is needed to discover the time that fungicides remain adsorbed into the soil decreasing either bioavailability (tebuconazole) or mineralization (cymoxanil) in SMS-amended soils.

Application of first order kinetics to characterize MTBE natural attenuation in groundwater

Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) was a gasoline oxygenate that became widely used in reformulated gasoline as a means to reduce air pollution in the 1990s. Unfortunately, many of the underground storage tanks containing reformulated gasoline experienced subsurface releases which soon became a health concern given the increase in public and private water supplies containing MTBE. Many states responded to this by banning the use of MTBE as an additive, including Connecticut. Although MTBE dissipates by natural attenuation, it continues to be prevalent in groundwater long after the Connecticut ban in 2004. This study estimated the rate of the natural attenuation in groundwater following the Connecticut ban by evaluating the MTBE concentration two years prior to and two years after the MTBE ban at eighty-three monitoring wells from twenty-two retail gasoline stations where MTBE contamination was observed. Sites chosen for this study had not undergone active remediation ensuring no artificial influence to the natural attenuation processes that controls the migration and dissipation of MTBE. Results indicate that MTBE has dissipated in the natural environment, at more than 80% of the sites and at approximately 82% of the individual monitoring wells. In general, dissipation approximated first order kinetics. Dissipation half-lives, calculated using concentration data from the two year period after the ban, ranged from approximately three weeks to just over seven years with an average half-life of 7.3 months with little variability in estimates for different site characteristics. The accuracy of first order estimates to predict further MTBE dissipation were tested by comparing predicted concentrations with those observed after the two year post-ban period; the predicted concentrations closely match the observed concentrations which supports the use of first order kinetics for predictions of this nature.

Selective bioaccumulation and elimination of hexachlorocyclohexane isomers in Tubifex tubifex (Oligochaeta, Tubificidae)

In this study, Tubifex tubifex worms were exposed to sediment-associated hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers to study the bioaccumulation and elimination behaviors of HCH isomers in T. tubifex. During a 10-day bioaccumulation experiment, bioaccumulation curves of HCHs were approximate to M-type in T. tubifex. The enantioselective behaviors of α-HCH enantiomers were observed in T. tubifex, with concentrations of (+)-α-HCH higher than that of (-)-α-HCH. The concentration of γ-HCH in T. tubifex was higher than that of β-HCH and α-HCH. The existence of worms can accelerate the dissipation of HCHs in sediment, and the dissipation half-lives of α-HCH, β-HCH, and γ-HCH were 8.39, 23.90, and 3.10 days, respectively. In the elimination experiment, approximately 0.053 (37.1%), 0.074 (45.9%), and 0.042 mg/kgwwt (38.4%) α-HCH, β-HCH, and γ-HCH were depleted or excreted in T. tubifex on the first day, respectively. The body residues in T. tubifex were 0.084 (α-HCH), 0.082 (β-HCH), and 0.061 mg/kgwwt (γ-HCH) at the end of elimination experiment. Furthermore, the existence of T. tubifex could affect the overlying water quality parameters.

Residues and dissipation kinetics of carbendazim and diethofencarb in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) and intake risk assessment

Dissipation behaviors and residues of carbendazim and diethofencarb in combination in tomato were investigated. The half-lives were 2.1-3.4 days for carbendazim, and 1.8-3.2 days for diethofencarb at a dose of 1.5 times of the recommended dosage. The residues of carbendazim and diethofencarb were below the maximum residue limits (MRLs) in China one day after application of the combination. The ultimate residues were significantly lower than the maximum permissible intake (MPI) in China at the recommended high dose for both child and adult. The values of the maximum dietary exposure for carbendazim and diethofencarb were 0.26 and 0.27 mg per person per day, respectively. The theoretical maximum daily intake (TMDI) values for carbendazim and diethofencarb were 1.5 and 0.5 mg/day, respectively. The dietary exposure was lower than the MPI, which indicates the harvested tomato samples under the experimental conditions (open field) are safe for human consumption at the recommended high dosage of the wettable powder.

Dissipation dynamics and final residues of cloransulam-methyl in soybean and soil

This work is the first report on the dissipation and final residue of cloransulam-methyl on soybean plant at field conditions. A fast, simple, and reliable residue analytical method for determination of cloransulam-methyl in soybean matrices and soil was developed based on quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) sample preparation and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) detection. The average recoveries of cloransulam-methyl in soybean matrices and soil ranged from 80 to 105%, with RSDs between 3-11%. The limit of detection (LOD) was 0.001 mg kg(-1) for soybean grain, plant, and soil and was 0.005 mg kg(-1) for soybean straw. This method was then used to characterize dissipation of cloransulam-methyl in soybeans and soil from three locations in China for the first time. Cloransulam-methyl dissipated quickly in soybean plant with half-lives (T1/2) of 0.21-0.56 days. The dissipation dynamic in soil was characterized using both first-order kinetics model and two-compartment model, and the half-lives were similar, ranging from 0.44 to 5.53 days at three experimental sites in 2012 and 2013. The final residue data showed a very low level of cloransulam-methyl in soil (≤0.026 mg kg(-1)), soybean grain (≤0.001 mg kg(-1)), and straw (≤0.005 mg kg(-1)) samples at harvest time. With the faster and simple analytical method on soybean and soil, rapid dissipation of cloransulam-methyl was observed at three geospatial locations in China, and the terminal residue levels were negligible, so mammalian ingestion exposure is minimal.

Fate of ivermectin in the terrestrial and aquatic environment: mobility, degradation, and toxicity towards Daphnia similis

Ivermectin (IVM) is a broad-spectrum antiparasitic drug that is regularly employed in veterinary medicine. In this work, the sorption and desorption of IVM in two Brazilian soils (N1-sand and S2-clay) as well as its leaching capacity, dissipation under aerobic conditions, and degradation in aqueous solution by photocatalysis with TiO2 in suspension were evaluated. The kinetic sorption curves of IVM were adjusted to a pseudo-second-order model. The sorption and desorption data were well fitted with the Freundlich isotherms in the log form (r > 0.96). The Freundlich sorption coefficient (K F (ads) ) and the Freundlich desorption coefficient (K F (des) ) were 77.7 and 120 μg(1-1/n) (cm(3))(1/n) g(-1) and 74.5 and 138 μg(1-1/n) (cm(3))(1/n) g(-1), for soils N1 and S2, respectively. A greater leaching capacity of IVM was observed for the sandy soil N1 than for the clay soil S2. Under aerobic conditions, the dissipation (DT50) at 19.3 °C was 15.5 days (soil N1) and 11.5 days (soil S2). Photocatalysis with UVC and TiO2 in suspension resulted in the degradation of 98 % of IVM (500 μg L(-1)) in water in 600 s. The toxicity (Daphnia similis) of the solutions submitted to the photocatalytic process was completely eliminated after 10 min.

Concentrations and dissipation of difenoconazole and fluxapyroxad residues in apples and soil, determined by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A new combined difenoconazole and fluxapyroxad fungicide formulation, as an 11.7 % suspension concentrate (SC), has been introduced as part of a resistance management strategy. The dissipation of difenoconazole and fluxapyroxad applied to apples and the residues remaining in the apples were determined. The 11.7 % SC was sprayed onto apple trees and soil in Beijing, Shandong, and Anhui provinces, China, at an application rate of 118 g a.i. ha(-1), then the dissipation of difenoconazole and fluxapyroxad was monitored. The residual difenoconazole and fluxapyroxad concentrations were determined by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The difenoconazole half-lives in apples and soil were 6.2-9.5 and 21.0-27.7 days, respectively. The fluxapyroxad half-lives in apples and soil were 9.4-12.6 and 10.3-36.5 days, respectively. Difenoconazole and fluxapyroxad residues in apples and soil after the 11.7 % SC had been sprayed twice and three times, with 10 days between applications, at 78 and 118 g a.i. ha(-1) were measured. Representative apple and soil samples were collected after the last treatment, at preharvest intervals of 14, 21, and 28 days. The difenoconazole residue concentrations in apples and soil were 0.002-0.052 and 0.002-0.298 mg kg(-1), respectively. The fluxapyroxad residue concentrations in apples and soil were 0.002-0.093 and 0.008-1.219 mg kg(-1), respectively. The difenoconazole and fluxapyroxad residue concentrations in apples were lower than the maximum residue limits (0.5 and 0.8 mg kg(-1), respectively). An application rate of 78 g a.i. ha(-1) is therefore recommended to ensure that treated apples can be considered safe for humans to consume.

Residue level and dissipation pattern of spiromesifen in cabbage and soil from 2-year field study

Spiromesifen is a new class of insecticide used for the control of whiteflies and mites which have developed resistance to the more commonly used neonicotinoids. Dissipation pattern of spiromesifen on cabbage was evaluated over 2 years by conducting supervised field studies as per good agricultural practices. Cabbage and soil samples were extracted and purified using modified QuEChERS method and analyzed through gas chromatography (GC). Confirmatory studies were carried out by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The recoveries of spiromesifen from cabbage and soil were between 85.44 and 103.37% with the relative standard deviation (RSD) between 3.2 and 9.4% (n = 6). The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were 0.003 μg mL(-1) and 0.01 mg kg(-1), respectively. The measurement uncertainties (MUs) were within 9.9-14.9%. Initial residues of spiromesifen on cabbage were 0.640 and 1.549 mg kg(-1) during 2013 and 0.723 and 1.438 mg kg(-1) during 2014 from treatments at standard and double doses of 125 and 250 g active ingredient (a.i.) ha(-1), respectively. Spiromesifen residue dissipation followed first-order rate kinetics, and it degraded within the half-lives of 2.9 and 3.9 days during 2013 and 3.2 and 4.5 days during 2014. The residue levels reached below the maximum residue limit (MRL; 0.02 mg kg(-1)) within 15-17 days at the standard dose and 24-27 days at the double dose. The field soil analyzed at harvest (30 days) was free from spiromesifen residues. Metabolite spiromesifen-enol was not detected in any sample which was confirmed through LC-MS/MS analysis.

Dissipation kinetics and risk assessment of thiamethoxam and dimethoate in mango

Thiamethoxam and dimethoate are two insecticides used to control hoppers and inflorescence midges in mango. Thiamethoxam (0.008 and 0.016%) and dimethoate (0.06 and 0.12%) were sprayed on Dashehari mango trees during the pre-mature stage of fruit (first week of May) to study their dissipation kinetics and risk assessment in mango fruit. Thiamethoxam dissipated in fruit from 1.93 and 3.71 mg kg(-1) after 2 h of spraying to 0.08 and 0.13 mg kg(-1) after 20 days of spraying at single and double doses, respectively. Its residue did not persist beyond 20 days in fruit. Dimethoate dissipated in fruit from 2.81 and 5.34 mg kg(-1) after 2 h of application to 0.12 and 0.19 mg kg(-1) after 10 days of application at single and double doses, respectively. No residue was detected in fruit beyond 10 days after its application. Both ready-to-harvest mature mango fruit and pulp (after 40 days of spraying) were free from any residues of these insecticides at both the concentration levels. The rate of dissipation of these insecticides followed first-order kinetics in fruit with residual half-lives of 4.0 to 4.5 days for thiamethoxam and 2 days for dimethoate. Based on their MRL values of 0.5 and 2.0 mg kg(-1) in mango, pre-harvest intervals of 7 and 11 days, and 6 and 7 days were suggested for thiamethoxam and dimethoate, respectively, after spraying at single and double doses. The theoretical maximum residue contribution (TMRC) values for both the insecticides, calculated for residues corresponding to each sampling date, were found to be below the maximum permissible intake (MPI) values on mango fruit (except for dimethoate double dose up to 3 days); hence, both thiamethoxam and dimethoate could be considered non-hazardous to consumers at the above doses and time intervals.

Dissipation of bentazone, pyrimethanil and boscalid in biochar and digestate based soil mixtures for biopurification systems

Biopurification systems, such as biofilters, are biotechnological tools to prevent point sources of pesticide pollution stemming from on-farm operations. For the purification processes pesticide sorption and mineralization and/or dissipation are essential and both largely depend on the type of filling materials and the pesticide in use. In this paper the mineralization and dissipation of three contrasting (14)C-labeled pesticides (bentazone, boscalid, and pyrimethanil) were investigated in laboratory incubation experiments using sandy soil, biochar produced from Pine woodchips, and/or digestate obtained from anaerobic digestion process using maize silage, chicken manure, beef and pig urine as feedstock. The results indicate that the addition of digestate increased pesticide mineralization, whereby the mineralization was not proportional to the digestate loads in the mixture, indicating a saturation effect in the turnover rate of pesticides. This effect was in correlation with the amount of water extractable DOC, obtained from the digestate based mixtures. Mixing biochar into the soil generally reduced total mineralization and led to larger sorption/sequestration of the pesticides, resulting in faster decrease of the extractable fraction. Also the addition of biochar to the soil/digestate mixtures reduced mineralization compared to the digestate alone mixture but mineralization rates were still higher as for the biochar/soil alone. In consequence, the addition of biochar to the soil generally decreased pesticide dissipation times and larger amounts of biochar led to high amounts of non-extractable residues of pesticide in the substrates. Among the mixtures tested, a mixture of digestate (5%) and biochar (5%) gave optimal results with respect to mineralization and simultaneous sorption for all three pesticides.

Uptake and translocation of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) in two ornamental plants and dissipation in soil

Pot experiments were conducted to evaluate the phytoremediation of B[a]P contaminated soil using two ornamental plants (Tagetes patula and Mirabilis jalapa). The results showed that the dry biomass of two plants was increased at low B[a]P contaminated soil and then inhibited with increasing B[a]P concentrations. It exhibited a significantly positive linear relationship between B[a]P absorption in roots, stems, leaves and shoots of the tested plants and the concentration of B[a]P in soils (P<0.01). Meanwhile, the contents of B[a]P in different tissues of the plants increased with growing time. After planting T. patula and M. jalapa, plant-promoted biodegradation of B[a]P was account for 79.5-99.8% and 71.1-99.9%, respectively, whereas the amount of B[a]P dissipation enhancement was only 0.2-20.5% and 0.1-28.9%, respectively. Moreover, low bioaccumulation factor (BF) and translocation factor (TF) values indicated that T. patula and M. jalapa took up B[a]P from contaminated soil and transferred them to the aerial parts with low efficiency. The B[a]P removal rates in rhizosphere soils at different growing stages of T. patula and M. jalapa were 2.7-26.8% and 0.4%-33.9%, respectively, higher than those of non-rhizopshere soils. Therefore, the presence of T. patula and M. jalapa roots was effective in promoting the phytoremediation of B[a]P contaminated soils.

Field scale boscalid residues and dissipation half-life estimation in a sandy soil

The aim of this study was to analyze the environmental fate of the fungicide boscalid in a sandy soil. Boscalid was applied in spring 2010/11 to a cropland site in western Germany. Three years after second application 65 undisturbed soil samples were taken. Boscalid was extracted using accelerated solvent extraction (ASE). Boscalid contents in the plough horizon ranged between 0.12 and 0.53 with a field mean of 0.20 ± 0.09 μg kg(-1). These contents were considerably lower compared to calculation using literature DT50 values, whereby a concentration of 16.89 μg kg(-1) was expected assuming a literature DT50 value of 345 days. Therefore, the measured field boscalid concentration only yields 1.2% of the expected value. To test whether the unknown extraction efficiency, losses from spray drift and interception can explain the mismatch between calculated and measured concentrations all these uncertainties were taken into account into calculations, but field concentrations and DT50 were still lower as expected. Leaching to deeper horizons was also studied but could not explain the discrepancy either. Moreover, a short-term incubation experiment using (14)C labelled boscalid revealed also shorter DT50 values of 297-337 compared to the 345 days taken from literature. However, this DT50 value is still considerably larger compared to the 104-224 days that were calculated based on the field experiment. Our results indicate that boscalid dissipation under field conditions is much faster at agricultural sites with sandy soil type as expected from laboratory incubation experiments.

Field-scale examination of neonicotinoid insecticide persistence in soil as a result of seed treatment use in commercial maize (corn) fields in southwestern Ontario

Neonicotinoid insecticides, especially as seed treatments, have raised concerns about environmental loading and impacts on pollinators, biodiversity, and ecosystems. The authors measured concentrations of neonicotinoid residues in the top 5 cm of soil before planting of maize (corn) in 18 commercial fields with a history of neonicotinoid seed treatment use in southwestern Ontario in 2013 and 2014 using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization. A simple calculator based on first-order kinetics, incorporating crop rotation, planting date, and seed treatment history from the subject fields, was used to estimate dissipation rate from the seed zone. The estimated half-life (the time taken for 50% of the insecticide to have dissipated by all mechanisms) based on 8 yr of crop history was 0.64 (range, 0.25-1.59) yr and 0.57 (range, 0.24-2.12) yr for 2013 and 2014, respectively. In fields where neonicotinoid residues were measured in both years, the estimated mean half-life between 2013 and 2014 was 0.4 (range, 0.27-0.6) yr. If clothianidin and thiamethoxam were used annually as a seed treatment in a typical crop rotation of maize, soybean, and winter wheat over several years, residues would plateau rather than continue to accumulate. Residues of neonicotinoid insecticides after 3 yr to 4 yr of repeated annual use tend to plateau to a mean concentration of less than 6 ng/g in agricultural soils in southwestern Ontario.

Dissipation kinetics of pre-plant pesticides in greenhouse-devoted soils

This work was conducted to study the distribution of methyl isothiocyanate (MITC) in greenhouse soils treated with the fumigant dazomet (DZ) from the formulated product "Basamid Granular(®)", but also of 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D) and chloropicrin (CP) from the fumigant "Agrocelhone NE(®)". In order to achieve this aim, several methods for the determination of fumigants residues in soils, but also pepper fruits were optimized and characterized. With independence of the soil depth, no residues of MITC, 1,3-D and CP above the detection limits were observed in soils covered with a polyethylene (PE) film (0.04 mm thick) after 27, 13 and 8 days of treatment, respectively. Liberation and dissipation curves of MITC in soil in presence of a PE film (0.04 mm) used to limit volatilization losses were also obtained. According to the results, the rate of decomposition of DZ into MITC have a half-life of 3.7 days in the surface horizon (5-10 cm) of the soil while in the subsurface horizon (15-20 cm), MITC formation rate is slightly slow (half-life of 3.2 days). With respect to the dissipation process, half-lives lower than 1 day were obtained for both depths (0.8 and 0.9 for the surface and the subsurface horizon, respectively). In the case of 1,3-D and CP in soil, the dissipation half-life of 1,3-D on soils was a bit higher than for CP (2 days vs. 1). In addition, the presence of residues of the fumigants on green pepper fruits grown on the treated soils was not detected as expected.

Dissipation kinetics and effect of processing on imidacloprid and its metabolites in cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum Maton)

Dissipation behaviour of the chloronicotinyl insecticide, imidacloprid (Tatamida 17.8 % SL), in fresh and cured cardamom capsules was studied following application at doses 20 and 40 g a.i. ha(-1) in a cardamom plantation of Indian Cardamom Hills (ICH), Idukki, Kerala, India. A single-laboratory ultra performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the estimation of imidacloprid and its six metabolites (5-hydroxy, olefin, guanidine, urea, 6-chloronicotinic acid and nitrosimine) in fresh and cured cardamom. At the lower dose, the initial deposits of total imidacloprid residues were 1.91 and 7.23 μg g(-1), respectively, in fresh and cured cardamom. At the higher dose, the initial residues were 3.94 and 14.72 μg g(-1), respectively, in fresh and cured capsules. The residues dissipated below the quantitation level of 0.01 μg g(-1) after 21 and 28 days at lower dose and after 28 days for both at higher dose. The half-lives of imidacloprid in fresh and cured cardamom were 4.02 and 3.63 days, respectively, at lower dose and 3.61 days for both at higher dose. The waiting periods of imidacloprid on fresh and cured cardamom at lower and higher doses were 21.40, 27.10, 23.85 and 30.70 days, respectively. The mean processing factor of imidacloprid was 3.96 at 20 g a.i. ha(-1). Amongst metabolites of imidacloprid, urea had maximum residues in fresh and cured cardamom followed by 5-hydroxy and guanidine. Other metabolites such as 6-chloronicotinic acid, olefin and nitrosimine were not detected either in fresh or cured cardamom.

Persistence and dissipation kinetics of chlorantraniliprole 0.4G in the soil of tropical sugarcane ecosystem

Chlorantraniliprole 0.4 % GR has been in use for managing early shoot borer and top borer of sugarcane. Persistence and dissipation kinetics of granular formulation of chlorantraniliprole were studied in the soil of tropical sugarcane ecosystem by employing simple and sensitive analytical method. Limit of quantification of the method was 0.01 mg/kg and the recovery of chlorantraniliprole was in the range of 92.3-99.7 % with RSD of 1.14-3.0 %. The initial deposit of chlorantraniliprole in the soil was 0.513 and 1.031 mg/kg for the recommended (75 g a.i./ha) and double the recommended (150 g a.i./ha) doses, respectively. The residues were quantified up to 30 days after treatment irrespective of the doses applied. Half-life (t 1/2) was 6.60 and 6.73 days, respectively, for recommended and double the recommended doses of chlorantraniliprole.

Degradation of Kresoxim-Methyl in Water: Impact of Varying pH, Temperature, Light and Atmospheric CO2 Level

In the present investigation, persistence of kresoxim-methyl (a broad spectrum strobilurin fungicide) was studied in water. Results revealed that kresoxim-methyl readily form acid metabolite. Therefore, residues of kresoxim-methyl were quantified on the basis of parent molecule alone and sum total of kresoxim-methyl and its acid metabolite. In water, influence of various abiotic factors like pH, temperature, light and atmospheric carbon dioxide level on dissipation of kresoxim-methyl was studied. The half life value for kresoxim-methyl and total residue varied from 1 to 26.1 and 6.1 to 94.0 days under different conditions. Statistical analysis revealed the significant effect of abiotic factors on the dissipation of kresoxim-methyl from water.

Occurrence and transformation of veterinary pharmaceuticals and biocides in manure: a literature review

The spread of veterinary medicinal products (VMPs) and biocides via manure onto agriculturally used areas represents a very important emission into the environment for these product groups. Within this literature study, publicly available transformation studies with liquid manure are summarized. Transformation studies were evaluated regarding the transformation fate of tested substances, the origin and characteristics of used manure, the experimental setup, and the measured parameters. As main topics within the 42 evaluated transformation studies, the high dependency of transformation on temperature, redox potential, dry matter content, and other parameters is reported. Test duration throughout the studies ranged from 2 to 374 days and study temperature ranged from 5 to 55 °C. Only seven publications gave information on the redox potential of the manure. Further, the characterization of the matrix in many cases was inadequate due to missing parameters such as dry matter content or pH. Only three publications studied transformation of biocides. To allow for a consistent assessment of studies within the registration process, a harmonized internationally accepted and validated test method is needed. Additionally, monitoring data of VMPs in manure were collected from literature and evaluated regarding the origin and characteristics of the manure, the minimum/maximum found concentrations, and the percentage of identified compounds. Within the 27 evaluated publications, 1568 manure samples were analyzed and 39 different active substances for VMPs and 11 metabolites and transformation products of VMPs could be found in manure. Most often, the samples were analyzed for sulfonamides, tetracyclines, and fluoroquinolones. Not one study searched for biocides or worked with a non-target approach. For sulfadiazine and chlortetracycline, concentrations exceeding the predicted environmental concentrations were found.

Changes in the persistence of two phenylurea herbicides in two Mediterranean soils under irrigation with low- and high-quality water: A laboratory approach

The disappearance of two phenylurea herbicides, chlorotoluron (CHL) and isoproturon (IPU), in two Mediterranean soils, an agricultural calcareous soil (S5) and an organic forest soil (S2), was assessed under irrigation with high- and low-quality water. Irrigation with wastewater, as opposed to irrigation with high-quality water, increased the degradation rate of both herbicides in both soils. For each soil, the decay rate of IPU was always higher than that of CHL, and both pesticides disappeared more rapidly from S5 with lower clay and organic carbon content than from S2. The degradation rate was inversely related with pesticide sorption on soil, because increased sorption would reduce pesticide bioavailability for decomposition. In most cases the residual concentration in soil of both phenylurea herbicides was better fitted to a bi-exponential decay model than to first-order or first-order with plateau models. Dehydrogenase activity, used as an indication of microbial activity, was very high in S2 in comparison with S5, but was not related to pesticide disappearance.

Dissipation of the fungicide hexaconazole in oil palm plantation

Hexaconazole is a potential fungicide to be used in the oil palm plantation for controlling the basal stem root (BSR) disease caused by Ganoderma boninense. Therefore, the dissipation rate of hexaconazole in an oil palm agroecosystem under field conditions was studied. Two experimental plots were treated with hexaconazole at the recommended dosage of 4.5 g a.i. palm(-1) (active ingredient) and at double the recommended dosage (9.0 g a.i. palm(-1)), whilst one plot was untreated as control. The residue of hexaconazole was detected in soil samples in the range of 2.74 to 0.78 and 7.13 to 1.66 mg kg(-1) at the recommended and double recommended dosage plots, respectively. An initial relatively rapid dissipation rate of hexaconazole residues occurred but reduced with time. The dissipation of hexaconazole in soil was described using first-order kinetics with the value of coefficient regression (r (2) > 0.8). The results indicated that hexaconazole has moderate persistence in the soil and the half-life was found to be 69.3 and 86.6 days in the recommended and double recommended dosage plot, respectively. The results obtained highlight that downward movement of hexaconazole was led by preferential flow as shown in image analysis. It can be concluded that varying soil conditions, environmental factors, and pesticide chemical properties of hexaconazole has a significant impact on dissipation of hexaconazole in soil under humid conditions.

Dissipation kinetics of emamectin benzoate and lufenuron residues in cabbage grown under field conditions

Residue analysis of emamectin benzoate and lufenuron in cabbage matrices and soil was developed using a quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) method and ultra high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The samples were extracted with 1% acetic acid in acetonitrile (v/v) or 1% acetic acid in acetonitrile/water (5:1, v/v) and cleaned up by dispersive solid-phase extraction. Mean recoveries and relative standard deviations (RSDs) in all samples ranged 87.8-100.0 % and 3.6-12.6% for emamectin benzoate and 87.8-104.8 % and 6.2-11.5% for lufenuron, respectively. The validated method was used to evaluate the dissipation rate of emamectin benzoate and lufenuron in cabbage and soil as well as the residual levels in harvested cabbage and soil at different preharvest intervals (PHI). The half-lives of emamectin benzoate and lufenuron were 1.08-2.70 and 1.74-5.04 days in cabbage, and 1.42-4.01 and 0.94-6.18 days in soil, respectively. The terminal residues were below the China maximum residue limits (MRLs) at 3 days for emamectin benzoate (0.1 mg kg(-1)) and European Union MRLs at 5 days for lufenuron (0.5 mg kg(-1)), which suggested that 5 days could be recommended as the PHI for the commercial formulation of emamectin benzoate and lufenuron application in the Chinese cabbage field.

Comparison of the residue persistence of trifloxystrobin (25%) + tebuconazole (50%) on gherkin and soil at two locations

Residue study of trifloxystrobin and tebuconazole on gherkin was carried out at two locations (Bangalore and Gouribiddunur, India) after applications at the standard and double doses of 75 + 150 and of 150 + 300 g ha(-1) of the formulated product, trifloxystrobin (25%) + tebuconazole (50%) (Nativo 75 WG). The fungicides were determined by gas chromatography (GC) and confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Extraction and purification of the samples were carried out by Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe (QuEChERS) method after validating the analytical parameters. Initial residues of trifloxystrobin on gherkin fruits were 0.335 and 0.65 mg kg(-1) at Bangalore, and 0.34 and 0.615 mg kg(-1) at Gouribiddunur. Tebuconazole residues were 0.842 and 1.682 mg kg(-1) at Bangalore, and 0.71 and 1.34 mg kg(-1) at Gouribiddunur. Residue dissipation of the fungicides followed first-order rate kinetics. Trifloxystrobin residues dissipated at the half-life of 2.9-3.7 days, and tebuconazole at 3.2 days. At the standard dose treatment, trifloxystrobin residues dissipated to below the maximum residue limit (MRL) of 0.2 mg kg(-1) (European Union) within 3 days at both the locations. Residues of the metabolite CGA 321113 was less than the limit of quantification (LOQ; 0.05 mg kg(-1)) on all sampling days. Tebuconazole residues dissipated to below its MRL (0.05 mg kg(-1)) within 14 and 11 days, at Bangalore and Gouribiddunur, respectively. From the two trials, it was concluded that the required pre-harvest interval (PHI) for the combination formulation was 14 days. Application of Nativo 75 WG should be given before flowering to allow the residues to dissipate below the MRLs at harvest.

Dissipation kinetics and residue of LH-2010A in cucumber and soil under greenhouse condition

LH-2010A is a newly developed fungicide with novel mode of action in the treatment of cucurbit downy mildew. Dissipation kinetics and residue levels of LH-2010A in cucumber were investigated using a QuEChERS method with GC-ECD. Field trials were constructed at three different sites in China in 2013 and 2014. The average recoveries of LH-2010A in fortified samples were between 94.0 and 106.2% for cucumber and between 84.4% and 98.7% for soil, with relative standard deviations within 3%. The dissipation rate of LH-2010A residue was evaluated assuming a pseudo first-order kinetics. The half-lives of LH-2010A were 2.8-4.2 days and 6.3-9.4 days in cucumber and soil samples, respectively. The terminal residues in cucumber were 0.077-0.207 mg/kg and 0.109-0.307 mg/kg on the first day after spray at the recommended dosage and 1.5 times of the recommended dosage, respectively. Using this rapid and sensitive method, we determined the dissipation kinetics and residue level of HL-2010A in cucumber. The suggested MRL value of HL-2010A in cucumber is 0.5 mg/kg. The research would provide guidance for proper and safe use of this newly developed fungicide in cucumber in greenhouse ecosystems.

Residues, dissipation, and risk assessment of spinosad in cowpea under open field conditions

The dissipation and residues of an eco-friendly bio-pesticide, spinosad, in cowpea under field conditions were studied using ultra-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MSMS) after Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe (QuEChERS) extraction. The method exhibited good linearity with respect to spinosyn A and spinosyn D in solvent or blank cowpea matrix with correlation coefficients>0.99. Additionally, matrix effects were not significant in the range 0.987-1.014, and the average recoveries at three concentration levels were 75.1-91.1 and 79.4-90.5% for spinosyn A and spinosyn D, respectively. The intra- and inter-day relative standard deviations were 2.5-9.3 and 7.8-9.8% for spinosyn A, respectively, and 4.1-7.9 and 6.6-8.3% for spinosyn D, respectively. The limits of detection (LODs) and limits of quantification (LOQs) were 0.005 and 0.01 mg kg(-1), respectively, for spinosyn A, and 0.002 and 0.005 mg kg(-1), respectively, for spinosyn D. The dissipation of spinosad (sum of spinosyn A and spinosyn D) fitted well to first-order kinetics with half-lives of 0.9-1.5 days. The highest residue (HR) at pre-harvest interval (PHI) of 12 h was 0.321 mg kg(-1). Compared with the maximum residue limit (MRL) set by Codex, a PHI of at least 24 h was recommended. The estimated daily chronic intake of spinosad from cowpea was less than 0.14% of the acceptable daily intake (ADI). Therefore, the risk of consuming cowpea sprayed with spinosad under recommended field conditions was considered acceptable for the Chinese population.

Persistence of Pendimethalin in/on Wheat, Straw, Soil and Water

Pendimethalin, a dinitroaniline group of organic herbicide compounds used as pre emergence weed control in wheat, onion and soyabean crops in India. The experiments were designed to study the harvest time residues of pendimethalin in wheat grain and straw its dissipation behaviour in soil and water. At harvest time, the residues of pendimethalin in wheat grain and straw were found to be below determination limit of 0.001 mg kg(-1) following single application of the herbicide at the rate of 1 (T1/single dose) and 2 (T2/double dose) kg a.i. ha(-1). Soil samples from the field were collected periodically and analysed by GC-ECD system. In soil, initial deposits of 4.069 and 10.473 mg kg(-1) of pendimethalin persisted up to 90 days and dissipation followed first order kinetics with half life period of 12.03 days in T1 and 13.00 days in T2. Residues of pendimethalin studied in water under laboratory conditions at 0.5 (T1) and 1.0 (T2) mg L(-1) levels persisted up to 90 days. Dissipation kinetics followed first order kinetics with half-life values of 12.70 and 13.78 days at single and double dose, respectively. Limit of determination in grain, straw and soil were 0.001 mg kg(-1) and in water was 0.001 mg L(-1). Application of the herbicide is considered quite safe from consumer and environmental point of view.

Field versus laboratory experiments to evaluate the fate of azoxystrobin in an amended vineyard soil

This study reports the effect that adding spent mushroom substrate (SMS) to a representative vineyard soil from La Rioja region (Spain) has on the behaviour of azoxystrobin in two different environmental scenarios. Field dissipation experiments were conducted on experimental plots amended at rates of 50 and 150 t ha(-1), and similar dissipation experiments were simultaneously conducted in the laboratory to identify differences under controlled conditions. Azoxystrobin dissipation followed biphasic kinetics in both scenarios, although the initial dissipation phase was much faster in the field than in the laboratory experiments, and the half-life (DT50) values obtained in the two experiments were 0.34-46.3 days and 89.2-148 days, respectively. Fungicide residues in the soil profile increased in the SMS amended soil and they were much higher in the top two layers (0-20 cm) than in deeper layers. The persistence of fungicide in the soil profile is consistent with changes in azoxystrobin adsorption by unamended and amended soils over time. Changes in the dehydrogenase activity (DHA) of soils under different treatments assayed in the field and in the laboratory indicated that SMS and the fungicide had a stimulatory effect on soil DHA. The results reveal that the laboratory studies usually reported in the literature to explain the fate of pesticides in amended soils are insufficient to explain azoxystrobin behaviour under real conditions. Field studies are necessary to set up efficient applications of SMS and fungicide, with a view to preventing the possible risk of water contamination.

Degradation and dissipation of the veterinary ionophore lasalocid in manure and soil

Lasalocid is a veterinary ionophore antibiotic used for prevention and treatment of coccidiosis in poultry. It is excreted from the treated animals mostly in its active form and enters the environment with the use of contaminated manure on agricultural land. To properly assess the risk that lasalocid poses to the environment, it is necessary to know its environmental concentrations as well as the rates of its degradation in manure and dissipation in soil. These values are still largely unknown. A research was undertaken to ascertain the rate of lasalocid degradation in manure under different storage conditions (aging in a pile or composting) and on agricultural soil after using lasalocid-contaminated manure. The results have shown that there is considerable difference in lasalocid degradation between aging manure with no treatment (t1/2=61.8±1.7 d) and composting (t1/2=17.5±0.8 d). Half-lives in soil are much shorter (on average 3.1±0.4 d). On the basis of the measured concentrations of lasalocid in soil after manure application, we can conclude that it can potentially be harmful to soil organisms (PEC/PNEC ratio of 1.18), but only in a worst-case scenario of using the maximum permissible amount of manure and immediately after application. To make certain that no harmful effects occur, composting is recommended.

Dissipation behavior of octachlorodipropyl ether residues during tea planting and brewing process

The dissipation behavior of octachlorodipropyl ether (OCDPE) residues in fresh tea shoots and in tea prepared under field conditions was investigated, and the transfer of residues from brewed tea to tea infusion was determined. OCDPE levels in tea shoots, prepared tea, tea infusion, and spent tea leaves were determined using a sensitive and simple method. The dissipation of OCDPE is fairly slow in tea shoots and prepared tea, with half-life values of 5.10 and 5.46 days, respectively. The degradation rates of OCDPE residues in tea processing were 23.9-43.1 %. The terminal residues of OCDPE in tea shoots and prepared tea samples after 20 and 30 days of OCDPE application were higher than 0.01 mg/kg. However, OCDPE's transfer rates from brewed tea to tea infusion were only 6.0-14.8 %. Further studies on risk assessment of OCDPE residue in tea on the basis of the relationship of OCDPE in prepared tea and infusion are warranted.

Method validation and dissipation dynamics of chlorfenapyr in squash and okra

QuEChERS method combined with GC-IT-MS was developed and validated for the determination of chlorfenapyr residues in squash and okra matrices. Method accuracy, repeatability, linearity and specificity were investigated. Matrix effect was discussed. Determination coefficients (R(2)) were 0.9992 and 0.9987 in both matrices. LODs were 2.4 and 2.2μg/kg, while LOQs were 8.2 and 7.3μg/kg. Method accuracy ranged from 92.76% to 106.49%. Method precision RSDs were ⩽12.59%. A field trial to assess chlorfenapyr dissipation behavior was carried out. The developed method was employed in analyzing field samples. Dissipation behavior followed first order kinetics in both crops. Half-life values (t1/2) ranged from 0.2 to 6.58days with determination coefficient (R(2)) ranged from 0.78 to 0.96. The developed method was utilized for surveying chlorfenapyr residues in squash and okra samples collected from the market. Monitoring results are discussed.

The molecular-kinetic approach to wetting dynamics: Achievements and limitations

The molecular-kinetic theory (MKT) of dynamic wetting was formulated almost 50 years ago. It explains the dependence of the dynamic contact angle on the speed of a moving meniscus by estimating the non-hydrodynamic dissipation in the contact line. Over the years it has been refined to account explicitly for the influence of (bulk) fluid viscosity and it has been applied successfully to both solid-liquid-vapour and solid-liquid-liquid systems. The free energy barrier for surface diffusion has been related to the energy of adhesion. The MKT provides a qualitative explanation for most effects in dynamic wetting. The theory is simple, flexible, and it is widely used to rationalize the physics of wetting dynamics and fit experimental data (dynamic contact angle versus contact line speed). The MKT predicts an intermediate wettability as optimal for high-speed coating as well as the maximum speeds of wetting and dewetting. Nevertheless, the values of the molecular parameters derived from experimental data tend to be scattered and not particularly reliable. This review outlines the main achievements and limitations of the MKT and highlights some common cases of misinterpretation.

Photolysis of natural β-triketonic herbicides in water

The fate of four natural β-triketones (leptospermone, isoleptospermone, grandiflorone and flavesone, pKa = 4.0-4.5) in aqueous solution, in the dark and upon simulated solar light irradiation was investigated. In anionic form, β-triketones undergo slow dark oxidation and photolysis with polychromatic quantum yields varying from 1.2 × 10(-4) to 3.7 × 10(-4). Leptospermone and grandiflorone are the most photolabile compounds. In molecular form, β-triketones are rather volatile. Polychromatic quantum yields between 1.2 × 10(-3) and 1.8 × 10(-3) could be measured for leptospermone and grandiflorone. They are 3-5 times higher than for the anionic forms. Photooxidation on the carbon atom bearing the acidic hydrogen atom is the main oxidation reaction, common to all the β-triketones whatever their ionization state. However, leptospermone shows a special photoreactivity. In molecular form, it mainly undergoes photoisomerization. Based on this work, the half-lives of β-triketones in surface waters should be comprised between 7 and 23 days.

Dissipation of triclosan, triclocarban, carbamazepine and naproxen in agricultural soil following surface or sub-surface application of dewatered municipal biosolids

In many jurisdictions land application of municipal biosolids is a valued source of nutrients for crop production. The practice must be managed to ensure that crops and adjacent water are not subject to contamination by pharmaceuticals or other organic contaminants. The broad spectrum antimicrobial agents triclosan (TCS) and triclocarban (TCC), the anti-epileptic drug carbamazepine (CBZ), and the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug naproxen (NAP) are widely used and are carried in biosolids. In the present study, the effect of biosolids and depth of placement in the soil profile on the rates of TCS, TCC, CBZ, and NAP dissipation were evaluated under semi-field conditions. Aggregates of dewatered municipal biosolids (DMBs) supplemented with (14)C-labeled residues were applied either on the soil surface or in the subsurface of the soil profile, and incubated over several months under ambient outdoor conditions. The dissipation of TCS, TCC and NAP was significantly faster in sub-surface than surface applied biosolid aggregates. In contrast the dissipation rate for CBZ was the same in surface applied and incorporated aggregates. Overall, the present study has determined a significant effect of depth of placement on the dissipation rate of biodegradable molecules.