Global trends in pesticides: A looming threat and viable alternatives

Progress in environmental monitoring and mitigation strategies for herbicides and insecticides: A comprehensive review

Herbicides and insecticides are pervasively applied in agricultural sector to increase the yield by controlling or eliminating bug vermin and weeds. Although, resistance development occurs, direct and indirect impact on human health and ecosystem is clearly visible. Normally, herbicides and pesticides are water soluble in nature; accordingly, it is hard to decrease their deadliness and to dis-appear them from the environment. They are profoundly specific, and considered as poisonous to various peoples in agricultural and industrial work places. In order to substantially reduce the harmful impacts, it is crucial to thoroughly examine the detection and mitigation measures for these compounds. The primary objective of this paper is to provide an overview of various herbicide and pesticide detection techniques and associated remedial techniques. A short summary on occurrence and harmful effects of herbicides/insecticides on ecosystem has been included to the study. The conventional and advanced, rapid techniques for the detection of insecticides and herbicides were described in detail. A detailed overview on several mitigation strategies including advanced oxidation, adsorption, electrochemical process, and bioremediation as well as the mechanism behind the strategic approaches to reduce the effects of growing pesticide pollution has been emphasized. Regardless of the detection techniques and mitigation strategies, the recent advances employed, obstacles, and perspectives have been discussed in detail.

An accurate and sensitive determination of selected pesticides in mixed fruit juice samples using the combination of a simple and efficient microextraction method and GC-MS with a matrix matching calibration strategy

Pesticides have been used on several fruits, vegetables and cereals to control harmful organisms in order to increase the quality of products; however, these substances cause serious health effects. Therefore, an accurate and sensitive analytical method should be developed for the determination of pesticides to evaluate their toxicity. In this study, an efficient microextraction strategy was applied to preconcentrate eight different selected pesticides from mixed fruit juice samples prior to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry detection. All significant parameters such as spraying number, extraction solvent type, sample volume and mixing type/period belonging to the developed extraction method were elaborately optimized to get low detection limits. After the optimization studies, system analytical performance studies were carried out and limit of detection (LOD) values varied from 0.04 μg /kg-1 to 1.99 μg kg-1 (mass based) for the selected analytes. Under the optimum experimental conditions, spiking recovery experiments were performed in the mixed fruit juice samples to evaluate the applicability and accuracy of the proposed method. The recovery results were recorded in the range of 81.4-123.5% with acceptable standard deviations by applying a matrix matching calibration strategy. The proposed analytical method can be used for the qualitative and quantitative determination of selected pesticides in the mixed fruit juice samples and can also be applied to other fruit juice samples using a matrix matching calibration strategy.

Computational study on organochlorine insecticides extraction using ionic liquids

Insecticides pose hazardous environmental effects and can enter the food chain and contaminate water resources. Ionic liquids (ILs) have recently drawn much interest as environmentally friendly solvents and have been an efficient choice for extracting pesticides because of their outstanding thermophysical characteristics and tunable nature. In this study, ILs were screened using COSMO-RS (Conductor-like Screening Model for Real Solvents) to extract organochlorine insecticides from water at 289 K. A total of 165 ILs, a combination of 33 cations with five anions, were screened by COSMO-RS to predict the selectivity and capacity of the organochlorine insecticides at infinite dilution. The Organochlorine insecticide compounds, such as benzene hexachloride (BHC), Heptachlor, Aldrin, Gamma-Chlordane (γ-Chlordane), Endrin, and Methoxychlor are selected for this study. Charge density profiles show that Endrin and Methoxychlor compounds are strong H-bond acceptors and weak H-bond donors, while the rest of the compounds are H-bond donors with no H-bond acceptor potential. Moreover, it has been shown that ILs composed of halides and heteroatomic anions in conjunction with cations have enhanced selectivity and capacity for insecticides. Moreover, the hydrophobic phosphonium-based ILs have enhanced selectivity and capacity for insecticides. In BHC extraction, the selectivity of 1,3-dimethyl-imidazolium chloride was found to be the highest at 1074.06, whereas 2-hydroxyethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride exhibited the highest capacity being 84.0.1,3-dimethyl-imidazolium chloride exhibits the highest performance index, which is 57064.77. In addition, the ILs that have been chosen are well-recognized as environmentally friendly and very effective solvents to extract insecticides from water. As a result, this study evaluated that ILs could be promising solvents that may be further developed for the extraction of insecticides from contaminated water.

Pesticides exposure and compromised fitness in wild birds: Focusing on the reproductive endocrine disruption

Exposure of pesticides to wildlife species, especially on the aspect of endocrine disruption is of great concern. Wildlife species are more at risk to harmful exposures to the pesticides in their natural habitat through diet and several other means. Species at a higher tropic level in the food chain are more susceptible to the deleterious effects due to sequential biomagnifications of the pesticides/metabolites. Pesticides directly affect fitness of the species in the wild causing reproductive endocrine disruption impairing the hormones of the gonads and thyroid glands as reproduction is under the influence of cross regulations of these hormones. This review presents a comprehensive compilation of important literatures on the impact of the current use pesticides in disruption of both the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal and hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axes particularly in birds addressing impacts on the reproductive impairments and overall fitness. In addition to the epidemiological studies, laboratory investigations those provide supportive evidences of the probable mechanisms of disruption in the wild also have been incorporated in this review. To accurately predict the endocrine-disruption of the pesticides as well as to delineate the risk associated with potential cumulative effects, studies are to be more focused on the environmentally realistic exposure dose, mixture pesticide exposures and transgenerational effects. In addition, strategic screening/appropriate methodologies have to be developed to reveal the endocrine disruption potential of the contemporary use pesticides. Demand for adequate quantitative structure-activity relationships and insilico molecular docking studies for timely validation have been highlighted.

Association between dietary pesticide exposure profiles and body weight change in French adults: Results from the NutriNet-Santé cohort

BACKGROUND

Pesticides cause a wide range of deleterious health effects, including metabolic disorders. Little is known about the effects of dietary pesticide exposure on body weight (BW) change in the general population. We aimed to investigate the role of dietary pesticide exposure in BW change among NutriNet-Santé participants, focusing on potential sexual dimorphism.

METHODS

Participants completed a Food Frequency Questionnaire (2014), assessing conventional and organic food consumption. Dietary exposure from plant foods of 25 commonly used pesticides was estimated using a residue database, accounting for agricultural practices (conventional and organic). Exposure profiles based on dietary patterns were computed using Non-negative Matrix Factorization (NMF). Mixed models were used to estimate the associations between BW change and exposure to pesticide mixtures, overall and after stratification by sex and menopausal status.

RESULTS

The final sample included 32,062 participants (8,211 men, 10,637 premenopausal, and 13,214 postmenopausal women). The median (IQR) follow-up was 7.0 (4.4; 8.0) years. Four pesticides profiles were inferred. Overall, men and postmenopausal women lost BW during follow-up, whereas premenopausal women gained BW. Higher exposure to NMF3, reflecting a lower exposure to synthetic pesticides, was associated with a lower BW gain, especially in premenopausal women (β(95 %CI) = -0.04 (-0.07; 0) kg/year, p = 0.04). Higher exposure to NMF2, highly positively correlated with a mixture of synthetic pesticides (azoxystrobin, boscalid, chlorpropham, cyprodinil, difenoconazole, fenhexamid, iprodione, tebuconazole, and lamda-cyhalothrin), was associated with a higher BW loss in men (β(95 %CI) = -0.05 (-0.08; -0.03) kg/year, p < 0.0001). No associations were observed for NMF1 and 4.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests a role of pesticide exposure, inferred from dietary patterns, on BW change, with sexually dimorphic actions, including a potential role of a lower exposure to synthetic pesticides on BW change in women. In men, exposure to a specific pesticide mixture was associated with higher BW loss. The underlying mechanisms need further elucidation.

The looming threat of profenofos organophosphate and microbes in action for their sustainable degradation

Organophosphates are the most extensively used class of pesticides to deal with increasing pest diversity and produce more on limited terrestrial areas to feed the ever-expanding global population. Profenofos, an organophosphate group of non-systematic insecticides and acaricides, is used to combat aphids, cotton bollworms, tobacco budworms, beet armyworms, spider mites, and lygus bugs. Profenofos was inducted into the system as a replacement for chlorpyrifos due to its lower toxicity and half-life. It has become a significant environmental concern due to its widespread presence. It accumulates in various environmental components, contaminating food, water, and air. As a neurotoxic poison, it inhibits acetylcholinesterase receptor activity, leading to dizziness, paralysis, and pest death. It also affects other eukaryotes, such as pollinators, birds, mammals, and invertebrates, affecting ecosystem functioning. Microbes directly expose themselves to profenofos and adapt to these toxic compounds over time. Microbes use these toxic compounds as carbon and energy sources and it is a sustainable and economical method to eliminate profenofos from the environment. This article explores the studies and developments in the bioremediation of profenofos, its impact on plants, pollinators, and humans, and the policies and laws related to pesticide regulation. The goal is to raise awareness about the global threat of profenofos and the role of policymakers in managing pesticide mismanagement.

Policy options for promoting wider use of biopesticides in Thai agriculture

Biopesticides are rapidly growing in importance for crop protection globally, but nearly all growth is happening in high income countries. No previous work systematically analyzed how lower-income countries can better benefit from the increased availability of biopesticides, which is important because these countries are particularly affected by the adverse effects of chemical pesticide use. Here we review the legislation of biopesticides in Thailand and combine this with stakeholder interviews and interview data from 300 smallholder farmers producing rice, fruit, vegetables, and flowers. We find that Thailand has adopted a biopesticide registration system that facilitates a fast-track registration, but it is still relatively costly considering the small market size. While 65 % of the sampled farmers used biopesticides, most farmers still heavily relied on conventional pesticides as their main method to control pests. Education, farming experience, positive attitudes of biopesticides, adoption of other integrated pest management methods and contacts with government extension agents were positively associated with biopesticide use. Coordinated action is needed to stimulate the supply of a wider range of biopesticide products while promoting adoption among farmers.

TMT-Based Proteomic Analysis Reveals the Molecular Mechanisms of Sodium Pheophorbide A against Black Spot Needle Blight Caused by Pestalotiopsis neglecta in Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica

Black spot needle blight is a minor disease in Mongolian Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica) caused by Pestalotiopsis neglecta, but it can cause economic losses in severe cases. Sodium pheophorbide a (SPA), an intermediate product of the chlorophyll metabolism pathway, is a compound with photoactivated antifungal activity, which has been previously shown to inhibit the growth of P. neglecta. In this study, SPA significantly reduced the incidence and disease index and enhanced the chlorophyll content and antioxidant enzyme activities of P. sylvestris var. mongolica. To further study the molecular mechanism of the inhibition, we conducted a comparative proteomic analysis of P. neglecta mycelia with and without SPA treatment. The cellular proteins were obtained from P. neglecta mycelial samples and subjected to a tandem mass tag (TMT)-labelling LC-MS/MS analysis. Based on the results of de novo transcriptome assembly, 613 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) (p < 0.05) were identified, of which 360 were upregulated and 253 downregulated. The 527 annotated DEPs were classified into 50 functional groups according to Gene Ontology and linked to 256 different pathways using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database as a reference. A joint analysis of the transcriptome and proteomics results showed that the top three pathways were Amino acid metabolism, Carbohydrate metabolism, and Lipid metabolism. These results provide new viewpoints into the molecular mechanism of the inhibition of P. neglecta by SPA at the protein level and a theoretical basis for evaluating SPA as an antifungal agent to protect forests.

Polymeric ionic liquid sorbent coatings in thin film microextraction: Insight into sorbent selectivity for pesticides and cannabinoids

Polymeric ionic liquid (PIL) sorbent coatings consisting of polymerizable cations and anions were employed as sorbent coatings in thin film microextraction (TFME) for the extraction of pesticides and cannabinoids. The blades consisted of a thin film of PIL sorbents chemically bonded to vinyltrimethoxysilane-functionalized nitinol sheets. The imidazolium- or ammonium-based PIL sorbents contained aromatic benzyl moieties as well as polar hydroxyl groups or aliphatic functional groups within the chemical structure of the IL monomer. The chemical structure of the IL crosslinkers of the PILs were kept constant across each sorbent, except for the anion, which consisted of either bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide ([NTf2-]), p-styrenesulfonate ([SS-]), or 3-sulfopropyl acrylate ([SPA-]). Temperature, salt content, and methanol content were optimized as extraction conditions to maximize pesticide-cannabinoid selectivity using Doehlert design of experiments (DOE). Effects of these three factors on selectivity and extraction efficiency are discussed. The optimal extraction conditions consisting of sample temperature (31°C), sodium chloride (30% w/v), and methanol content (0.25% v/v) are compared to initial sorbent screening conditions at a sample temperature of 40°C, 15% (w/v) sodium chloride, and 2.5% (v/v) methanol content. PIL sorbent swelling behavior at different salt and methanol content conditions and its effect on extraction efficiency are hypothesized. Selectivity factors for the sorbents indicated that aromatic moieties within the IL monomer may enhance pesticide-cannabinoid selectivity under optimized conditions, but the extraction efficiency of pesticides that are known to coelute with cannabinoids in the chromatographic separation may be enhanced by employing sorbent coatings with [SPA-] anions.

Research progress on remediation of organochlorine pesticide contamination in soil

Deteriorated soil pollution has grown into a worldwide environmental concern over the years. Organochlorine pesticide (OCP) residues, featured with ubiquity, persistence and refractoriness, are one of the main pollution sources, causing soil degradation, fertility decline and nutritional imbalance, and severely impacting soil ecology. Furthermore, residual OCPs in soil may enter the human body along with food chain accumulation and pose a serious health threat. To date, many remediation technologies including physicochemical and biological ways for organochlorine pollution have been developed at home and abroad, but none of them is a panacea suitable for all occasions. Rational selection and scientific decision-making are grounded in in-depth knowledge of various restoration techniques. However, soil pollution treatment often encounters the interference of multiple factors (climate, soil properties, cost, restoration efficiency, etc.) in complex environments, and there is still a lack of systematic summary and comparative analysis of different soil OCP removal methods. Thus, to better guide the remediation of contaminated soil, this review summarized the most commonly used strategies for OCP removal, evaluated their merits and limitations and discussed the application scenarios of different methods. It will facilitate the development of efficient, inexpensive and environmentally friendly soil remediation strategies for sustainable agricultural and ecological development.

Pupil size change in agricultural workers exposed to pesticides

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Pupil size evaluation using clinical examination may be important for detecting and monitoring individuals at risk of neurotoxic effects from chemical exposure, as it may enable early intervention and the implementation of preventive measures.

BACKGROUND

This work aimed to investigate the association between pesticide exposure and pupil size. Pupil size is regulated by muscarinic and nicotinic receptors, and it is well-established that common pesticide chemicals disrupt this regulation.

METHODS

Twenty agricultural workers exposed to pesticides, and twenty participants not exposed, underwent visual screening, and pupil size evaluation under mesopic and photopic conditions. Additionally, signs of neurotoxicity and pesticide exposure in both groups were evaluated using the modified version of the neurotoxic symptoms questionnaire (Q16) and measuring cholinesterase (AChE) levels in blood, respectively.

RESULTS

Agricultural workers exposed to pesticides had a score indicating medium-high level of neurotoxicity (49.85 (SD ± 8.94)) which was significantly higher (t (36) = 7.659, p ≤ 0.0001) than non-exposed participants who had low levels of neurotoxicity (27.25 SD ± 8.86). There was a significant difference in pupil size (mm) under mesopic (t (19) 4.42 p = 0.003) and scotopic (t (19) 4.63, p = 0.0002) conditions between the two groups. Additionally, there was a significant difference in AChE blood levels (t (19) 2.94 p = 0.008) between exposed and non-exposed participants, indicating that exposed workers had low levels of this enzyme (average exposed group 3381 U/L (SD ± 1306)) compared to the non-exposed group (average non-exposed group 4765 U/L (SD ± 1300)). A significant negative correlation between AChE levels, years of exposure, and pupil size was found. The latter finding importantly showed that smaller pupils are associated with the accumulation of acetylcholine or a decrease in the activity of the enzyme AChE.

CONCLUSION

Pupil size of agricultural workers exposed to pesticides can be abnormal and is associated with neurotoxicity as indicated by symptomatology and cholinesterase levels. Evaluation of pupil size may be useful for clinically detecting neurotoxicity.

Design and Synthesis of a Water-Based Nanodelivery Pesticide System for Improved Efficacy and Safety

Developing an environmentally friendly and safe nanodelivery system is crucial to improve the efficacy of pesticides and minimize environmental and health risks. However, preparing a completely water-based nanopesticide without using harmful solvents is a technical challenge. In this study, a water-based nanodelivery pesticide system was constructed to improve the efficacy and safety of Emamectin Benzoate (EB). A specific surfactant, 29-(4-(5-hydroxynonan-5-yl)phenoxy)-3,6,9,12,15,18,21,24,27-nonaoxanonacosan-1-ol (SurEB) was designed and synthesized to form a water-based nanodelivery system (EBWNS) with EB. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed the self-assembly and interaction forces between SurEB and EB in water, providing insights into the formation mechanism of EBWNS nanoparticles. The nanodelivery system showed the prolonged effectivity of EB with reduced degradation and demonstrated a good control efficacy for multiple target pests, such as red spider mite, beet armyworm larvae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and rice stem borers (Chilo suppressalis). Toxicology tests on various objects demonstrated that the EBWNS has low toxicity for seeds, HaCaT cells, zebrafish, earthworm, and E. coli. This study provides a distinctive perspective for developing environmentally friendly nanopesticide formulations, which clarified a water-based treatment method for specific lipid-soluble pesticides. The water-based nanodelivery pesticide system has the potential to improve the efficacy and safety of pesticides in the process of field applications.

Association of hair polychlorinated biphenyls and multiclass pesticides with obesity, diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia in NESCAV study

Obesity, diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia are well-established risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), and have been associated with exposure to persistent organic pollutants. However, studies have been lacking as regards effects of non-persistent pesticides on CVD risk factors. Here, we investigated whether background chronic exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and multiclass pesticides were associated with the prevalence of these CVD risk factors in 502 Belgian and 487 Luxembourgish adults aged 18-69 years from the Nutrition, environment and cardiovascular health (NESCAV) study 2007-2013. We used hair analysis to evaluate the chronic internal exposure to three PCBs, seven organochlorine pesticides (OCs) and 18 non-persistent pesticides. We found positive associations of obesity with hexachlorobenzene (HCB), β-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH) and chlorpyrifos, diabetes with pentachlorophenol (PCP), fipronil and fipronil sulfone, hypertension with PCB180 and chlorpyrifos, and dyslipidemia with diflufenican and oxadiazon, among others. However, we also found some inverse associations, such as obesity with PCP, diabetes with γ-HCH, hypertension with diflufenican, and dyslipidemia with chlorpyrifos. These results add to the existing evidence that OC exposure may contribute to the development of CVDs. Additionally, the present study revealed associations between CVD risk factors and chronic environmental exposure to currently used pesticides such as organophosphorus and pyrethroid pesticides.

Effects of field-aging on the impact of biochar on herbicide fate and microbial community structure in the soil environment

Biochar can enhance organic carbon storage and mitigate the adverse effects of pesticides in the soil. However, the mechanisms by which field-aging affects the impacts of biochar on herbicide behavior and the composition of microbial communities in the soil remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the influences of aged and fresh biochar on herbicide behavior and microbial community structure in the soil. Herein, with 14C-labeled technology, aged treatment (soil amended with field-aged biochar), fresh treatment (soil amended with fresh biochar), and control (soil without biochar) were installed to evaluate their treatment capacities. The results showed that the average leaching out and mineralization of simazine in the aged treatment were significantly higher by 4.8% and 1.66% (P < 0.05) compared with the fresh treatment. Relative to the control, the pesticide was significantly adsorbed (P < 0.05) in the aged treatment. The abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) significantly increased by 1.03 and 1.16-fold, whereas fungi increased dramatically by 1.02-fold and decreased by 1.21-fold in the aged and fresh treatments, respectively (P < 0.05). In addition, eukaryotes were effectively reduced by 1.02 and 1.14-fold in these treatments, respectively (P < 0.05). This study suggests that field aging can undermine the impacts of biochar on pesticides and modify the microbial community structure in the soil environment.

Racial and ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in childhood cancer incidence trends in the United States, 2000-2019

BACKGROUND

Population-based surveillance of pediatric cancer incidence trends is critical to determine high-risk populations, drive hypothesis generation, and uncover etiologic heterogeneity. We provide a comprehensive update to the current understanding of pediatric cancer incidence trends by sex, race and ethnicity, and socioeconomic status (SES).

METHODS

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 22 data (2000-2019) was used to summarize age-adjusted incidence rates for children and adolescents aged 0-19 years at diagnosis. The annual percentage change (APC) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated to evaluate incidence trends by sex, race and ethnicity, and SES overall and for cancer subtypes. Tests of statistical significance were 2-sided.

RESULTS

Substantial variation was observed overall and for several histologic types in race and ethnicity- and SES-specific rates. Overall, we observed a statistically significant increase in incidence rates (APC = 0.8%, 95% CI = 0.6% to 1.1%). All race and ethnic groups saw an increase in incidence rates, with the largest occurring among non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native children and adolescents (APC = 1.7%, 95% CI = 0.5% to 2.8%) and the smallest increase occurring among non-Hispanic White children and adolescents (APC = 0.7%, 95% CI = 0.5% to 1.0%). The lowest SES quintiles saw statistically significant increasing trends, while the highest quintile remained relatively stable (quintile 1 [Q1] APC = 1.6%, 95% CI = 0.6% to 2.6%; quintile 5 [Q5] APC = 0.3%, 95% CI = -0.1% to 0.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

Childhood cancer incidence is increasing overall and among every race and ethnic group. Variation by race and ethnicity and SES may enable hypothesis generation on drivers of disparities observed.

Spent substrate from mushroom cultivation: exploitation potential toward various applications and value-added products

Spent mushroom substrate (SMS) is the residual biomass generated after harvesting the fruitbodies of edible/medicinal fungi. Disposal of SMS, the main by-product of the mushroom cultivation process, often leads to serious environmental problems and is financially demanding. Efficient recycling and valorization of SMS are crucial for the sustainable development of the mushroom industry in the frame of the circular economy principles. The physical properties and chemical composition of SMS are a solid fundament for developing several applications, and recent literature shows an increasing research interest in exploiting that inherent potential. This review provides a thorough outlook on SMS exploitation possibilities and discusses critically recent findings related to specific applications in plant and mushroom cultivation, animal husbandry, and recovery of enzymes and bioactive compounds.

Magnetic Hydrogel Microrobots as Insecticide Carriers for In Vivo Insect Pest Control in Plants

The cost of insect pests to human society exceeds USD70 billion per year worldwide in goods, livestock, and healthcare services. Therefore, pesticides are needed to prevent insect damage despite the secondary effects of these chemical agents on non-target organisms. Chemicals encapsulation into carriers is a promising strategy to improve their specificity. Hydrogel-based microrobots show enormous potential as chemical carriers. Herein, hydrogel chitosan magnetic microrobots encapsulating ethyl parathion (EP)-CHI@Fe3 O4 are used to efficiently kill mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor). The mechanism takes advantage of pH-responsive chitosan degradation at Tenebrio molitor midgut pH to efficiently deliver pesticide into the mealworm intestinal tract in just 2 h. It is observed that under a transversal rotating magnetic field, mealworm populations show higher mortality after 30 min compared to free pesticide. This example of active pesticide carriers based on soft microrobots opens new avenues for microrobots applications in the agrochemical field as active chemical carriers.

Enrichment, bioaccumulation and human health assessment of organochlorine pesticides in sediments and edible fish of a plateau lake

The organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are with features of persistence, high toxicity, bioaccumulation and adverse impact on ecosystems and human beings. Although OCPs pollutions have been observed in the plateau lakes, comprehensive understandings in the distribution characteristics and human health risks of OCPs in these valuable but fragile ecosystems are limited. We here investigated the distribution, bioaccumulation process and health risks of OCPs in the Jianhu lake, a representative plateau lake in China. The endrin ketone, endrin aldehyde and heptachlor were the most dominant species in surface and columnar sediments. Their total contents ranged between 0 ~ 1.92 × 103 ng·g-1. The distribution of OCPs in sediment cores combined with chronology information indicated that the fast accumulation of OCPs happened during the last decades. Combining the distribution features of OCPs in different sources with mixing model results of carbon isotope (δ13C), farming area was identified as the main source (46%), and the OCPs were transported to lake by inflow-rivers (37%). The enrichment of OCPs in sediments caused considerable bioaccumulation of OCPs in local fish (∑OCPs 0-3199.93 ng·g-1, dw) with the bio-sediment accumulation factor (BSAF) ranging from ND to 9.41. Moreover, growing time was another key factor governing the accumulation in specific species (Carassius auratus and Cyprinus carpio). Eventually, the carcinogenic risk index (CRI) and exposure risk index (ERI) of the endrin category and aldrin exceeded the reference value, indicating relatively high health risks through consumption of fish. Overall, this study systematically illustrated the bioaccumulation process and health risks of OCPs in the typical plateau lake, providing theoretical support for the better protection of this kind of lakes.

Selected Fungicides as Potential EDC Estrogenic Micropollutants in the Environment

An increasing level of pesticide exposition is being observed as a result of the consumption of large amounts of fruits, vegetables and grain products, which are key components of the vegetarian diet. Fungicides have been classified as endocrine-disrupting compounds, but their mechanisms of action have not yet been clarified. The effect of boscalid (B), cyprodinil (C) and iprodione (I) combined with Tamoxifen (T) and 17β-estradiol (E2) on cell viability, cell proliferation, reporter gene expression, ROS content, the cell membrane's function, cell morphology and antioxidant enzymes gene expression in MCF-7 and T47D-KBluc cell lines were investigated. The cell lines were chosen due to their response to 17β -estradiol. The selected fungicides are commonly used in Poland to protect crops against fungi. Our results revealed that the studied fungicides caused significant increases in cell viability and proliferation, and estrogenic activity was present in all studied compounds depending on their concentrations. Oxidative stress activated uncontrolled cancer cell proliferation by inducing ROS production and by inhibiting antioxidant defense. Our findings verify that the studied fungicides could possibly exhibit endocrine-disrupting properties and exposure should be avoided.

Physiological mechanism of action and partial separation of herbicide-active compounds from the Diaporthe sp. extract on Amaranthus tricolor L

Thirteen fungi that produce compounds with herbicidal activities were isolated, identified, and extracted under the assumption that the mechanism of action occurs during seed exposure to the extract. The extracts from all the fungal strains considerably decreased the growth parameters of Amaranthus tricolor L. The EC010 strain extracts showed the greatest effect. Through ITS region gene sequencing methods, the isolated EC010 was identified as a genus of Diaporthe. The results showed a significant (p < 0.05) inhibitory effect of 91.25% on germination and a decrease in shoot and root length by 91.28% and 95.30%, respectively. The mycelium of Diaporthe sp. was extracted using sequential extraction techniques for the partial separation of the herbicidal fraction. According to the bioassay activities, the EtOAc fraction showed the highest inhibitory activity. The osmotic stress of the A. tricolor seeds was studied. Although the extract increased the accumulation of proline and soluble protein, the treated seeds showed lower imbibition. While the activity of α-amylase was dramatically decreased after treatment. A cytogenetic assay in the treated Allium cepa L. root revealed a decrease in the mitotic index, an altered mitotic phase index, and a promotion of mitotic abnormalities. Accordingly, the Diaporthe sp. may serve as a potential herbicidal compound resource.

A Weak Electricigen-Based Bioelectrochemical Sensor for Real-Time Monitoring of Chemical Pollutants in Water

Electroactive microorganisms are now understood to be abundant across nature, though many are categorized as "weak electricigens" not suitable for reasonable power generation. We report the use of weak electricigens from the natural environment for rapid, real-time water quality monitoring. Using a variety of pesticides as model chemical pollutants, the bioelectrochemical sensor was responsive within minutes at all concentrations tested (0.05-2 ppm) and could be repreatedly used long-term. Due to the prevalence of electroactive microorganisms in the natural environment, such sensors could work in tandem with conventional monitoring methods and may be useful for detecting emerging contaminants.

β-glucuronidase as a biomarker for assessing the exposure to anticholinergic pesticides: A meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

The human exposure to anticholinergic pesticides has been associated with the development of various diseases. Therefore, several biomarkers have been proposed for biomonitoring human exposure to anticholinergic pesticides.

OBJECTIVE

This work evaluated the effect of human exposure to anticholinergic pesticides on β-glucuronidase (GUSB) levels.

METHODS

A systematic review was performed using PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and EBSCO databases up to December 2021. The statistical analysis employed standardized mean differences and meta-regression. And the trial sequential analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Nine studies were included. A monotonic relationship was observed between poisoning severity and GUSB. Furthermore, BuChE levels were correlated with GUSB levels.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicated that GUSB levels could be used as a possible diagnosis biomarker in poisoning related to anticholinergic pesticide exposure. However, the use of GUSB to assess the chronic exposure to anticholinergic pesticides could be only performed in recent exposure (≈ 7 days after last exposure).

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane for Malaria and Agricultural Uses and Its Impacts on Human Health

Pesticides are widely used in agriculture and disease control, and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) is one of the most used pesticides in human history. Besides its significant contributions in pest control in agriculture, DDT was credited as having saved millions of human lives for controlling malaria and other deadly insect-transmitted diseases. Even today, the use of DDT in some countries for malaria control cannot be replaced without endangering people who live there. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has changed our lives and reminded us of the challenges in dealing with infectious diseases, especially deadly ones including malaria. However, DDT and its metabolites are stable, persist long, are found in almost every corner of the world, and their persistent effects on humans, animals, and the environment must be seriously considered. This review will focus on the history of DDT use for agriculture and malaria control, the pathways for the spread of DDT, benefits and risks of DDT use, DDT exposure to animals, humans, and the environment, and the associated human health risks. These knowledge and findings of DDT will benefit the selection and management of pesticides worldwide.

Effects of Inorganic and Organic Pollutants on the Biomarkers' Response of Cerastoderma edule under Temperature Scenarios

Currently, there is increased chemical pollution, and climate change is a major concern to scientific, political and social communities globally. Marine systems are very susceptible to changes, and considering the ecological and economic roles of bivalve species, like Cerastoderma edule, studies evaluating the effects of both stressors are of great importance. This study intends to (a) determine the toxicity of copper (Cu) and oxyfluorfen at the lethal level, considering the temperature; (b) assess the changes in the antioxidant defence enzymes as a consequence of the simultaneous exposure to chemical and warming pressures; and (c) determine if lipid peroxidation (LPO) and neurotoxic effects occur after the exposure to chemical and temperature stressors. C. edule was exposed to Cu and oxyfluorfen at different temperatures (15 °C, 20 °C and 25 °C) for 96 h. The ecotoxicological results reveal a higher tolerance of C. edule to oxyfluorfen than to Cu, regardless of the temperature. The antioxidant defence system revealed efficiency in fighting the chemicals' action, with no significant changes in the thiobarbituric reactive species (TBARS) levels to 15 °C and 20 °C. However, a significant inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was observed on the organisms exposed to oxyfluorfen at 20 °C, as well as a decreasing trend on the ones exposed to Cu at this temperature. Moreover, the catalase (CAT) showed a significant increase in the organisms exposed to the two highest concentrations of Cu at 15 °C and in the ones exposed to the highest concentration of oxyfluorfen at 20 °C. Looking at the temperature as a single stressor, the organisms exposed to 25 °C revealed a significant increase in the TBARS level, suggesting potential LPO and explaining the great mortality at this condition.

Novel Finding on How Melatonin and Nanoselenium Alleviate 2,4-D Butylate Stress in Wheat Plants

Nanoselenium (nano-Se) or melatonin (MT) foliar spray reduces pesticide stress by stimulating plant secondary metabolism and antioxidant capacity. However, the effects of nano-Se and MT biofortification on the interaction between plant secondary metabolic pathways and rhizosphere microbes in mitigating 2,4-D butyrate stress remain unknown. Compared to nano-Se or MT treatment alone, nano-Se and MT combined application increased the antioxidant enzyme activities and decreased the MDA (25.0%) and H2O2 (39.3%) contents with 2,4-D butylate exposure. Importantly, they enhance the soil enzymes (S-FDA by 53.1%), allelochemicals (luteolin by 164.1% and tricin by 147.3%), as well as plant secondary metabolites (JA by 63.3% and 193.3% in leaves and roots) levels. It also improved the beneficial microbial abundance of Comamonadaceae, Sphingomonadaceae, and Rhodobacteraceae in the rhizosphere soil. In conclusion, nano-Se and MT alleviate 2,4-D butylate stress in wheat plants by enabling the interaction between rhizosphere microorganisms, allelopathic substances, and secondary metabolites.

Impairment of visual and neurologic functions associated with agrochemical use

To determine whether exposure to occupational levels of agrochemicals is associated with a range of low- (contrast and colour) and higher-level visual functions, particularly the detection of global form and motion coherence. We compared the performance of workers exposed to occupational levels of pesticides and non-exposed individuals on visual tasks that measured colour discrimination (Farnsworth Munsell 100 and Lanthony D15 desaturated) and the contrast sensitivity function (1-16 cpd). Global form and motion detection thresholds were measured using Glass-pattern and global dot motion stimuli. Neurotoxicity symptoms and biological markers associated with pesticide exposure were quantified using the Q16 modified questionnaire and via tests for levels of acetylcholinesterase in blood and substance P from the tear film, respectively. Workers exposed to pesticides had significantly more neurotoxic symptoms than non-exposed workers. No significant difference between groups for acetylcholinesterase levels was found, but there was a significant group difference in Substance P. The exposed group also had significantly poorer contrast sensitivity, colour discrimination and higher coherence detection thresholds for global form and motion perception. Exposure to occupational levels of agrochemicals in workers with signs of neurotoxicity is associated with low and high visual perception deficits.

Biomarkers of organophosphate insecticides exposure and asthma in general US adults: findings from NHANES 1999-2018 data

The limited evidence linking exposure to organophosphate insecticides (OPIs) and asthma in the general population prompted us to investigate this association. Our study focused on US adults and utilized representative samples from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). From the 7 NHANES waves (1999-2018), we detected OPIs exposure using the urinary concentrations of six metabolites of dialkyl phosphates (DAPs). To evaluate the relationship between these OPIs and asthma, we employed three statistical methods: survey-multivariable logistic regression (SMLR), generalized weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression, and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR). Stratified analyses were done based on the relevant variable subgroups, and sensitivity analyses were carried out to evaluate the robustness of findings. A total of 6009 adults aged from 20 to 85 years old, representing the 313.5 million adults in the non-institutionalized US population, were included in our analyses. Among them, 842 participants were determined as asthma patients with an age-adjusted prevalence of 14.2%. Our results showed that dimethyl phosphate (DMP) (adjusted odd ratio (AOR) = 1.471, 95% CI: 1.086, 1.993), diethyl phosphate (DEP) (AOR = 1.453, 95% CI: 1.118, 1.888), dimethyl thiophosphate (DMTP) (AOR = 1.454, 95% CI: 1.071, 1.973), and dimethyl dithiophosphate (DMDTP) (AOR = 1.478, 95% CI: 1.119, 1.953) had a positive correlation with asthma in adults. This association was stronger in females, non-Hispanic White populations and those with a small amount of physical activity. Our study findings indicated that exposure to OPIs may elevate the risk of asthma in US general adults. Specifically, females, individuals from non-Hispanic White backgrounds, and those with lower levels of physical activity are more susceptible to developing asthma when exposed to OPIs.

Adsorption of glyphosate and metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) from water by polymer-based spherical activated carbon (PBSAC)

Glyphosate (GLY) is the most commonly used herbicide worldwide, and aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) is its main metabolite. Their occurrence in ground and surface waters causes diseases in humans, while complex physico-chemical properties hinder detection and effective removal. Polymer-based spherical activated carbon (PBSAC) can adsorb many micropollutants efficiently and, hence, overcome the shortfalls of conventional treatment methods. The static adsorption of a mixture of GLY and AMPA by PBSAC was investigated with varying PBSAC properties and relevant solution chemistry. The results show that PBSAC can remove 95% GLY and 57% AMPA from an initial concentration of 1 µg/L at pH 8.2. PBSAC properties (size, activation level, and surface charge) have a strong influence on herbicide removal, where surface area plays a key role. Low to neutral pH favors non-charge interactions and results in good adsorption, while higher temperatures equally enhance GLY/AMPA adsorption by PBSAC. The work demonstrated the effective removal of GLY to meet the European guideline concentration (0.1 µg/L), while AMPA could not be removed to the required level.

Suicide and suicidality in people exposed to pesticides: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Exposure to pesticides has been proposed to be a positive association in suicide and suicidality. Many studies have explored this topic, but have reported inconsistent findings. We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis of the now existing evidence on the association between pesticide exposure and the risk of suicide and suicidality. We searched PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science databases for studies published up to February 1, 2023. For studies that provided detailed data, we applied quantitative meta-analysis to calculate Odds ratio (OR) with 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs) to evaluate the results. Heterogeneity among the included studies was assessed using Cochran's Q test, I² statistic and tau-squared (τ²). Publication bias was evaluated by funnel plots, Egger's test, and Begg's test. In addition, subgroup analyses according to pesticides category and geographical area were performed. 2906 studies were initially identified, and 20 studies were eventually included. Fifteen of the studies were on suicide deaths and suicide attempts, and five were on suicidal ideation. Pesticide exposure was positively related to suicide deaths and suicide attempts (pooled OR = 1.31; 95%CI: 1.04-1.64, p < 0.001) and suicidal ideation (pooled OR = 2.43; 95%CI: 1.51-3.91, p = 0.015). In the subgroup analysis, mixed pesticide type (pooled OR = 1.55; 95%CI: 1.39-1.74) increased the risk of suicide deaths and suicide attempts. The results of the analysis by geographic area showed that the risk of suicide deaths and suicide attempts with pesticide exposure was 2.27 (95%CI = 1.36-3.78), and 1.33 (95%CI = 1.14-1.56) in Asia and Europe, respectively. The risk of suicidal ideation caused by pesticide exposure in Asia and America were 2.19 (95%CI = 1.08-4.42) and 2.99 (95%CI = 1.76-5.06). In conclusion, pesticide exposure may increase the risk of suicide and suicidality based on the current evidence.

Generalizing routes of plant exposure to pesticides by plant uptake models to assess pesticide application efficiency

Pesticide application techniques are critical not only for integrated pest management (IPM) but also for food and environmental safety. Assessing pesticide application efficiency on plants can help optimize IPM and reduce pesticide environmental impacts. With hundreds of pesticides registered for use in agriculture, this study proposed a modeling approach based on plant uptake models for generalizing routes of plant chemical exposures that can correspond to different types of pesticide application methods and evaluating their respective efficiency on plants. Three representative pesticide application methods (i.e., drip irrigation, foliar spray, and broadcast application) were selected for modeling simulations. The simulation results for three representative pesticides (i.e., halofenozide, pymetrozine, and paraquat) revealed that the soil-based transpiration exposure route facilitated the bioaccumulation of moderately lipophilic compounds in leaves and fruits. While the plant surface-based exposure route (i.e., leaf cuticle penetration) made it easier for highly lipophilic compounds to enter plants, moderately lipophilic pesticides (i.e., log K_OW ∼ 2) were more soluble in phloem sap, which enhanced their subsequent transport within plant tissues. In general, moderately lipophilic pesticides had the highest simulated residue concentrations in plant tissues for the three specific application methods, indicating they had the highest application efficiency due to their enhanced uptake routes (via transpiration and surface penetration) and increased solubility in xylem and phloem saps. Compared to foliar spray and broadcast application, drip irrigation produced higher residue concentrations for a wide variety of pesticides, exhibiting the highest application efficiency for many pesticides, especially for moderately lipophilic compounds. Future research should incorporate plant growth stages, crop safety, pesticide formulations, and multiple application events into the modeling approach for understanding pesticide application efficiency evaluation.

Exposure to the fungicide prothioconazole and its metabolite prothioconazole-desthio induced hepatic metabolism disorder and oxidative stress in mice

Prothioconazole (PTC), as a popular triazole fungicide, with its main metabolite prothioconazole desthio (PTC-d), have attracted widespread concern due to their widely use and toxicological effects on non-target organisms. However, toxic effects of study analyzed PTC and PTC-d on the hepatic metabolism of mammalian still remains unclear. In this study, we conducted the study of the C57BL/6 mice which oral exposure to 30 mg/kg PTC and PTC-d via metabolomic analysis. In the liver, the metabolomics profile unveiled that exposure to 30 mg/kg PTC and PTC-d led to significantly altered 13 and 28 metabolites respectively, with 6 metabolites in common including significant decreased d-Fructose, Glutathione, showing the change of carbohydrate, lipid and amino acid metabolism. Via the further exploration of genes related to hepatic glycolipid metabolism and the biomarkers of oxidative stress, we found that liver was potentially damaged after exposure to 5 and 30 mg/kg PTC and PTC-d. Particularly, it was proved that PTC-d caused more adverse effect than its parent compound PTC on hepatotoxicity, and high concentration PTC or PTC-d exposure is more harmful than low concentration exposure.

The diabetogenic effects of pesticides: Evidence based on epidemiological and toxicological studies

While the use of pesticides has improved grain productivity and controlled vector-borne diseases, the widespread use of pesticides has resulted in ubiquitous environmental residues that pose health risks to humans. A number of studies have linked pesticide exposure to diabetes and glucose dyshomeostasis. This article reviews the occurrence of pesticides in the environment and human exposure, the associations between pesticide exposures and diabetes based on epidemiological investigations, as well as the diabetogenic effects of pesticides based on the data from in vivo and in vitro studies. The potential mechanisms by which pesticides disrupt glucose homeostasis include induction of lipotoxicity, oxidative stress, inflammation, acetylcholine accumulation, and gut microbiota dysbiosis. The gaps between laboratory toxicology research and epidemiological studies lead to an urgent research need on the diabetogenic effects of herbicides and current-use insecticides, low-dose pesticide exposure research, the diabetogenic effects of pesticides in children, and assessment of toxicity and risks of combined exposure to multiple pesticides with other chemicals.

Catalytic degradation of propetamphos and azamethiphos using silver ion

In this study, the degradation of two organophosphate pesticides, namely, propetamphos and azamethiphos, in the presence of Ag⁺ at different mole ratios was investigated. Moreover, the kinetic and degradation pathways of both chemicals in the range of 0-60 min were explored. Gas chromatography equipped with a thermionic specific detector was used to investigate the pesticide degradation kinetics and mechanism. The results show that the degradation rate of both pesticides follows first-order kinetic. The first-order rate constant and the half-life of reaction were in the range of 0.002-0.143 min^-1, 187-2.1 min, and 0.005-0.164 min^-1 and 60-1.8 min, for propetamphos and azamethiphos, respectively, at ambient temperature (25 ºC). Because group containing sulfur atom is a better leaving group than group containing nitrogen, the rate of degradation of azamethiphos is higher than propetamphos. In a higher mole ratio of Ag⁺ to pesticides, the degradation rate was increased, and it is possible to predict the rate of degradation of pesticides according to the chemical composition of leaving group.

Co-exposure of organophosphorus pesticides is associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in a Chinese population

OBJECTIVE

The epidemiological evidence of human exposure to organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and prediabetes (PDM) is scarce. We aimed to examine the association of T2DM/PDM risk with single OPP exposure and multi-OPP co-exposure.

METHODS

Plasma levels of ten OPPs were measured using the gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) among 2734 subjects from the Henan Rural Cohort Study. We used generalized linear regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) or β with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and constructed quantile g-computation and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models to investigate the association of OPPs mixture with the risk of T2DM and PDM.

RESULTS

High detection rates ranged from 76.35% (isazophos) to 99.17% (malathion and methidathion) for all OPPs. Several plasma OPPs concentrations were in positive correlation with T2DM and PDM. Additionally, positive associations of several OPPs with fasting plasma glucose (FPG) values and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels were observed. In the quantile g-computation, we identified significantly positive associations between OPPs mixtures and T2DM as well as PDM, and fenthion had the greatest contribution for T2DM, followed by fenitrothion and cadusafos. As for PDM, the increased risk was largely explained by cadusafos, fenthion, and malathion. Furthermore, BKMR models suggested that co-exposure to OPPs was linked to an increased risk of T2DM and PDM.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggested that the individual and mixture of OPPs co-exposure were associated with an increased risk of T2DM and PDM, implying that OPPs might act an important role in the development of T2DM.

Neurobehavioral Responses and Toxic Brain Reactions of Juvenile Rats Exposed to Iprodione and Chlorpyrifos, Alone and in a Mixture

Herein, male juvenile rats (23th postnatal days (PND)) were exposed to chlorpyrifos (CPS) (7.5 mg/kg b.wt) and/or iprodione (IPD) (200 mg IPD /kg b.wt) until the onset of puberty (60th day PND). Our results demonstrated that IPD and/or CPS exposure considerably reduced locomotion and exploration. However, CPS single exposure induced anxiolytic effects. Yet, neither IPD nor IPD + CPS exposure significantly affected the anxiety index. Of note, IPD and/or CPS-exposed rats showed reduced swimming time. Moreover, IPD induced significant depression. Nonetheless, the CPS- and IPD + CPS-exposed rats showed reduced depression. The individual or concurrent IPD and CPS exposure significantly reduced TAC, NE, and AChE but increased MDA with the maximum alteration at the co-exposure. Moreover, many notable structural encephalopathic alterations were detected in IPD and/or CPS-exposed rat brain tissues. The IPD + CPS co-exposed rats revealed significantly more severe lesions with higher frequencies than the IPD or CPS-exposed ones. Conclusively, IPD exposure induced evident neurobehavioral alterations and toxic reactions in the brain tissues. IPD and CPS have different neurobehavioral effects, particularly regarding depression and anxiety. Hence, co-exposure to IPD and CPS resulted in fewer neurobehavioral aberrations relative to each exposure. Nevertheless, their simultaneous exposure resulted in more brain biochemistry and histological architecture disturbances.

Implications of biosensors and nanobiosensors for the eco-friendly detection of public health and agro-based insecticides: A comprehensive review

Biosensors, in particular nanobiosensors, have brought a paradigm shift in the detection approaches involved in healthcare, agricultural, and industrial sectors. In accordance with the global expansion in the world population, there has been an increase in the application of specific insecticides for maintaining public health and enhancing agriculture, such as organophosphates, organochlorines, pyrethroids, and carbamates. This has led to the contamination of ground water, besides increasing the chances of biomagnification as most of these insecticides are non-biodegradable. Hence, conventional and more advanced approaches are being devised for the routine monitoring of such insecticides in the environment. This review walks through the implications of biosensors and nanobiosensors, which could offer a wide range of benefits for the detection of the insecticides, quantifying their toxicity status, and versatility in application. Unique eco-friendly nanobiosensors such as microcantilevers, carbon nanotubes, 3D printing organic materials and nylon nano-compounds are some advanced tools that are being employed for the detection of specific insecticides under different conditions. Furthermore, in order to implement a smart agriculture system, nanobiosensors could be integrated into mobile apps and GPS systems for controlling farming in remote areas, which would greatly assist the farmer remotely for crop improvement and maintenance. This review discusses about such tools along with more advanced and eco-friendly approaches that are on the verge of development and could offer a promising alternative for analyte detection in different domains.

Simple and Fast Pesticide Nanosensors: Example of Surface Plasmon Resonance Coumaphos Nanosensor

Here, a molecular imprinting technique was employed to create an SPR-based nanosensor for the selective and sensitive detection of organophosphate-based coumaphos, a toxic insecticide/veterinary drug often used. To achieve this, UV polymerization was used to create polymeric nanofilms using N-methacryloyl-l-cysteine methyl ester, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, which are functional monomers, cross-linkers, and hydrophilicity enabling agents, respectively. Several methods, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and contact angle (CA) analyses, were used to characterize the nanofilms. Using coumaphos-imprinted SPR (CIP-SPR) and non-imprinted SPR (NIP-SPR) nanosensor chips, the kinetic evaluations of coumaphos sensing were investigated. The created CIP-SPR nanosensor demonstrated high selectivity to the coumaphos molecule compared to similar competitor molecules, including diazinon, pirimiphos-methyl, pyridaphenthion, phosalone, N-2,4(dimethylphenyl) formamide, 2,4-dimethylaniline, dimethoate, and phosmet. Additionally, there is a magnificent linear relationship for the concentration range of 0.1-250 ppb, with a low limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.001 and 0.003 ppb, respectively, and a high imprinting factor (I.F.4.4) for coumaphos. The Langmuir adsorption model is the best appropriate thermodynamic approach for the nanosensor. Intraday trials were performed three times with five repetitions to statistically evaluate the CIP-SPR nanosensor's reusability. Reusability investigations for the two weeks of interday analyses also indicated the three-dimensional stability of the CIP-SPR nanosensor. The remarkable reusability and reproducibility of the procedure are indicated by an RSD% result of less than 1.5. Therefore, it has been determined that the generated CIP-SPR nanosensors are highly selective, rapidly responsive, simple to use, reusable, and sensitive for coumaphos detection in an aqueous solution. An amino acid, which was used to detect coumaphos, included a CIP-SPR nanosensor manufactured without complicated coupling methods and labelling processes. Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS) studies was performed for the validation studies of the SPR.

Rational design of a novel MOF-based ternary nanocomposite for effectively monitoring harmful organophosphates in foods and the environment

Methyl parathion (MP) is a widely used organophosphate insecticide that is extremely toxic due to its ability to irreversibly inhibit acetylcholinesterase in the body and persistently accumulate in the environment. Timely detection of MP can prevent harmful residue exposure to humans. Therefore, the development of fast, efficient electrochemical methods to detect trace MP has been highly beneficial for monitoring harmful residues in foods and environment to ensure food safety and ecological conservation. Herein, a novel hybrid metal-organic framework (MOF) nanocomposite composed of Pt nanoparticles (PtNPs), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and UiO-66-NH₂ (PtNPs/UiO-66-NH₂/MWCNTs) was rationally designed and prepared by a facile two-step strategy for the sensitive determination of MP. The synergistic effects are illustrated in detail using XRD, XPS, FTIR, TEM, and SEM studies as well as electrochemical technologies such as CV, EIS, and DPV. In addition, the performance of the ternary nanocomposite for detecting MP was investigated by comparing it with the binary-component one. The results showed that the PtNPs/UiO-66-NH₂/MWCNT-based electrochemical sensor exhibited outstanding sensitivity of 21.9 μA μM^-1 cm^-2, satisfactory low detection limit of 0.026 μM and wide linear range of 0.11-227.95 μM for MP analysis. Furthermore, the fabricated sensor delivered distinguished freedom from interferences, outstanding regeneration ability, and adequate recoveries for fresh foods and river water samples. In conclusion, the proposed PtNPs/UiO-66-NH₂/MWCNT-based sensor provides a potentially useful analytical tool for determining hazardous residues of OPs in foods and the environment.

Sustainable emerging sonication processing: Impact on fungicide reduction and the overall quality characteristics of tomato juice

Sonication is an emerging sustainable and eco-friendly technology that has been broadly explored in food processing and preservation. Sonication has the edges of low energy consumption and high efficiency than conventional decontamination methods and would not pass on secondary pollutants. In the current research, we analyzed the impact of sonication on anilazine fungicide reduction, bioactive compound, antioxidant activity, colloidal stability, and enzymatic and microbial load of tomato juice. Sonicated treatments were carried out at 40 kHz, 480 W, 30 ± 2 °C for 0, 8, 16, 24, 32, and 40 min in an ultrasonic bath cleaner. The GC-MS outcomes revealed that the anilazine maximum reduction in tomato juice attained 80.52 % at 40 min of sonication. The anilazine concentration reduced significantly (p ≤ 0.05) with increased sonication time. In contrast, sonication treatments have acquired the highest TFC, TPC, ascorbic acid, carotenoids, lycopene, ABTS, and ORAC assay than the untreated sample. The Sonication process significantly improved (p ≤ 0.05) colloidal stability by reducing particle size distribution, apparent viscosity, and sedimentation index. Sonication prolonged tomato juice's shelf life by reducing the total viable count from 6.31 to 1.91 log CFU/mL. Polygalacturonase and pectin methyl esterase of the sonication sample at 40 min were inactivated by 44.32 % and 64.2 %, respectively. Considering this issue from a future perspective, sonication processing can be used industrially to enhance fruit juice's nutritional properties and shelf life and reduce pesticides and other organic residues.

Validation and green profile assessment of a binary solvent liquid phase microextraction method for the determination of chlorbenside and fenobucarb in lake and wastewater samples by GC-MS

This study reports a liquid phase microextraction method based on binary extraction solvents, which were used to preconcentrate chlorbenside and fenobucarb from aqueous samples for determination by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Parameters including the type, ratio, and volume of binary solvents, disperser solvent type and volume, and vortex period were optimized systematically to achieve high enrichment for the analytes. The optimum conditions obtained were used to validate the method, and the detection limits calculated for chlorbenside (0.71 ng/mL) and fenobucarb (0.33 ng/mL) correlated to enrichment factors of 399- and 912-folds, respectively. The optimum method was applied to lake water and wastewater samples in spike recovery experiments, and the results obtained (96-104%) verified the method as accurate and applicable to the aqueous sample matrices. Matrix matching calibration method was used to boost the accuracy of quantifying the two analytes in the wastewater sample, which presented interference effects. Assessment of the method's green profile based on penalty points confirmed the method's compliance with green analytical chemistry.

Toxicity, baseline of susceptibility, detoxifying mechanism and sublethal effects of chlorogenic acid, a potential botanical insecticide, on Bemisia tabaci

Bemisia tabaci is a threat to agriculture worldwide because of its potential to cause devastating damage to crops. Chlorogenic acid is a bioactive pesticidal phytochemical agent against various insect pests. We here determined the susceptibility of a laboratory strain of B. tabaci to chlorogenic acid and other popular insecticides, and the susceptibility of several field-collected populations to chlorogenic acid. Also, cross-resistance to four common insecticides was measured. Chlorogenic acid had the highest toxicity of all tested insecticides, and all the field-collected populations were susceptible to chlorogenic acid, and little cross-resistance was detected between chlorogenic acid and the other tested insecticides. Furthermore, analysis of enzyme activities and expression of P450 genes in B. tabaci after treatment with LC₅₀ of chlorogenic acid suggested that enhanced P450 activity could be involved in chlorogenic acid detoxification. We subsequently evaluated sublethal effects of chlorogenic acid, and found that treatment with LC₂₅ of chlorogenic acid prolonged duration of two developmental stages, reduced fecundity, and decreased survival rates of treated B. tabaci compared to untreated insects. Overall, these findings demonstrate strong toxicity and significant sublethal effects of chlorogenic acid on B. tabaci, and suggest that overexpression of P450 genes may be associated with chlorogenic acid detoxification.

Seaweed Extracts to Control Postharvest Phytopathogenic Fungi in Rocha Pear

Fungal infections cause losses amounting to between 20 and 25% of the fruit industry's total outcome, with an escalating impact on agriculture in the last decades. As seaweeds have long demonstrated relevant antimicrobial properties against a wide variety of microorganisms, extracts from Asparagopsis armata, Codium sp., Fucus vesiculosus, and Sargassum muticum were used to find sustainable, ecofriendly, and safe solutions against Rocha pear postharvest fungal infections. Alternaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum, and Penicillium expansum mycelial growth and spore germination inhibition activities were tested in vitro with five different extracts of each seaweed (n-hexane, ethyl acetate, aqueous, ethanolic, and hydroethanolic). An in vivo assay was then performed using the aqueous extracts against B. cinerea and F. oxysporum in Rocha pear. The n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanolic extracts from A. armata showed the best in vitro inhibitory activity against B. cinerea, F. oxysporum, and P. expansum, and promising in vivo results against B. cinerea using S. muticum aqueous extract were also found. The present work highlights the contribution of seaweeds to tackle agricultural problems, namely postharvest phytopathogenic fungal diseases, contributing to a greener and more sustainable bioeconomy from the sea to the farm.

The Use of Ozone Technology to Control Microorganism Growth, Enhance Food Safety and Extend Shelf Life: A Promising Food Decontamination Technology

The need for microorganism control in the food industry has promoted research in food processing technologies. Ozone is considered to be a promising food preserving technique and has gained great interest due to its strong oxidative properties and significant antimicrobial efficiency, and because its decomposition leaves no residues in foods. In this ozone technology review, the properties and the oxidation potential of ozone, and the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that affect the microorganism inactivation efficiency of both gaseous and aqueous ozone, are explained, as well as the mechanisms of ozone inactivation of foodborne pathogenic bacteria, fungi, mould, and biofilms. This review focuses on the latest scientific studies on the effects of ozone in controlling microorganism growth, maintaining food appearance and sensorial organoleptic qualities, assuring nutrient contents, enhancing the quality of food, and extending food shelf life, e.g., vegetables, fruits, meat, and grain products. The multifunctionality effects of ozone in food processing, in both gaseous and aqueous form, have promoted its use in the food industries to meet the increased consumer preference for a healthy diet and ready-to-eat products, although ozone may present undesirable effects on physicochemical characteristics on certain food products at high concentrations. The combined uses of ozone and other techniques (hurdle technology) have shown a promotive future in food processing. It can be concluded from this review that the application of ozone technology upon food requires increased research; specifically, the use of treatment conditions such as concentration and humidity for food and surface decontamination.

Insulin Receptor Substrate-1 (IRS1) Regulates Oogenesis and Vitellogenesis in Propylea japonica by Mediating the FOXO Transcription Factor Expression, Independent of JH and 20E Signaling Pathways

The insulin receptor substrate (IRS), as the core cytoplasmic adapter protein in the insulin/insulin-like signaling (IIS) pathway, is an important mediator of cellular signaling. However, it is still unknown how IRS crosstalk with hormone signaling regulates insect growth, development, and reproduction. In this study, we demonstrated that knockdown of IRS1 significantly inhibited oogenesis, vitellogenesis, and the development of nurse cells and follicular epithelial cells. In addition, qRT-PCR results showed that FOXO transcription factors significantly responded to silencing of the IRS1 gene. However, IRS1 silencing had no significant effect on the expression of juvenile hormone/20-hydroxyecdysone (JH/20E)-signaling genes, JH synthesis, and degradation enzyme-related genes and the JH/20E titers. Our results suggested that the IIS pathway regulated ovarian development and Vg production through FOXO, independent of JH and 20E signaling pathways. This study revealed the reproductive regulation mechanism in Propylea japonica, which provides a theoretical basis for large-scale expansion of P. japonica as an environment-friendly biological control strategy.

Pesticide contamination in agro-ecosystems: toxicity, impacts, and bio-based management strategies

Continuous rise in application of pesticides in the agro-ecosystems in order to ensure food supply to the ever-growing population is of greater concern to the human health and the environment. Once entered into the agro-ecosystem, the fate and transport of pesticides is determined largely by the nature of pesticides and the soil attributes, in addition to the soil-inhabiting microbes, fauna, and flora. Changes in the soil microbiological actions, soil properties, and enzymatic activities resulting from pesticide applications are the important factors substantially affecting the soil productivity. Disturbances in the microbial community composition may lead to the considerable perturbations in cycling of major nutrients, metals, and subsequent uptake by plants. Indiscriminate applications are linked with the accumulation of pesticides in plant-based foods, feeds, and animal products. Furthermore, rapid increase in the application of pesticides having long half-life has also been reported to contaminate the nearby aquatic environments and accumulation in the plants, animals, and microbes surviving there. To circumvent the negative consequences of pesticide application, multitude of techniques falling in physical, chemical, and biological categories are presented by different investigators. In the present study, important findings pertaining to the pesticide contamination in cultivated agricultural soils; toxicity on soil microbes, plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates; effects on soil characteristics; and alleviation of toxicity by bio-based management approaches have been thoroughly reviewed. With the help of bibliometric analysis, thematic evolution and research trends on the bioremediation of pesticides in the agro-ecosystems have also been highlighted.

Biosynthesis and genetic engineering of phenazine-1-carboxylic acid in Pseudomonas chlororaphis Lzh-T5

Phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA) is a biologically active substance with the ability to prevent and control crop diseases. It was certified as a pesticide by the Ministry of Agriculture of China in 2011 and was named "Shenzimycin." Lzh-T5 is a Pseudomonas chlororaphis strain found in the rhizosphere of tomatoes. This strain can produce only 230 mg/L of PCA. We used LDA-4, which produces the phenazine synthetic intermediate trans-2,3-dihydro-3-hydroxyanthranilic acid in high amounts, as the starting strain. By restoring phzF and knocking out phzO, we achieved PCA accumulation. Moreover, PCA production was enhanced after knocking out negative regulators, enhancing the shikimate pathway, and performing fed-batch fermentation, thus resulting in the production of 10,653 mg/L of PCA. It suggested that P. chlororaphis Lzh-T5 has the potential to become an efficiency cell factory of biologically active substances.

Chemical Composition, Repellent Action, and Toxicity of Essential Oils from Lippia origanoide, Lippia. alba Chemotypes, and Pogostemon cablin on Adults of Ulomoides dermestoides (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

The essential oils (EOs) from bioactive species can provide an alternative tool for the management of stored grain insects that is less environmentally damaging than synthetic chemicals. The aim of this study was to assess the repellent action and toxicity of EOs obtained from phellandrene-rich Lippia origanoides, carvone-rich Lippia alba, citral-rich L. alba, and Pogostemon cablin aerial parts on adults of Ulomoides dermestoides. These EOs were isolated by hydrodistillation and characterized by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The repellency assay was carried out using the area preference method, and the toxicity evaluated utilizing a filter paper contact test. The major components (>10%) of the studied EOs were sabinene (16.9%), trans-β-caryophyllene (18.6%) and α-humulene (10.1%) for phellandrene-rich L. origanoides EO; limonene (40.1%) and carvone (37.7%) for carvone-rich L. alba EO; geranial (24.5%), geraniol (19.0%), and neral (11.9%) for citral-rich L. alba EO; and α-guaiene (13.3%), α-bulnesene (15.7%), and patchoulol (35.3%) for P. cablin EO. All EOs displayed 100% repellency at a concentration of 16 μL/mL, with lower toxicity than that elicited by the commercial repellent DEET. EO concentrations up to 8 µL/mL did not induce any mortality on the beetle. These findings show that the EOs provide active and safe molecules for natural repellent formulations to prevent and control insect infestations of stored products.

Fabrication and evaluation of chitosan modified filter paper for chlorpyrifos detection in wheat by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

BACKGROUND

Chlorpyrifos is a commonly used organophosphorus pesticide in agriculture. However, its neurotoxicity poses a huge threat to human health. In the present study, a chitosan-modified filter paper-based surface enhanced Raman scattering active substrate (Ch/AgNPs/paper) was fabricated and used to detect trace amounts of chlorpyrifos in 120 treated wheat samples.

RESULTS

Results showed that the Ch/AgNPs/paper substrate could be used to enhance the chlorpyrifos spectral fingerprint only up to a concentration of 0.000558 mg L^-1 . Following Raman spectra acquisition, three pre-processing methods, including Savitzky-Golay (Savitsky-Golay filter with a second order polynomial) smoothing with first derivative and second derivative and normalization, were used to reduce baseline variation and increase resolutions of spectral peak features of the original spectra dataset. Then, prediction models based on partial least squares were established for detecting chlorpyrifos pesticide residue in wheat. The partial least squares model with normalization yielded optimal result, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9764, root mean square error of prediction of 1.22 mg L^-1 in the prediction, and relative analysis deviation of 4.12. Five unknown samples were prepared to verify the accuracy of the prediction model. The predicted recoveries were calculated to be between 97.25% and 119.38% with an absolute t value of 0.598. The value of a t-test shows that the prediction model is accurate and reliable.

CONCLUSION

The present study demonstrates that the proposed method can achieve rapid detection of chlorpyrifos in wheat. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.