Effectiveness of Commercial and Homemade Washing Agents in Removing Pesticide Residues on and in Apples

Sorbent-excluding sample preparation method for GC-MS pesticide analysis in apple peel

Apple peel is frequently exposed to pesticides, especially in the last stages of the pesticide treatment practice. For a certain period, peel retains most of the applied pesticides, which precisely indicates the presence of pesticide residues. This study was conducted to establish and evaluate the method for the residue analysis of pyrimethanil, cyprodinil, trifloxystrobin, bifenthrin and boscalid by GC-MS in peel of Granny Smith, Golden Delicious and Idared varieties. The method consisted of few steps, without the routine usage of sorbents, and resulted in efficient removal of waxes, targeted as main interferences in GC-MS analysis. The matrix effect, boscalid selectivity issue, trend of lower trueness for bifenthrin in all matrices and for all analytes in Granny Smith matrix were in some way associated with the waxes. Finally, the method was applied to the analysis of three varieties of apple orchard samples, after 9 and 5 months of treatment with commercial formulations that contain pyrimethanil, cyprodinil and boscalid as active ingredients. Since the developed method consisted of few steps and used nontoxic and economic reagents, it could be implemented as a fast, economic and reliable screening method.

A comprehensive analysis of the composition, health benefits, and safety of apple pomace

Apple processing results in peel, stem, seeds, and pulp being left as a waste product known as apple pomace. This review comprehensively assessed apple pomace composition for nutritional value and bioactive substances and evaluated potential health benefits and safety. Apple pomace is a rich source of health-benefitting nutrients, including minerals, dietary fiber, antioxidants, and ursolic acid, which suggests it has potential use as a dietary supplement, functional food, and/or food additive. Preclinical studies have found apple pomace and its isolated extracts improved lipid metabolism, antioxidant status, and gastrointestinal function and had a positive effect on metabolic disorders (eg, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, etc.). Safety studies have shown apple pomace to be a safe livestock feed additive and to have pesticide concentrations within safety thresholds established for human consumption. Commercial development of apple pomace for human consumption requires more research focusing on standardized methods of nutrient reporting, mechanistic studies, and human clinical trials.

Association of plasma and urine viscosity with cardiometabolic risk factors and oxidative status. A pilot study in subjects with abdominal obesity

There is increasing interest in the search for accurate, repeatable and widely applicable clinical biomarkers for the early detection of cardiometabolic alterations and oxidative status. Viscosity is a promising tool in that sense, although most studies have used simple viscosimeters, providing limited information, and have not considered oxidative status. The aim of this study was to assess whether viscosity determinations were associated with cardiometabolic and oxidative status in subjects at a primary stage of cardiometabolic risk. A pilot study (n = 20) was conducted in subjects with abdominal obesity, determining urine and plasma viscosity with a rotational rheometer at different shear rates (10000-1000 s-1 in plasma and 1000-50 s-1 in urine). Simple regression showed that urine viscosity was significantly (p< 0.05) associated with markers of oxidative status, and plasma viscosity with blood glucose. Categorical Principal Component Analysis plots showed that urine viscosity measurements at different shear rates clustered in three groups (low, intermediate and high shear rates) were selectively associated with uric acid, polyphenols and antioxidant capacity respectively. Plasma viscosity did not seem to be a relevant clinical marker in subjects with abdominal obesity. Therefore, urine viscosity could potentially serve as a complimentary marker in the evaluation of oxidative status.

Seasonal Variability of the Phytochemical Composition of New Red-Fleshed Apple Varieties Compared with Traditional and New White-Fleshed Varieties

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the season on the apple phytochemical composition (phenolic compounds, triterpenes, and organic and ascorbic acids). For this proposal, four red-fleshed and five white-fleshed apple varieties from two consecutive seasons (2015 and 2016) were studied. A significant interaction with the season in some compounds was observed. The total phenolic content in the apple flesh from 2015 was higher than that from 2016 probably related with the lower rainfall during the harvest period in 2015 that could have favored hydric stress in the apple trees. The impact of the season on the apple skin was different. The 2016 season was characterized by higher maximum and minimum temperatures resulting in a higher content of flavonols, triterpenes, and organic acids. Anthocyanin concentration in both the flesh and skin of the red-fleshed apples showed no clear relationship to the season, and each variety showed an individual pattern.

Combining Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction and Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy To Detect the Pesticide Fonofos in Apple Juice

We developed an innovative approach that couples headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME) with surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to detect a volatile pesticide (i.e., fonofos) in a liquid complex matrix (i.e., apple juice). A gold nanoparticles-coated fiber was fabricated by reducing gold(III) on a chemically etched stainless steel wire to extract pesticide, using SPME. The fabricated fibers were then tested by a headspace-SPME method and a dip-SPME method, followed by SERS detection of fonofos in water and apple juice samples. Using the headspace-SPME method, we can detect as low as 5 ppb of fonofos in water and apple juice, compared with the dip-SPME method, which cannot detect lower than 10 ppb in water and 50 ppb in apple juice. This study demonstrated the potential capability of the headspace-SPME-SERS method for rapid (within 30 min) and sensitive detection of volatile and vaporizable compounds in complex matrices. The developed method could be a potential alternative approach to the gas chromatography method. Future work is needed to optimize the fiber by minimizing signal variation, and it should be tested in a variety of targeted compounds and matrices.

Fruit peels as sources of non-extractable polyphenols or macromolecular antioxidants: Analysis and nutritional implications

Despite increasing interest in the relevance of non-extractable polyphenols (NEPP) or macromolecular antioxidants as food bioactive compounds, most studies on their presence in foods focus mainly on the edible part of specific fruits, but their potential presence in fruit peels is usually ignored. The aim of this study was to evaluate NEPP content in the peels from ten common fruits. The results showed that NEPP made up more than half of the total polyphenol contents in half of the studied samples. HPLC analysis showed that NEPP were constituted by phenolic acids, flavanols and flavonols. Also, it was found that peels accounted for >40% of total NEPP in the fruit in four of the samples analysed. These results should encourage both the use of fruit peels in the fruit industry as ingredients and the consumption of whole fruits given the significant presence of NEPP in fruit peels.

Organophosphate insecticide exposure: A clinical consideration of chlorpyrifos regulation

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

In March 2017, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reversed course on a proposal to ban the agricultural use of the organophosphate (OP) insecticide chlorpyrifos (CPF). The purpose of this article is to examine the evidence leading to this controversial decision and provide clinically applicable health promotion guidance for nurse practitioners on CPF exposure and risk reduction measures.

METHODS

Environmental Protection Agency documents on CPF regulation and corresponding research referenced within the EPA reports are reviewed. Evidence-based health promotion strategies obtained through PubMed, CINAHL, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Institutes of Health sources are summarized.

CONCLUSIONS

Available data suggest a potential association between CPF exposure and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. Particularly vulnerable populations are pregnant women, children younger than two years, and agricultural workers. There may be genetic variability in susceptibility to environmental toxins.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Because of the extensive use of the OP CPF in agriculture and other community-based settings throughout the United States, nurse practitioners should be knowledgeable of the evidence regarding CPF exposure and be prepared to provide health promotion guidance to patients in clinical practice. Nurse practitioners should also consider their role in advocacy for healthy environments and the protection of vulnerable populations as it relates to agricultural insecticide exposure.