A pesticide monitoring survey in rivers and lakes of northern Greece and its human and ecotoxicological risk assessment

Unveiling the link between Raphidiopsis raciborskii blooms and saxitoxin levels: Evaluating water quality in tropical reservoirs, Brazil

The proliferation of Raphidiopsis raciborskii blooms has sparked concerns regarding potential human exposure to heightened saxitoxins (STXs) levels. Thus, comprehending how environmental elements drive the proliferation of this STXs-producing species can aid in predicting human exposure risks. This study aimed to explore the link between cyanobacteria R. raciborskii, STXs cyanotoxins, and environmental factors in 37 public supply reservoirs in the tropical region and assess potential health hazards these toxins pose in the reservoir waters. A Structural Equation Model was used to assess the impact of environmental factors (water volume and physical and chemical variables) on R. raciborskii biomass and STXs levels. Furthermore, the potential risk of STXs exposure from consuming untreated reservoir water was evaluated. Lastly, the cumulative distribution function (CDF) of STXs across the reservoirs was computed. Our findings revealed a correlation between R. raciborskii biomass and STXs concentrations. Total phosphorus emerged as a critical environmental factor positively influencing species biomass and indirectly affecting STXs levels. pH significantly influenced STXs concentrations, indicating different factors influencing R. raciborskii biomass and STXs. Significantly, for the first time, the risk of STXs exposure was gauged using the risk quotient (HQ) for untreated water consumption from public supply reservoirs in Brazil's semi-arid region. Although the exposure risks were generally low to moderate, the CDF underscored the risk of chronic exposure due to low toxin concentrations in over 90% of samples. These outcomes emphasize the potential expansion of R. raciborskii in tropical settings due to increased phosphorus, amplifying waterborne STXs levels and associated intoxication risks. Thus, this study reinforces the importance of nutrient control, particularly phosphorus regulation, as a mitigation strategy against R. raciborskii blooms and reducing STXs intoxication hazards.

Pesticide residues in drinking water treatment plants and human health risk assessment: a case study from Northern Iran

These days, the presence of pesticide residues in drinking water sources is a serious concern. In drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs), various methods have been proposed to remove pesticide residues. This study was designed with the objectives of monitoring the occurrence and seasonal variations of pesticides in the output of drinking water treatment plants in two Northern provinces of Iran, Gilan and Golestan, and identifying their human health risks. Seventeen pesticide residues from different chemical structures were determined by using a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS). The results showed that only Alachlor, Diazinon, Fenitrothion, Malathion, and Chlorpyrifos were detected. The pesticide concentrations ranged from ND to 405.3 ng/L and were higher in the first half-year period. The total non-carcinogenic human health risks was in safe range for infants, children, and adults (HI < 1). The carcinogenic human health risks of Alachlor for infants, children, and adults were in the range of 4.3 × 10-7 to 1.3 × 10-6, 2.0 × 10-7 to 9.6 × 10-7, and 1.1 × 10-7 to 5.5 × 10-7, respectively. These values do not pose health risks for adults and children, but may present a possible cancer risk for infants in two DWTPs of Golestan. In conclusion, considering the possibility of exposure to these pesticides through other routes, simultaneously, it is suggested to carry out a study that examines the level of risk by considering all exposure routes. We also propose stricter regulations for the sale and use of pesticides in Iran.

Microcystins risk assessment in lakes from space: Implications for SDG 6.1 evaluation

Cyanobacterial blooms release a large number of algal toxins (e.g., Microcystins, MCs) and seriously threaten the safety of drinking water sources what the SDG 6.1 pursues (to provide universal access to safe drinking water by 2030, United Nations Sustainable Development Goal). Nevertheless, algal toxins in lake water have not been routinely monitored and evaluated well and frequently so far. In this study, a total of 100 large lakes (>25 km2) in densely populated eastern China were studied, and a remote sensing scheme of human health risks from MCs based on Sentinel-3 OLCI data was developed. The spatial and temporal dynamics of MCs risk in eastern China lakes since OLCI satellite observation data (2016-2021) were first mapped. The results showed that most of the large lakes in eastern China (80 out of 100) were detected with the occurrence of a high risk of more than 1 pixel (300×300 m) at least once. Fortunately, in terms of lake areas, the frequency of high human health risks in most waters (70.93% of total lake areas) was as less as 1%. This indicates that drinking water intakes can be set in most waters from the perspective of MCs, yet the management departments are required to reduce cyanobacterial blooms. This study highlights the potential of satellite in monitoring and assessing the risk of algal toxins and ensuring drinking water safety. It is also an important reference for SDG 6.1 reporting for lakes that lack routine monitoring.

Pollution characteristics, ecological and health risks of herbicides in a drinking water source and its inflowing rivers in North China

This study measured the pollution characteristics and ecological and health risks of 19 herbicides found in drinking water sources and their inflowing rivers. The targeted herbicides were prevalent in the study area, but most concentrations were well below 10 ng L-1. Acetochlor and atrazine were the dominant herbicides, although their levels were much lower than previously reported. Total herbicide residual levels were greater in April than in December and increased from upstream to downstream, resulting in the highest pollution levels found in the reservoirs, likely due to herbicides delivered from upstream and dense agricultural planting in the surrounding areas. Only atrazine and ametryn presented moderate ecological risks, while the summed risk quotients (ΣRQs) of each sample were >0.1, indicated that the total herbicide levels represented a moderate risk in all samples. For the human health risks, the risk quotients (RQ) of all target herbicides, the total RQs of each sample, and estimated life-stage RQs were far smaller than the 0.2 threshold, indicating the absence of human health risks when the water was consumed at any stage of life. However, early life stages exhibited 3-6 times higher RQ values than adulthood and should not be overlooked. And crucially, the synergistic or antagonistic effects of mixed herbicides are not well understood, and further research is needed to understand the impact of these herbicides on the ecosystem and human health, particularly possible affects in early life stages, such as infants and children.

Risk evaluation and prioritization of contaminants of emerging concern and other organic micropollutants in two river basins of central Argentina

A research gap exists in baseline concentrations of organic micropollutants in South American rivers. Identification of areas with different degrees of contamination and risk to the inhabitant biota is needed to improve management of freshwater resources. Here we inform the incidence and ecological risk assessment (ERA) of current used pesticides (CUPs), pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) and cyanotoxins (CTX) measured in two river basins from central Argentina (South America). Risk Quotients approach was used for ERA differentiating wet and dry seasons. High risk was associated to CUPs in both basins (45 % and 30 % of sites from Suquía and Ctalamochita rivers, respectively), mostly in the basins extremes. Main contributors to risk in water were insecticides and herbicides in Suquía river and insecticides and fungicides in Ctalamochita river. In Suquía river sediments, a very high risk was observed in the lower basin, mainly from AMPA contribution. Additionally, 36 % of the sites showed very high risk of PCPPs in Suquía river water, with the highest risk downstream the wastewater treatment plant of Córdoba city. Main contribution was from a psychiatric drug and analgesics. In sediments medium risk was observed at the same places with antibiotics and psychiatrics as main contributors. Few data of PPCPs are available in the Ctalamochita river. The risk in water was low, with one site (downstream Santa Rosa de Calamuchita town) presenting moderated risk caused by an antibiotic. CTX represented in general medium risk in San Roque reservoir, with San Antonio river mouth and the dam exit showing high risk during the wet season. The main contributor was microcystin-LR. Priority chemicals for monitoring or further management include two CUPs, two PPCPs, and one CTX, demonstrating a significant input of pollutants to water ecosystems from different sources and the need to include organic micropollutants in current and future monitoring.

Investigation of the performance of activated carbon cloth to remove glyphosate, glufosinate, aminomethylphosphonic acid and bialaphos from aqueous solutions by adsorption/electrosorption

The present study investigates the removal of glyphosate, glufosinate, aminomethylphosphonic acid and bialaphos herbicides from their 5 × 10^-5 M aqueous solutions onto activated carbon cloth by adsorption and electrosorption. Analysis of these highly polar herbicides was achieved by UV-visible absorbance measurements, after derivatization with 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl chloride. The limit of quantification values of glyphosate, glufosinate, aminomethylphosphonic acid and bialaphos were 1.06 × 10^-6 mol L^-1, 1.38 × 10^-6 mol L^-1, 1.32 × 10^-6 mol L^-1 and 1.08 × 10^-6 mol L^-1, respectively. Glyphosate, glufosinate, aminomethylphosphonic acid and bialaphos were removed from their aqueous solutions with higher efficiencies by means of electrosorption (78.2%, 94.9%, 82.3% and 97%, respectively) than of open-circuit adsorption (42.5%, 22%, 6.9% and 81.8%, respectively). Experimental kinetic data were fitted to pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order kinetic models. It was determined that pseudo-second order kinetic model represents experimental data better with satisfactory coefficient of determination, r² (> 0.985) and normalized percent deviation, P (< 5.15) values. Adsorption isotherm data were treated according to Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm models. Based on the r² (> 0.98) and P (< 5.9) values, it was found that experimental data well fitted to Freundlich isotherm model. Adsorption capacities of activated carbon cloth for glyphosate, glufosinate, aminomethylphosphonic acid and bialaphos, expressed in terms of Freundlich constant, were calculated as 20.31, 118.73, 239.33 and 30.68 mmol g^-1, respectively. The results show that the studied ACC can be used in home/business water treatment systems as an adsorbent due to its high adsorption capacity.

Pyrethroid residues in Indonesian river Citarum: A simple analytical method applied for an ecological and human health risk assessment

Pyrethroid residues in the Citarum River, Indonesia, was first investigated based on their occurrences, water assimilative capacity, and risk assessment. In this paper, first, a relatively simple and efficient method was built and validated for analysis of seven pyrethroids in river water matrix: bifenthrin, fenpropathrin, permethrin, β-cyfluthrin, cypermethrin, fenvalerate, and deltamethrin. Next, the validated method was used to analyze pyrethroids in the Citarum River. Three pyrethroids, β-cyfluthrin, cypermethrin, and deltamethrin, were detected in some sampling points with concentration up to 0.01 mg/L. Water assimilative capacity evaluation shows that β-cyfluthrin and deltamethrin pollution exceed the Citarum river water capacity. However, due to hydrophobicity properties of pyrethroids, removal through binding to sediments are expected. Ecotoxicity risk assessment shows that β-cyfluthrin, cypermethrin and deltamethrin pose risks to the aquatic organisms in the Citarum River and its tributaries through bioaccumulation in food chain. Based on bioconcentration factors of the detected pyrethroids, β-cyfluthrin poses the highest adverse effect to humans while cypermethrin is the safest. Human risk assessment based on hazard index suggests that acute non-carcinogenic risk associated to consuming fish from the study location polluted with β-cyfluthrin, cypermethrin and deltamethrin is unlikely. However, hazard quotient shows that chronic non-carcinogenic risk associated to consuming fish from the study location polluted with β-cyfluthrin is likely. However, since the risk assessment was performed separately for each pyrethroid, further assessment on the impact of mixture pyrethroid to aquatic organisms and humans should be performed to explore the real impact of pyrethroids to the river system.

Occurrence and environmental risk assessment of 22 pesticides in Brazilian freshwaters

Pesticide contamination in water resources is a global threat. Although usually found at low concentrations, pesticides raise considerable toxicological concerns, mainly when mixtures are considered. The occurrence of 22 pesticides (2,4 D, alachlor, aldicarb, aldrin, atrazine, carbendazim, carbofuran, chlordane, chlorpyrifos, DDT, diuron, glyphosate, lindane, mancozeb, methamidophos, metolachlor, molinate, profenofos, simazine, tebuconazole, terbufos, and trifluralin) was investigated, through consolidated database information, in surface freshwaters of Brazil. Moreover, scenarios of environmental risk assessment considering isolated compounds and mixtures were performed, as well as a meta-analytic approach for toxicity purposes. Pesticides in freshwater have been reported from 719 cities (12.9% of Brazilian cities), where 179 (3.2%) showed pesticide occurrence above the limit of detection or quantification. Considering cities with more than five quantified, 16 cities were prone to environmental risks considering individual risks. However, the number increased to 117 cities when the pesticide mixture was considered. The mixture risk was driven by atrazine, chlorpyrifos, and DDT. The national maximum acceptable concentrations (MAC) for nearly all pesticides are higher than the predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) for the species evaluated, except aldrin. Our results show the need to consider mixtures in the environmental risk assessment to avoid underestimation and review MAC to protect aquatic ecosystems. The results presented here may guide the revision of the national environmental legislation to ensure the protection of Brazilian aquatic ecosystems.

Enhanced cyanogen chloride formation after UV/PS and UV/H2O2 pre-oxidation and chlorination in natural river water

Ultraviolet/persulfate (UV/PS) and Ultraviolet/hydrogen peroxide (UV/H₂O₂) have attracted much attention in recent years as advanced oxidation processes for water treatment. However, it is not all clear how these two methods affect the formation of cyanogen chloride (CNCl) in the subsequent water chlorination process. In this study, it was found that both UV/H₂O₂ and UV/PS pre-oxidation promoted the formation of CNCl in six actual water samples collected from urban rivers. Glycine, uric acid, arginine and histidine were investigated as the model compounds to explore the effects of different methods on the production of CNCl. The results showed that compared with chlorination alone, pre-oxidation by UV/H₂O₂ and UV/PS can reduce the production of CNCl for glycine and uric acid by up to 95% during post-chlorination process. However, they can greatly promote the formation of CNCl for arginine and histidine by up to 120-fold. In a more detailed investigation, pre-oxidation of histidine formed highly reactive intermediates to chlorine, leading to increased CNCl formation and chlorine consumption. The results showed that the precursors of CNCl was altered after pre-oxidation, and need to be re-evaluated.

Computer-aided toxicity prediction and potential risk assessment of two novel neonicotinoids, paichongding and cycloxaprid, to hydrobionts

Paichongding (IPP) and cycloxaprid (CYC) have been effectively used as the alternative products of imidacloprid (IMI) against IMI-resistant insects and exhibit a great market potential. However, risk assessment of IPP and CYC for non-target organisms, especially ecological risk assessment for non-target aquatic organisms, is still lacking. Here, we predicted the toxicity and potential risks of IPP, CYC, and their transformation products (TPs) to hydrobionts. The results indicated that IPP and CYC could generate 428 and 113 TPs, respectively, via aerobic microbial transformation. Nearly half of the IPP TPs and nearly 41 % of the CYC TPs exhibited high or moderate toxicity to Daphnia or fish. Moreover, we found that IPP, CYC, and 80 TPs of them posed potential risks to aquatic ecosystems. Almost all harmful TPs contained a 6-chloropyridine ring structure, suggesting that this structure may be associated with the strong toxicity of these TPs to aquatic organisms, and these TPs (IPP-TP2 or CYC-TP2, IPP-TP197 or CYC-TP71, IPP-TP198 or CYC-TP72, and IPP-TP212 or CYC-TP80) may appear in aquatic environments as final products. The risks posed by these TPs to aquatic ecosystems require more attention. This study provides insights into the toxicity and ecological risks of IPP and CYC.

Risk assessment of persistent pesticide pollution: Development of an indicator integrating site-specific characteristics

Detection of high pesticide concentrations in sediments and water often leads to prioritizing a site as being 'at risk'. However, the risk does not depend on pesticide concentration alone, but on other site-specific characteristics also. We developed an indicator that identifies the 'Level of Concern' by integrating five such characteristics: (i) pesticide concentrations in surface and groundwater causing risks to ecological health (ii) impacts on human health, (iii) water scarcity, (iv) agricultural production, and (v) biodiversity richness. We applied this framework in an agricultural region of the Lower Ganges Basin in West Bengal, India. We measured concentrations of selected organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in surface and groundwater within an 8 km² area in 2019. Of 20 banned and restricted OCPs, 11 were detected as causing high risk to ecological health and 10 at concentrations above the Accepted Carcinogenic Risk Limit (ACRL) for humans. In the pre-monsoon, the mean concentrations of ΣOCPs in groundwater and surface water were 126.9 ng/L and 104 ng/L, in the monsoon they were 144.7 ng/L and 138 ng/L, and in the post-monsoon 122.1 ng/L and 147 ng/L respectively. In groundwater, no significant seasonal difference was observed in most pesticides. In the surface water, 7 pesticides were significantly higher in the monsoon and post-monsoon, which may be attributed to increased runoff as well as post monsoon application of OCPs. In September 2022 we again measured OCP concentrations in surface water and sediment. The mean concentration of 14 of the 20 measured OCPs were found to be significantly lower in the post-pandemic period compared to the pre-pandemic time. These lower pesticide concentrations may indicate a reduced use of OCPs in agricultural practices during the pandemic. This area was identified as being at the highest Level of Concern, even though the OCP concentrations alone conformed to general guidelines.

Ecological risk assessment of pesticides in sediments of Pampean streams, Argentina

After their application in agricultural areas, pesticides are dispersed throughout the environment, causing contamination problems. In Argentina, the main promoter of transgenic biotechnology in the region, the total consumption of agrochemicals has increased significantly in recent years. Most chemicals dumped near surface waters eventually end up in bottom sediments and can be toxic to the organisms that live there. However, published data on the mixing of pesticides in this compartment is still scarce. The objective of this work was to detect and quantify pesticide residues in the sediment of rural streams in the Pampas region and to carry out acute and chronic risk assessment in these aquatic ecosystems. The study area comprises the mountainous system of Tandilia, located in one of the most productive agricultural areas in the country. The concentration of atrazine, acetochlor, chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin, and 2,4-D in the sediment of four rural streams was determined in three different seasons, and the toxic units (TU) and the risk ratios (RQ) were calculated. All the compounds analyzed were detected in most of the sampling seasons and study sites, at concentrations higher than those established in the national and international quality guidelines for the protection of aquatic biota in surface waters and for human consumption. Chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin, and acetochlor were the main pesticides contributing to the TU and RQ values, representing a medium or high ecological risk in most of the sites. Therefore, the evaluation of these pesticides in the bottom sediments could be a decisive factor in assessing the risk to the aquatic environment.

Identifying unusual human exposures to pesticides: Qilu Lake Basin as an overlooked source

Although common exposure pathways of pesticides (e.g., crop consumption) have been intensively studied, we noticed that some unusual occupational exposures to pesticides were overlooked and could lead to unacceptable health risks. In this study, we presented information on the occurrence of 5 triazine pesticides (TRIs) and 3 neonicotine pesticides (NEOs) detected in water samples of Qilu Lake Basin in China. We identified the unusual occupational exposure scenarios as (i) adult females washing the harvested vegetables, and (ii) adult males catching fish in Qilu Lake; next, the health risk assessment was conducted using collected data. The results showed that the mean Σ5 TRI concentrations ranged from 505.87 ng/L in spring to 864.04 ng/L in summer, and the river water samples around Qilu Lake had the highest concentrations. The mean concentrations of Σ3 NEOs ranged from 885.86 ng/L in winter to 2593.04 ng/L in summer. Occupational exposed populations were bearing one to two orders of magnitude higher exposure doses than local adults. Although the carcinogenic risks caused by atrazine in water were at acceptable levels for local residents, all the occupational exposed males were at moderate risks, and 15.78 %-43.50 % of occupational exposed females in different seasons were even at high risks. The non-carcinogenic risks caused by pesticides in water were all at negligible levels, but the occupational exposed population were facing up to two orders of magnitude higher risks than local residents. This study established a sound basis for further decision-making to take necessary action on protection of sensitive population groups.

Health Risk Assessment of Pesticide Residues in Drinking Water of Upper Jhelum Region in Kashmir Valley-India by GC-MS/MS

Globally growing demand for agricultural and farm foods has more or less become dependent on chemical pesticides to maintain the supply chain, which undoubtedly boosts agricultural production. However, pesticides not only impact the target pests but cause hazard to human health. Pesticides are ubiquitous and can be found in almost every component of the environment. They can therefore impair human and biota health when present over the threshold level. The present study assessed the concentration of commonly used pesticides for agricultural purposes but get mixed in different sources of water, as such fifteen sampling sites along the upper Jhelum basin of Kashmir valley were chosen. For the analysis, 60 water samples were obtained from different water sources. Gas chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) was used to determine pesticide residues in water samples. Pesticide residues from 10 of the 26 commonly used pesticides were detected in water samples. Difenoconazole had the highest concentration among the pesticides detected, with a mean concentration of 0.412 ± 0.424 μg/L ranging from 0.0 μg/L to 0.8196 μg/L. The target hazards quotient (THQ) was used to quantify the possible noncarcinogenic health risks associated with drinking pesticide-contaminated water. Only chlorpyrifos and quinalphos were detected >1 in RWS3 (1.6571), RWS4 (1.0285), RWS14 (1.2571), and RWS15 (1.2000) sample sites, implying that the drinking water poses a health risk to humans. Hence, pesticide hazards should be mitigated and rigorous monitoring is needed to reduce pesticide residues in drinking water.

Pesticides monitoring in surface water of a subsistence agricultural catchment in Uganda using passive samplers

Pesticides are intensely used in the agricultural sector worldwide including smallholder farming. Poor pesticide use practices in this agronomic setting are well documented and may impair the quality of water resources. However, empirical data on pesticide occurrence in water bodies of tropical smallholder agriculture is scarce. Many available data are focusing on apolar organochlorine compounds which are globally banned. We address this gap by studying the occurrence of a broad range of more modern pesticides in an agricultural watershed in Uganda. During 2.5 months of the rainy season in 2017, three passive sampler systems were deployed at five locations in River Mayanja to collect 14 days of composite samples. Grab samples were taken from drinking water resources. In these samples, 27 compounds out of 265 organic pesticides including 60 transformation products were detected. In the drinking water resources, we detected eight pesticides and two insecticide transformation products in low concentrations between 1 and 50 ng/L. Also, in the small streams and open fetch ponds, detected concentrations were generally low with a few exceptions for the herbicide 2,4-D and the fungicide carbendazim exceeding 1 ug/L. The widespread occurrence of chlorpyrifos posed the largest risk for macroinvertebrates. The extensive detection of this compound and its transformation product 3,4,5-trichloro-2-pyridinol was unexpected and called for a better understanding of the use and fate of this pesticide.

Ecological risk assessment of glyphosate and its possible effect on bacterial community in surface sediments of a typical shallow Lake, northern China

Glyphosate is a widely used herbicide worldwide and its prevalent presence in aquatic ecosystems poses a threat to living organisms. This study evaluated potential ecological risk of glyphosate to sediment-dwelling organisms and assessed the probable effect of glyphosate on structure and predicated function of sediment-attached bacterial communities from a large shallow lake in northern China based on 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing. Results suggested that glyphosate showed a medium to high concentration (up to 8.63 mg/kg) and chronic risk to sediment-dwelling organisms (10% samples exhibiting medium to high risk quotient), especially in sites nearby farmland and residential areas in August. Bacterial community identification based on 16S rRNA sequence indicated some species of dominant phylum Proteobacteria and Campilobacterota (e.g., Steroidobacteraceae, Thiobacillus, Gallionellaceae, Sulfurimonadaceae) were stimulated while some species of dominant phylum Actinobacteriota, Acidobacteriota and Firmicutes (e.g., Nocardioidaceae, Microtrichales, Vicinamibacteraceae, Paenisporosarcina) were inhibited by glyphosate accumulation. The stimulating species were related to sulfur-oxidizing, sulfate-, iron-, or nitrate-reducing bacteria; The inhibiting species were related to plant bacterial endophytes, polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs) and denitrifers. Correspondingly, promoted bacterial metabolic functions of "sulfite respiration", "nitrogen respiration", "aromatic compound degradation" and "nitrification" but suppressed "cellulolysis", "manganese oxidation", "anoxygenic photoautotrophy S oxidizing" and "nitrate denitrification" were predicated on functional annotation of prokaryotic taxa. Although these results could only partly suggest the impacts of glyphosate on the bacterial communities due to the lack of actual results from control experiments, the identified Steroidobacteraceae could be thought as a bioindicator in the future mechanism study for the ecological effect and bioremediation of glyphosate. This work intends to arise the concern about the depletion of biodiversity and bacterial metabolic functions with contribution of glyphosate in part in eutrophic lakes.

How the exposure to environmentally relevant pesticide formulations affects the expression of stress response genes and its relation to oxidative damage and genotoxicity in Caiman latirostris

This study aimed to analyze the molecular stress responses thought the expression levels of catalase (cat), superoxide dismutase (sod) and heat shock protein 70 (hsp70) genes, and how these relate with cellular stress response considering oxidative damage to lipids, DNA and genotoxicity in blood of Caiman latirostris hatchlings exposed to pesticide formulations under ex situ conditions. Treatments were: negative control (NC-tap water), glyphosate 2% (GLY), cypermethrin 0.12% (CYP), chlorpyrifos 0.8% (CPF), and their ternary mixture (Mx3). The concentrations and schedule of application were those recommended in soybean crops. Soil and water showed pesticides residues in all exposed groups. Results showed a statistically significant increase in the micronucleus frequency and DNA damage, with an important oxidation in all exposed groups. The expression level of cat gene was significantly higher in CYP while the expression of hsp70 was significantly lower in GLY, CYP and Mx3, compared to NC. Pesticides tested showed alterations in expression levels, growth parameters, DNA damage and base oxidation under realistic exposure conditions, and can threaten, in the long term, the health status of wild populations.

Occurrence, spatiotemporal dynamics, and ecological risk of fungicides in a reservoir-regulated basin

As an indispensable type of pesticide, fungicides have been somewhat neglected compared to insecticides and herbicides. Heavy fungicide application in agricultural regions may generate downstream ecological concerns via in-stream transport, and the reservoir complicates the process. Monitoring fungicide exposure and exploring reservoir effect on fungicide transport is the key to develop the downstream strategies of agricultural diffusion pollution control. Here, we investigated the exposure, spatiotemporal dynamics, and ecological risk of fungicides in a reservoir-regulated agricultural basin, located in the middle of the Yangtze River Basin, China. Seven fungicides were preliminarily identified and exhibited high detection frequencies (>85 %) in subsequent quantification of water samples from three sampling activities. The total concentration of fungicides ranged from 2.47 to 560.29 ng/L, 28.35 to 274.69 ng/L, and 13.61 to 146.968 ng/L in April, September, and November, respectively. Overall, the contamination levels of fungicides were in the ascending order of April < November < September. The spatial distribution of fungicides was closely associated with the dense of cultivated land, supporting its agricultural source. Furthermore, the reservoir plays a retention role in fungicides, alleviating ecological pressure downstream during the water storage period. Yet, due to the alternation of "source" and "sink" function of the reservoir, the contribution of Zijiang River to the fungicide load in the Yangtze River Basin still needs further attention. Although there is no acute risk posed by fungicides, even in the high-exposure scenario, the chronic ecological risk could not be ignored. Agricultural intensive regions, coupled with the reservoir, provide rather substantial chronic ecological concerns. Carbendazim has been designated as a priority pollutant that contributes significantly to cumulative chronic risk. Thus, we emphasize strengthening the supervision of fungicides in surface water and rationally restricting the use of carbendazim in agricultural operations.

Obtaining a Monoclonal Antibody against a Novel Prometryn-Like Hapten and Characterization of Its Selectivity for Triazine Herbicides

In this study, a previously unreported 3-((4-(isopropylamino)-6-(methylthio)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl) amino) butyric acid hapten was designed and synthesized. This maximized the exposure of the antigen-determinant isopropyl of prometryn to the immune system in animals to induce the production of anticipated highly specific anti-prometryn antibodies. The hapten has a molecular weight of 285.37 Da. The compound was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance hydrogen spectroscopy (¹H NMR), nuclear magnetic resonance carbon spectroscopy (¹³C NMR), and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). By using the active ester approach, immunogens and coated antigens were created. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used as an immunogen, along with the successfully produced hapten, to immunize mice. The IC₅₀ value of mouse monoclonal anti-prometryn antibody (mAb) 7D4 (the quantity of analyte that generated 50% prometryn inhibition) was 3.9 ng/mL. The anti-prometryn mAb was of the IgG1 subclass. The IC₂₀ (80% binding level (B/B₀) of prometryn)-IC₈₀ (20% binding level (B/B₀) of prometryn) range of the anti-prometryn monoclonal antibody standard curve working range was 0.9-18.1 ng/mL. The prepared mAb has good characteristics because it can specifically recognize prometryn, and the cross-reaction rates for ametryn, desmetryn, and terbumeton were 34.77%, 18.09%, and 7.64%, respectively. The cross-reaction rate with the other seven triazines was less than 1%. The hapten structure proposed can serve as an additional tool for modulating selectivity in detecting triazines.

Screening of pesticides and emerging contaminants in eighteen Greek lakes by using target and non-target HRMS approaches: Occurrence and ecological risk assessment

Lakes, albeit ecosystems of vital importance, are insufficiently investigated with respect to the degradation of water quality due to the organic micropollutants load. As regards Greece, screening of lake waters is scarce and concerns a limited number of contaminants. However, understanding the occurrence of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) and other micropollutants in lakes is essential to appraise their potential ecotoxicological effects. The aim of this study was to deploy a multiresidue screening approach based on liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) to get a first snapshot for >470 target CECs, including pesticides, pharmaceuticals, personal care products (PPCPs), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), as well as organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) in eighteen Greek lakes in Central, Northern and West Northern Greece. The omnipresent compounds were DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide), caffeine and TCPP (tris (1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate). Maximum concentrations varied among the different classes. DEET was detected at a maximum average concentration of >1000 ng/L in Lake Orestiada, while its mean concentration was estimated at 233 ng/L. The maximum total concentrations for pesticides, PPCPs, PFASs, and OPFRs were 5807, 2669, 33.1, and 1214 ng/L, respectively, indicating that Greek lakes are still threatened by the intense agricultural activity. Besides, HRMS enabled a non-target screening by exploiting the rich content of the full-scan raw data, allowing the 'discovery' of tentative candidates, such as surfactants, pharmaceuticals, and preservatives among others, without reference standards. The potential ecotoxicity was assessed by both the risk quotient method and ECOSAR (Ecological Structure Activity Relationships) revealing low risk for most of the compounds.

Yesterday's contamination-A problem of today? The case study of discontinued historical contamination of the Mrežnica River (Croatia)

The remnants of historical industrial contamination can be detected in many aquatic ecosystems worldwide even at present time. Mrežnica is a river in Croatia that has been, for more than a hundred years, continually exposed to effluents of various industries, which have, in modern time, mostly ceased to operate. Our aim was to establish the level of current contamination and pollution of the Mrežnica river-water and sediments. The study of river contamination at three sites (reference site; site nearby former cotton industry facility in Duga Resa - DRF; industrial zone of Karlovac town - KIZ) in three sampling campaigns (May 2020, April and September 2021) encompassed analyses of physico-chemical water parameters, screening of 369 pesticides, measurement of metal (loid) concentrations in the sediments, and in the dissolved and particulate phases of the river-water. The sediment pollution was assessed through the analyses of total bacteria abundance (by targeting 16S rRNA genes), and their associated metal resistance genes (cnrA, pbrT and czcD) and class 1 integrons (intl1). At the DRF site, industrial organic contaminants that can be traced to textile production were detected (dye and nylon components), as well as increased levels of some metals bound to suspended particulate matter and sediments. At the most downstream KIZ site, occasional high level of industrial herbicide neburon was measured in the river-water, and metal contamination of suspended particulate matter and sediments was evident. Although, based on the comparison with legislation and literature data, the level of contamination was rather mild, the effects on microbial communities were unquestionable, confirmed by increased abundance of the czcD gene at DRF site and the intI1 gene at both industrially impacted sites. Obtained results indicated long-term sediment retention of some industrial contaminants at the places of historical freshwater contamination, and, thus, the necessity for their monitoring even after the termination of contamination sources.

Dietary chlorpyrifos-methyl exposure impair transcription of immune-, detoxification- and redox signaling genes in leukocytes isolated from cod (Gadus morhua)

Inclusion of new environmental toxicants increase with the amount of plant ingredients substituting marine proteins and oils in feed for farmed Atlantic salmon (Salma salar). Agricultural pesticides like chlorpyrifos-methyl, present in commercial salmon feeds, may affect salmon immune and detoxification responses. Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), surrounding the net pens, grazing on feces and uneaten pellets may be affected accordingly. The aim of this study was to analyze transcription responses in Atlantic cod head kidney tissue and isolated leukocytes following dietary chlorpyrifos-methyl inclusions and possible interactions with proinflammatory signals. Head kidney tissues and leukocytes were isolated from cod fed diets contaminated with chlorpyrifos-methyl (0.5 mg/kg, 2.4 mg/kg, 23.2 mg/kg) for 30 days. The isolated leukocytes were further challenged with bacteria (lipopolysaccharide (LPS), virus (polyinosinic acid:polycytidylic acid (PIC) mimic and l-arginine, an immuno-modulating amino acid, in vitro. The LPS-induced transcription of the interleukin genes il-1β, il-6, il-8 increased in leukocytes isolated from cod fed chlorpyrifos-methyl 23.2 mg/kg, compared to cod fed the control diet, indicating increased inflammation. Transcriptional levels of carnitine palmitoyl transferase (cpt1a), aryl hydrogen receptor (ahr) and catalase (cat) were all reduced by dietary inclusions of chlorpyrifos-methyl in the leukocytes. The findings suggests that dietary chlorpyrifos-methyl exposure impair inflammation, detoxification and redox signaling in cod leukocytes.

Occurrence of Banned and Currently Used Herbicides, in Groundwater of Northern Greece: A Human Health Risk Assessment Approach

The presence of pesticide residues in groundwater, many years after their phase out in European Union verifies that the persistence in aquifer is much higher than in other environmental compartments. Currently used and banned pesticides were monitored in Northern Greece aquifers and a human health risk assessment was conducted. The target compounds were the herbicides metolachlor (MET), terbuthylazine (TER), atrazine (ATR) and its metabolites deisopropylatrazine (DIA), deethylatrazine (DEA) and hydroxyatrazine (HA). Eleven sampling sites were selected to have representatives of different types of wells. Pesticides were extracted by solid-phase extraction and analyzed by liquid chromatography. MET was detected in 100% of water samples followed by ATR (96.4%), DEA and HA (88.6%), DIA (78.2%) and TER (67.5%). ATR, DIA, DEA, HA, MET and TER mean concentrations detected were 0.18, 0.29, 0.14, 0.09, 0.16 and 0.15 μg/L, respectively. Obtained results were compared with historical data from previous monitoring studies and temporal trends were assessed. Preferential flow was the major factor facilitating pesticide leaching within the month of herbicide application. Moreover, apparent age of groundwater and the reduced pesticide dissipation rates on aquifers resulted of long-term detection of legacy pesticides. Although atrazine had been banned more than 18 years ago, it was detected frequently and their concentrations in some cases were over the maximum permissible limit. Furthermore, human health risk assessment of pesticides was calculated for two different age groups though drinking water consumption. In all examined wells, the sum of the HQ values were lower than the unity. As a result, the analyzed drinking water wells are considered safe according to the acute risk assessment process. However, the presence of atrazine residues causes concerns related with chronic toxicity, since ATR R values were greater than the parametric one of 1 × 10⁻⁶ advised by USEPA, for both age groups.

Effect of household culinary processes on organochlorine pesticide residues (OCPs) in the seafood (Penaeus vannamei) and its associated human health risk assessment: Our vision and future scope

Food safety is crucial in today's competitive trading market, as it directly affects human health and promotes seafood exports. The effects of thermal processing (boiling, frying, grilling, and microwave cooking) on pesticide residues (PR) in P. vannamei were assessed. The PR in raw and processed shrimp ranged from 0.007 to 0.703 μg/kg for uncooked/raw, not detected (ND) to 0.917 μg/kg for boiled, ND to 0.506 μg/kg for fried, ND to 0.573 μg/kg for grilled and ND to 0.514 μg/kg for microwave cooked shrimps. The Endrin, endosulfan sulfate, and heptachlor were predominant PR found in the raw and processed shrimp. The PR content in raw and cooked shrimps were below the maximum residue limits (MRL) set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (2021) and the European Commission (86/363/1986 and 57/2007). The estimated daily intake (EDI) of PR from raw and processed shrimps were below the ADI prescribed by CAC. The hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard ratio (HR) values were <1, indicating no non-carcinogenic or carcinogenic health implications through shrimp consumption. The estimated maximum allowable shrimp consumption rate (CRlim) suggests an adult can eat >100 shrimp meals/month, which is over the USEPA's (2000)recommendation of >16 meals/month without health issues. The Effect of thermal processing was detected in the following order: boiling < grilling < frying < microwave cooking. The processing factor (PF < 0.7), paired t-test (t < 0.05), Tukey post hoc (p < 0.05) test, Bray-Curtis similarity index, and matrix plot exhibited that all the four thermal processing methods have a considerable impact on pesticides in the processed shrimps. But frying (59.4%) and microwave cooking (60.3%) reduced PR far beyond boiling (48.8%) and grilling (51.3%). Hence, we recommend frying and microwave processing are better methods for minimizing PR in seafood than boiling or grilling.

Microbial Degradation of Aldrin and Dieldrin: Mechanisms and Biochemical Pathways

As members of the organochlorine group of insecticides, aldrin and dieldrin are effective at protecting agriculture from insect pests. However, because of excessive use and a long half-life, they have contributed to the major pollution of the water/soil environments. Aldrin and dieldrin have been reported to be highly toxic to humans and other non-target organisms, and so their use has gradually been banned worldwide. Various methods have been tried to remove them from the environment, including xenon lamps, combustion, ion conversion, and microbial degradation. Microbial degradation is considered the most promising treatment method because of its advantages of economy, environmental protection, and convenience. To date, a few aldrin/dieldrin-degrading microorganisms have been isolated and identified, including Pseudomonas fluorescens, Trichoderma viride, Pleurotus ostreatus, Mucor racemosus, Burkholderia sp., Cupriavidus sp., Pseudonocardia sp., and a community of anaerobic microorganisms. Many aldrin/dieldrin resistance genes have been identified from insects and microorganisms, such as Rdl, bph, HCo-LGC-38, S2-RDL^A302S, CSRDL1A, CSRDL2S, HaRdl-1, and HaRdl-2. Aldrin degradation includes three pathways: the oxidation pathway, the reduction pathway, and the hydroxylation pathway, with dieldrin as a major metabolite. Degradation of dieldrin includes four pathways: oxidation, reduction, hydroxylation, and hydrolysis, with 9-hydroxydieldrin and dihydroxydieldrin as major products. Many studies have investigated the toxicity and degradation of aldrin/dieldrin. However, few reviews have focused on the microbial degradation and biochemical mechanisms of aldrin/dieldrin. In this review paper, the microbial degradation and degradation mechanisms of aldrin/dieldrin are summarized in order to provide a theoretical and practical basis for the bioremediation of aldrin/dieldrin-polluted environment.

Particularities of Fungicides and Factors Affecting Their Fate and Removal Efficacy: A Review

Systemic fungicide use has increased over the last decades, despite the susceptibility of resistance development and the side effects to human health and the environment. Although herbicides and insecticides are detected more frequently in environmental samples, there are many fungicides that have the ability to enter water bodies due to their physicochemical properties and their increasing use. Key factors affecting fungicide fate in the environment have been discussed, including the non-target effects of fungicides. For instance, fungicides are associated with the steep decline in bumblebee populations. Secondary actions of certain fungicides on plants have also been reported recently. In addition, the use of alternative eco-friendly disease management approaches has been described. Constructed Wetlands (CWs) comprise an environmentally friendly, low cost, and efficient fungicide remediation technique. Fungicide removal within CWs is dependent on plant uptake and metabolism, absorption in porous media and soil, hydrolysis, photodegradation, and biodegradation. Factors related to the efficacy of CWs on the removal of fungicides, such as the type of CW, plant species, and the physicochemical parameters of fungicides, are also discussed in this paper. There are low-environmental-risk fungicides, phytohormones and other compounds, which could improve the removal performance of CW vegetation. In addition, specific parameters such as the multiple modes of action of fungicides, side effects on substrate microbial communities and endophytes, and plant physiological response were also studied. Prospects and challenges for future research are suggested under the prism of reducing the risk related to fungicides and enhancing CW performance.

Spatiotemporal distribution and risk assessment of organophosphorus pesticides in surface water and groundwater on the North China Plain, China

90 groundwater samples and 14 surface water samples were collected in wet season (summer) and dry season (winter) in the North China Plain (NCP), and analyzed for 11 organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs). The results showed that the main types of OPPs in surface water and groundwater were dimethoate, dichlorvos, methyl-parathion, malathion in both summer and winter. The OPP concentrations in groundwater and surface water were higher in summer than in winter. In the vertical direction, the distribution characteristics of different four types of groundwater sampling points are different. In the horizontal direction: farmland adjacent to a river (FAR) > central farmland (CF) > nonfarm area adjacent to a river (NFAR) > central nonfarm area (CNF). The OPPs concentrations in surface water adjacent to farmland were higher than that in surface water adjacent to nonfarm area. The main factors influencing the distribution of OPPs in the groundwater and surface water were the interaction process between them, the groundwater flow field and the OPPs used in agricultural activities. The ecological risk of OPPs to surface water was greater in summer than in winter. Water Flea was at medium risk, and malathion had the greatest influence on Water Flea in both summer and winter. The non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks of the four main OPPs in surface water were higher than in groundwater, and were higher in summer than in winter, but they would not lead to adverse health effects on local residents.

Seasonal variation of pesticides in surface water and drinking water wells in the annual cycle in western Poland, and potential health risk assessment

Drinking water wells on a riverbank filtration sites are exposed to contamination from farmlands (like pesticides) that had migrated from the contaminated river. In this study, pesticide contamination of the Warta River and riverbank filtration water at the Mosina-Krajkowo well field (Poland) were examined during the annual cycle. Among the 164 pesticides analysed, 25 were identified. The highest concentrations occurred in the river water and decreased along the flow path from the river to wells. Only the most persistent substances were detected at the farthest points. During the study, seasonal changes in pesticide concentrations and differences in the types of occurring substances were observed. Most substances and the highest concentrations were detected in May 2018, while the lowest number and the lowest concentrations were detected in February 2018. Spring is the period of increased exposure of water to pollution, which is correlated with increased pesticides use and increased rainfall. Seven toxic and persistent pesticides were found with the highest concentrations in water: isoproturon, nicosulfuron, imidacloprid, terbuthylazine, chlorotoluron, S-metalachlor, and prometryn. Pesticides are widely used in the study area; therefore, a potential health risk assessment was performed. The hazard quotient (HQ) values did not exceed one, which indicated a less significant health risk.

Environmental risk assessment of parabens in surface water from a Brazilian river: the case of Mogi Guaçu Basin, São Paulo State, under precipitation anomalies

Parabens are preservatives widely used by industry since these compounds have antifungal properties, relative low cost, and stability over a wide pH range. This study aims to quantify and assess the environmental risks of methylparaben (MP), ethylparaben (EP), propylparaben (PP), and butylparaben (BP) in surface water from a Brazilian River, Mogi Guaçu. The State of São Paulo, including the Mogi Guaçu River region, suffered from a period of intense drought and high temperatures, which caused anomalies in river flows and water supply problems. The water samples were collected from 14 locations, along 300 km of river extension, at four different seasons. Samples were previously extracted and pre-concentrated by dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) and later analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization in tandem with mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS) detector. During the sampling period, PP was detected in 89.3% of the water samples, MP in 87.5%, EP in 73.2%, and BP in 48.2%. The sum of parabens' average levels was 42.2 μg L^-1 in Winter, 41.5 μg L^-1 in Summer, 36.6 μg L^-1 in Autumn, and 31.5 μg L^-1 in Spring. These levels can be attributed to the smaller dilution effect caused by the drought period. Also, ecological risk assessment indicated that parabens could take a low, medium, and high risk for target organisms in the measured aquatic environments, especially considering Pimephales promelas where 15% of the samples do not present potential risk, 84% of samples can present medium risk and only 1% have low risk. Besides, the risks for BP are also considerably higher, when almost 40% presents for high risks and 60% for medium risks. The present study indicates worrisome threats to the water source and to allegedly protected biodiversity and, therefore, urgent actions are needed to effectively protect.

Co-occurrence of multiple cyanotoxins and taste-and-odor compounds in the large eutrophic Lake Taihu, China: Dynamics, driving factors, and challenges for risk assessment

Cyanobacterial blooms producing toxic metabolites occur frequently in freshwater, yet the environmental behaviors of complex cyanobacterial metabolites remain largely unknown. In this study, the seasonal and spatial variations of several classes of cyanotoxins (microcystins, cylindrospermopsins, saxitoxins) and taste-and-odor (T&O) compounds (β-cyclocitral, β-ionone, geosmin, 2-methylisoborneol) in Lake Taihu were simultaneously investigated for the first time. The total cyanotoxins were dominated by microcystins with concentrations highest in November (mean 2209 ng/L) and lowest in February (mean 48.7 ng/L). Cylindrospermopsins were abundant in May with the highest content of 622.8 ng/L. Saxitoxins only occurred in May (mean 19.2 ng/L) and November (mean 198.5 ng/L). Extracellular T&O compounds were most concentrated in August, the highest being extracellular β-cyclocitral (mean 240.6 ng/L) followed by 2-methylisoborneol (mean 146.6 ng/L). Environment variables play conflicting roles in modulating the dynamics of different groups of cyanotoxins and T&O compounds. Total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), chlorophyll-a and cyanobacteria density were important factors affecting the variation of total microcystins, β-cyclocitral and β-ionone concentrations. In contrast, total cylindrospermopsins, 2-methylisoborneol and geosmin concentrations were significantly influenced by water temperature and TP. There was a significant and linear relationship between microcystins and β-cyclocitral/β-ionone, while cylindrospermopsins were positively correlated with 2-methylisoborneol and geosmin. The perceptible odors may be good indicators for the existence of cyanotoxins. Hazard quotients revealed that potential human health risks from microcystins were high in August and November. Meanwhile, the risks from cylindrospermopsins were at moderate levels. Cylindrospermopsins and saxitoxins were first identified in this lake, suggesting that diverse cyanotoxins might co-occur more commonly than previously thought. Hence, the risks from other cyanotoxins beyond microcystins shouldn't be ignored. This study also highlights that the necessity for further assessing the combination effects of these complex metabolites.

Ecotoxicological and human health risk assessment of selected pesticides in Kurose River, Higashi-Hiroshima City (Japan)

This study conducted an integrated approach combining monitoring and risk assessment of pesticides in Kurose River and its catchment area, Japan. Water samples (n = 168) were collected every month for 1 year (March 2016 to February 2017). Pesticides (cyanazine, simetryn, fenarimol, isoprothiolane, and diazinon) were extracted by Sep-Pack C18 cartridges and analyzed using a reversed-phase HPLC-UV system. The pesticides were also determined in non-target organisms Red algae (Audouinella sp.) and diatoms (Cocconeis placentula) from the river. Based on the residual concentrations, an ecotoxicological risk assessment was conducted using the risk quotient (RQ) index. The human health carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk assessments were evaluated using hazard quotients (HQ). Results showed that cyanazine was the most commonly detected (64%), followed by simetryn (58%), and diazinon (57%) in all the sample sites (n = 12). Except for isoprothiolane, the pesticides were highest in spring followed by summer, autumn and winter. Based on extreme values (ex), non-acceptable ecotoxicological risk was obtained for diazinon (RQ_ex  = 21.317), cyanazine (RQ_ex  = 3.129), simetryn (RQ_ex  = 8.577) and fenarimol (RQ_ex  = 10.855), while that of isoprothiolane (RQ_ex  = 0.013) was negligible. Based on the HQ estimates, all the pesticides were below the threshold value of 1, hence pose no significant health risks to humans. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Pesticides affect non-target organisms in rivers and other aquatic systems Pesticides were frequently detected in spring and summer and accumulated in red algae and diatom The detected pesticides posed high ecotoxicological and human health risks.

Seasonal distribution of multiclass pesticide residues in the surface waters of northwest Croatia

As part of our OPENTOX project, we evaluated the incidence and mass concentrations of multiclass pesticide residues in 23 river/stream water samples collected in urban and agricultural areas of northwest Croatia at various points of the pesticide application season in 2015. The study included 16 compounds of five herbicide classes and seven compounds of three insecticide classes. Pesticide residues were accumulated from water by solid-phase extraction and analysed using high performance liquid chromatography with UV-diode array detection and/or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Herbicide residues were more common than the insecticide ones, and, as expected, they peaked in the middle of the application season. Metolachlor showed the highest concentrations and was found in 91 % of all samples, followed by terbuthylazine, found in 70 % of the samples. The highest total mass concentration of detected pesticides was measured in the water samples of the Krapina (3992 ng/L) and Sutla (3455 ng/L) collected in rural areas with intensive agriculture. Our findings strongly speak in favour of continued monitoring of surface waters and possibly extending the list of priority water pollutants.

Application of the health risk assessment of acetochlor in the development of water quality criteria

Acetochlor is a widely used herbicide in agricultural production. Studies have shown that acetochlor has obvious environmental hormone effects, and long-term exposure may pose a threat to human health. To quantify the hazards of acetochlor in drinking water, a health risk assessment of acetochlor was conducted in major cities of China based on the data of acetochlor residue concentrations in drinking water. The approach of the Species Sensitivity Distributions (SSD) method is used to extrapolate from animal testing data to reflect worst case human toxicity. Results show that hazard quotients related to acetochlor residues in drinking water for different age groups range from 1.94 × 10^-4 to 6.13 × 10^-4, so, there are no indication of human risk. Compared to the total estimated hazard quotient from oral intake of acetochlor, the chronic exposure imputed to acetochlor residues in drinking water in China accounts for 0.4%. This paper recommends 0.02 mg/L to be the maximum acetochlor residue concentration level in drinking water and source water criteria.

From field to plate: Agricultural pesticide presence in the guayas estuary (Ecuador) and commercial mangrove crabs

Mangroves are unique coastal ecosystems, located in tropical and subtropical regions. Yet, the functioning of these essential ecosystems is threatened by the presence of pollutants, including pesticides originating from agricultural activities. We investigated pesticide residues in the Guayas estuarine environment, since agricultural activities rapidly increased in the Guayas river basin over the past decades. A multi-residue analysis involving a selection of 88 pesticides was performed on the white meat and the hepatopancreas of the red mangrove crab (Ucides Occidentalis) at 15 sampling sites within the Guayas estuary along with water, sediment, and leaves samples. We found that 35 active compounds were present in the Guayas estuary, of which pyrimethanil was most commonly detected and had the highest concentrations in almost all compartments. Also, cadusafos was present in all studied compartments of the Guayas mangrove system and several prohibited pesticides (including carbendazim, carbofuran, and parathion) were detected. An ecotoxicological and probabilistic consumer risk assessment pointed out that current butachlor, carbendazim, and fludioxonil concentrations can cause adverse effects in aquatic organisms in the long term. Moreover, high potential acute and chronic risks of cadusafos residues on aquatic invertebrates and of diuron on algae in the Guayas wetlands were observed. Still, the exposure results indicated that the health risk for the consumers of the commercial red mangrove crab is low concerning cadusafos, chlorpyrifos, diuron, linuron, and pyrimethanil residues in crab tissues. The findings presented in this research can provide a useful basis for local water managers and environmental conservation groups to act and reduce the usage of pesticides, to avoid threatening aquatic and human health.

Occurrence and risk assessment of pesticides in a Mediterranean Basin with strong agricultural pressure (Guadiana Basin: Southern of Portugal)

The study aimed to assess the occurrence and the environmental risk of a group of 51 selected pesticides in the Guadiana Basin (a biodiversity hotspot, in the Mediterranean). The most abundant pesticides were bentazone and 2,4-D, while terbuthylazine together with terbutryn constituted the most ubiquitous pesticides. Eighteen out of the 38 pesticides detected are no longer approved in Europe, and 5 of them are included in the list of priority substances. The risk assessment showed that azinphos ethyl, diflufenican, irganol, imidacloprid, and oxadiazon occurred occasionally, but always in concentrations above their respective ecotoxicological threshold value. Contrary, bentazone, terbuthylazine, and terbutryn presented a high risk in most of the sampled locations and periods. The site-specific risk assessment showed a spatial and temporal pattern, with a higher risk occurring mainly in intermittent streams, in the drought period. The presence of pesticides banned from the EU market since 2009 showed the importance of improving the monitoring process, to identify the main sources of pollution and the fate of these emerging compounds. The results showed the need of implementing actions to improve the sustainable use of pesticides in agricultural areas, working with farmers and management entities to reduce the contamination of aquatic ecosystems. Transboundary water governance is also required to solve potential transboundary contamination problems.

Glyphosate concentrations in global freshwaters: are aquatic organisms at risk?

Glyphosate is the most used herbicide worldwide. Many studies have reported glyphosate risks to aquatic organisms of different trophic levels. Moreover, evidence suggests flaws in countries' legislation that may imply the non-protection of aquatic species exposed to glyphosate. Therefore, we aimed to investigate glyphosate concentrations in freshwater ecosystems worldwide based on a systematic literature review, to discuss the results considering each country's legislation, and to assess the relative tolerance and risk for aquatic species. Only articles providing in situ concentrations of glyphosate in freshwater systems were included in our study. In total, 73 articles met the inclusion criteria and were used in our analysis. The studies comprised freshwater ecosystems from 21 countries. Most countries evaluated (90%) did not have restrictive legislation for aquatic glyphosate concentrations, resulting in a potential non-protection of aquatic organisms. Glyphosate may pose a moderate to high risk in 95% of the countries investigated, reaching a maximum concentration of 105 mg L-1. Additionally, the risk analysis showed that glyphosate concentrations below 0.1 μg L-1 represent a low risk, whereas glyphosate concentrations above 1 μg L-1, which is below the limit established by some countries' legislation, represent a high risk to aquatic organisms. Therefore, we strongly recommend a revision of the countries' legislation for glyphosate concentration in freshwater systems.

Occurrence, human health, and ecotoxicological risk assessment of pesticides in surface waters of the River Nile's Rosetta Branch, Egypt

In Egypt, the shortage of freshwater resources and their pollution constitutes a growing concern. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to (i) monitor the occurrence and spatiotemporal variations of 100 pesticides in surface water samples collected monthly (from July 2018 to June 2019) from El-Rahawy, Sabal, and Tala sampling sites along the Rosetta branch of the River Nile in Egypt, (ii) identify potential non-carcinogenic health risks for the local people through the lifetime consumption of contaminated drinking water, and (iii) perform an ecological risk assessment of aquatic organisms upon exposure to pesticides detected in surface waters based on the risk quotients (RQs) method. Of the 100 pesticides analyzed, 22 belonging to 11 chemical families were detected, and 75.5% of surface water samples were contaminated with one or more pesticide residues. The most frequently detected pesticide was malathion (57%), followed by chlorpyrifos (54%), atrazine (23%), and carbendazim (20%). Spatial distribution showed that the El-Rahawy site had the highest pesticide load (38.47 μg/L), and Sabal had the lowest (16.29 μg/L). Temporal variations revealed that the highest total pesticide concentrations were detected in summer (27.98 μg/L) compared to spring (23.16 μg/L), winter (19.18 μg/L), and autumn (11.85 μg/L). For non-carcinogenic risks of pesticides detected in surface water, the target hazard quotient (THQ) values were less than one. This implies that there is no potential human risk from exposure to drinking water at the sites under study. However, 13 pesticides presented high-risk quotients (RQ > 1), posing potential ecological risks to aquatic organisms.

UV and temperature effects on chloroacetanilide and triazine herbicides degradation and cytotoxicity

The purpose of this study was to explore the stability and toxicity of the herbicides and their degradation byproduct after exposure to different environmental factors. Triazines (atrazine, propazine, simazine) and chloroacetanilides (acetochlor, alachlor, metolachlor) which are commonly used herbicides were evaluated for cytotoxicity in different UV (254 nm and 365 nm) and temperature (4 °C, 23 °C, and 40 °C) conditions as well as degradation rates. Atrazine with the highest LD₅₀ (4.23 μg mL^-1) was less toxic than the other tested triazine herbicides Chloroacetanilides tested were more toxic than tested triazines, with LD₅₀ 0.08-1.42 μg mL^-1 vs 1.44-4.23 μg mL^-1, respectively. Alachlor with LD₅₀ 0.08 μg mL^-1 showed the strongest toxic response as compared with other tested herbicides. Temperatures only did not alter cytotoxicity of the tested herbicides, except for acetochlor and alachlor showing about 45 % more cell death after exposure to 40 °C for 2 h. At all 3 tested temperatures, 2 h of UV treatments did not affect cytotoxic effects of the tested herbicides, except for acetochlor and alachlor. At 4 °C, acetochlor toxicity was attenuated about 63 % after UV 365 nm exposure; but alachlor toxicity was enhanced after either UV 254 or 365 nm exposure for about 40 % and 24 %, respectively. At 23 °C, acetochlor toxicity was enhanced about 35 % after UV 254 nm exposure, but attenuated about 48 % after UV 365 nm exposure. Alachlor toxicity was enhanced about 34 % after UV 254 nm and 23 °C exposure. In combination of UV 254 nm and 40 °C, acetochlor toxicity was lowered by 63 % and alachlor toxicity was no change as compared with 4 °C, no UV group. After co-treatment with UV 365 nm and 40 °C both acetochlor and alachlor toxicity was enhanced 55 % and 80 %, respectively. Through degradation analysis by LC-MS/MS, alachlor showed the most dramatic degradation (only 0.58 %-10.58 % remaining) after heat and UV treatments.

Degradation kinetics of prometryn and formation of disinfection by-products during chlorination

Prometryn is a herbicide that is widely used and frequently detected in aqueous environment and soil. Prometryn is chemically stable, biologically toxic, and easily to accumulate in living bodies, which can cause accumulate in the environment and acute and chronic toxicity to living creatures. In this study, factors affecting the degradation kinetics of prometryn chlorination were studied, including solution pH, bromide and ammonium concentrations, and temperature. Prometryn reacted quickly with aqueous chlorine following the pseudo-first-order kinetics. The maximum pseudo-first-order rate constant (k_app) appeared at pH 5 with the observed rate constant (k_obs) as 190. 08 h^-1; the minimum value of k_app reached at pH 9 with k_obs as 5.26 h^-1. The presence of Br^- and increase of temperature both accelerated the degradation rate of prometryn during chlorination. The activation energy was calculated as 31.80 kJ/mol. Meanwhile 6 disinfection by-products (DBPs) were detected, namely: chloroform (CF), trichloroacetonitrile (TCAN), dichloroacetonitrile (DCAN), dichloroacetone, trichloronitromethane (TCNM), and trichloroacetone. Solution pH significantly affected the formation and distribution of DBPs. CF was the most formed carbonated DBP (C-DBP) with the maximum of 217.9 μg/L at pH 8, and its formation was significantly higher in alkaline conditions. For nitrogenated DBPs (N-DBPs), the yields of DCAN and TCAN were significantly higher in acidic conditions, while the maximum of TCNM achieved in neutral conditions. Because the toxicity of N-DBPs is higher than that of C-DBPs, the pH should be controlled in neutral or slight alkaline conditions during prometryn chlorination to effectively control DBP formation and reduce the related toxicity.

Three-bestseller pesticides in Brazil: Freshwater concentrations and potential environmental risks

Agricultural production in Brazil is favored by weather conditions and by the large amount of available land. Therefore, currently, Brazil is the second largest exporter of agricultural products globally. Pesticides are widely used in Brazilian crops due to their high efficiency, their low cost, and permissive legislation. However, pesticides tend to reach water resources threatening organisms and the water quality. Thereby, we aimed to review the surface freshwater concentrations of the three-bestseller pesticides in Brazil (glyphosate, 2,4D, and atrazine), and discuss the results with sales, legislation, toxicity and potential risks. For that, we performed a systematic review of quantitative studies of glyphosate, atrazine, and 2,4D in Brazilian freshwater and included monitoring data provided by the Brazilian Ministry of Health in our analysis. Finally, we calculated the risk assessment for the three pesticides. Only a few scientific studies reported concentrations of either of the three-bestseller pesticides in Brazilian freshwaters. Between 2009 and 2018, an increase in the sales of 2,4D, atrazine, and glyphosate was observed. It was not possible to evaluate the relation between concentrations and sales, due to limited number of studies, lack of standard criteria for sampling, individual environmental properties, and type of pesticide. Atrazine showed a higher toxicity compared to 2,4D and glyphosate. Regarding the environmental risks, 65%, 72%, and 94% of the Brazilian states had a medium to high risk to 2,4D, atrazine, and glyphosate, respectively. Finally, 80% of the Brazilian states evaluated showed a high environmental risk considering a mixture of the three pesticides. Although most of the environmental concentrations registered were below the allowed limits according to the Brazilian legislation, they are already enough to pose a high risk for the aquatic ecosystems. We, therefore, strongly recommend a revaluation of the maximum allowed values in the national surface freshwater Brazilian legislation.

Health and ecological risk assessment based on pesticide monitoring in Saïss plain (Morocco) groundwater

In many countries, including Morocco, groundwater contamination with pesticides such as globally banned organochlorides (e.g., dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT)) and some accredited organophosphates and pyrethroids poses ecological and human health risks. To assess these risks, we herein monitored pesticides in Saïss plain groundwater (Morocco) during the summer of 2017 and the winter of 2018 using polar organic chemical integrative samplers. The two types of passive samplers were deployed in 22 traditional wells for 14-20 days and subjected to solid-phase extraction. The extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry using a multiresidue method, and 27 pesticides were detected in total. In the summer campaign, 22 pesticides with individual concentrations ranging from <limit of quantitation (LOQ) to 243.1 ng L^-1 were identified, whereas 17 compounds with concentrations ranging from <LOQ to 53.8 ng L^-1 were detected in the winter campaign. In the summer period, the maximum individual concentrations of chlorothalonil, DDT, and α-hexachlorocyclohexane (α-HCH) equaled 111.7, 36.1, and 22.3 ng L^-1, respectively, with the respective values for the winter period equaling 18.14, 16.62, and 22.2 ng L^-1. Health risk assessment indicated that the carcinogenic α-HCH, β-HCH, DDT, and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene present in groundwater may also contaminate drinking water and thus pose a threat to human health, particularly to that of infants and children. Further analysis revealed that the Saïss aquifer presents a high ecological risk. Thus, the monitoring of pesticides in groundwater by passive sampling was effective and could be combined with human health and ecological risk assessment to develop ways of reducing human and environmental exposure to pesticides.

Pesticides contamination in the Thamirabarani, a perennial river in peninsular India: The first report on ecotoxicological and human health risk assessment

This study evaluates the distribution of pesticides and assesses the ecological and human health risks associated with pesticide residues concentration in the Thamirabarani River, the only perennial river in Tamil Nadu, India. Observed a variation in the pesticide concentration in the water (not detected (ND)-31.69 μg/L), sediments (ND-14.77 μg/kg), and fish (0.02-26.05 μg/kg). Endosulfan, aldrin, and endrin were the predominant organochlorine pesticides present in water, sediments, and fish. The average concentration of pesticides (except endosulfan) in water and sediments was found to be below the acceptable threshold as per the water and sediment quality guidelines, posing no ecological hazard to aquatic organisms. The calculated risk quotient and toxic unit (0.1 > TU/RQ ≤ 1) represent low-to-medium acute and chronic toxicity to the aquatic organisms inhabiting the river basin. The average concentration of pesticides in fish (Labeorohita) was also below the maximum residual limits set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC). However, the calculated daily intakes of endosulfan, aldrin, and endrin were above the CAC-acceptable daily intake guidelines. The human health risk assessment showed that children and adults exposed to pesticides in water and sediments through ingestion and dermal contact could have higher cancer risks (CR > 10^-4) than inhalation. This study recommends implementing effective and routine pollution management schemes to avoid pesticide threats to aquatic and human health.

Biological and chemical monitoring of the ecological risks of pesticides in Lake Ziway, Ethiopia

Lake Ziway, a freshwater lake located in Ethiopia, is under the pressure of pesticide and nutrient pollution due to agricultural activity and urbanization. This study has analysed concentrations of insecticides, fungicides and nutrients in water and sediment samples of Lake Ziway taken in the wet and dry season at 13 sites expected to be under different environmental stress and assessed their expected ecological impacts. Malathion, dimethoate, metalaxyl, diazinon, chlorpyrifos, fenitrothion and endosulfan were detected in more than half of the water samples, while diazinon, α-cypermethrin and endosulfan were frequently detected (>25%) in sediment samples. Higher levels of physicochemical parameters were observed at sample locations proximate to agricultural and urban activities. Risk quotients (RQ) and multi-substance Potentially Affected Fraction (msPAF_RA) were calculated to assess the ecological risk of individual and mixture of pesticides, respectively. The majority of the pesticides detected in the water of the lake showed a potential acute risk (RQ > 1), specifically the insecticides chlorpyrifos, λ-cyhalothrin and α-cypermethrin for which high potential acute risks were calculated using a 2nd tier risk assessment. Levels of pesticides in sediment showed low ecological risks. Arthropods and fishes are expected to be highly affected by mixtures of pesticides (msPAF_RA = < 1-80%) detected at locations that are proximate to smallholders' farms, and receive largescale farms' wastewater and at sites where inflow rivers join the lake. Macroinvertebrates based redundancy analysis showed the effectiveness of EPT richness to assess ecological status of the lake. Training for smallholder farmers on pesticides safety and usage, and implementation of improved effluent management mechanisms by floriculture farms are urgently needed intervention measures to reduce the pollution.

Selection of priority pesticides in Japanese drinking water quality regulation: Validity, limitations, and evolution of a risk prediction method

Several risk scoring and ranking methods have been applied for the prioritization of micropollutants, including pesticides, and in the selection of pesticides to be regulated regionally and nationally. However, the effectiveness of these methods has not been evaluated in Japan. We developed a risk prediction method to select pesticides that have a high probability of being detected in drinking water sources where no monitoring data is available. The risk prediction method was used to select new pesticides for the 2013 Primary List in the Japanese Drinking Water Quality Guidelines. Here, we examined the effectiveness of the method on the basis of the results of water quality examinations conducted by water supply authorities across Japan, and studied ways to improve the risk prediction method. Of the 120 pesticides in the 2013 Primary List, 80 were detected in drinking water sources (raw water entering water treatment plants). The rates of detection of the newly selected pesticides and previously listed pesticides were not significantly different: 64% and 68%, respectively. When the risk predictor was revised to incorporate degradability of dry-field pesticides and current pesticide sales data, the rate of detection of pesticides selected as having a high risk of detection improved from 72% to 88%. We prepared regional versions of the Primary List using the revised risk predictors and verified their utility. The number of listed pesticides varied greatly by region, ranging from 32 to 73; all regional lists were much shorter than the national Primary List. In addition, 55% to 100% of the pesticides detected in each region were included in a Regional Primary List. This work verifies the ability of the risk prediction method to screen pesticides and select those with a high risk of detection.

Ecological risk assessment of current-use pesticides and biocides in soils, sediments and surface water of a mixed land-use basin of the Pampas region, Argentina

The present study aimed to assess the ecological risk of 30 current-use agricultural pesticides and biocides in the soil, sediments and aquatic organisms of a mixed land-use basin located in the Depressed Pampas Region of Argentina. Risk Quotients (RQs) were used to evaluate the chronic risk in soil and aquatic organisms, while Toxic Units (TUs) were used to assess the acute risk in sediment-dwelling organisms and aquatic biota. Acetochlor, hydroxy-atrazine, glyphosate, AMPA, metolachlor, imidacloprid and tebuconazole were the only pesticide residues detected (>30%) and quantified in all the matrices evaluated. Glyphosate and AMPA showed the highest concentrations, being their mean and maximum levels 27.90-176.00 μg kg^-1 and 270-712.50 μg kg^-1 in soils, 8.28-32.0 μg kg^-1 and 6.85-17.50 μg kg^-1 in sediments, and 1.88-4.36 μg L^-1 and 0.66-1.03 μg L^-1 in surface water. The RQs in soils showed high chronic risk, mainly due to AMPA and imidacloprid. The TUs in sediments showed acute risk in dwelling organisms, mainly due to glyphosate and imidacloprid. RQs assessment showed a range of chronic risk levels according to the site/sampling event, with higher contribution of atrazine and its metabolites, and acetochlor, whereas TUs assessment showed no acute risk in aquatic biota. In contrast to Europe, in Argentina, there are no restrictions regarding the use of atrazine, acetochlor, imidacloprid and glyphosate to protect aquatic life. Thus, it is recommended that the current Argentine pesticide regulations should be modified to prevent ecological risk and protect ecosystems.

Health and ecotoxicological risk assessment for human and aquatic organism exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the Baiyangdian Lake

Seasonal and regional distributions of 17 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface waters from four different main water functional regions of the Baiyangdian Lake were analyzed through GC/MS/MS during spring and summer season. The aim was to identify their possible pollution sources and evaluate their health risk for human and ecotoxicological risk for aquatic organisms. Results showed that the range of total PAH concentration is 35.38-88.06 ng/L (average 46.57 ng/L) in spring and 25.64-301.41 ng/L (average 76.23 ng/L) in summer. PAH contamination was observed slightly lower in the summer season from the pollution characteristics of water bodies in most areas of the Baiyangdian Lake, and the levels of PAH pollution in the water body of urban residential regions and rural residential regions were relatively higher than those in tourist regions and low human disturbance regions. Source analysis based on diagnostic ratios confirmed that combustion sources and petroleum sources were two main sources for PAHs entering into the waters of the Baiyangdian Lake. Human health risk assessment showed that PAHs in surface waters from the Baiyangdian Lake will not cause a potential non-carcinogenic risk to local residents and the carcinogenic risk could mostly be accepted, but the potential lifetime carcinogenic risk for infants in rural residential regions should be concerned about. Urban residential regions and rural residential regions were subject to higher cumulative non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk when compared to the other functional regions. Ecotoxicological risk assessment found a moderate risk to aquatic organisms presented by individual PAH and a low risk by total PAHs, and PAHs in the water body of urban residential regions and rural residential regions also have relatively higher harm effects to aquatic organisms compared with the other two functional regions. This study revealed the pollution characteristics of PAHs and their possible sources in waters of the Baiyangdian Lake, clarified its correlation to regional anthropogenic activities, and provided corresponding risk management strategies for human and aquatic organisms.

Occurrence and risk assessment of microcystin and its relationship with environmental factors in lakes of the eastern plain ecoregion, China

The frequent occurrence of microcystins (MCs) in freshwater poses serious threats to the drinking water safety and health of human beings. Although MCs have been detected in individual fresh waters in China, little is known about their occurrence over a large geographic scale. An investigation of 30 subtropical lakes in eastern China was performed during summer 2018 to determine the MCs concentrations in water and their possible risk via direct water consumption to humans, and to assess the associated environmental factors. MCs were detected in 28 of 30 lakes, and the highest mean MCs concentrations occurred in Lake Chaohu (26.7 μg/L), followed by Lake Taihu (3.11 μg/L). MC-LR was the primary variant observed in our study, and MCs were mainly produced by Microcystis, Anabaena (Dolicospermum), and Oscillatoria in these lakes. Replete nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations, irradiance, and stable water column conditions were critical for dominance of MC-producing cyanobacteria and high MCs production in our study. Hazard quotients indicated that human health risk of MCs in most lakes was at moderate or low levels except Lakes Chaohu and Taihu. Nutrient control management is recommended to decrease the likelihood of high MCs production. Finally, we recommend the regional scale thresholds of total nitrogen and total phosphorus concentrations of 1.19 mg/L and 7.14 × 10^-2 mg/L, respectively, based on the drinking water guideline of MC-LR (1 μg/L) recommended by World Health Organization. These targets for nutrient control will aid water quality managers to reduce human health risks created by exposure to MCs.

National trends in pesticides in drinking water and water sources in Japan

Although agricultural activities-especially paddy rice cultivation-are prominent in watersheds in Asian countries, few comprehensive studies have examined pesticide concentrations in water in these areas. Here, we report the concentrations of 162 pesticides in treated drinking water and source water (14,076 samples) in Japan, where rice cultivation is common, along with trends in sales of herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides from 1963 to 2016. Herbicides and fungicides-especially those used in rice farming were frequently detected in drinking water sources. The herbicide bromobutide, which is not listed in drinking water quality standards or guidelines except in Japan, as well as the widely used-and-detected bentazone, were frequently detected in source water (bromobutide and bentazone were detected at concentrations >0.1 μg/L in 31.1% and 33.8% of samples, respectively). Dymron and tefuryltrione were also detected in over 10% of samples at concentrations >0.1 μg/L. The highest observed concentration of bromobutide was 10 μg/L, and 7.5% of samples had concentrations >1 μg/L. High concentrations were also observed for halosulfuron methyl (7.9 μg/L), pyroquilon (7.0), molinate (6.8), and metominostrobin (4.6). Some of the pesticides frequently detected in source water were not detected at all in drinking water, but the main cause of the non-detection appeared to be degradation by chlorine. From the 1970s onward, sales of herbicides and fungicides with higher acceptable daily intakes (ADIs; i.e., with lower toxicity) have increased. However, the percentage of herbicides with very low ADIs (<10^-2.5 mg kg^-1 d^-1) being shipped has also increased. Tefuryltrione, which was detected at normalized concentrations >0.1 in 8% of samples, is an example of this type of herbicide. The average log-Kow of herbicides has decreased from the 1970s to the present, due to the strong trend towards the application of hydrophilic herbicides, such glyphosate. The need for increased monitoring of pesticides used in rice paddy farming is highlighted.

Pretilachlor Releasable Polyurea Microcapsules Suspension Optimization and Its Paddy Field Weeding Investigation

In this study, pretilachlor was encapsulated into polyurea microcapsules prepared by water-initiated polymerization of polyaryl polymethylene isocyanate and eventually made into pretilachlor microcapsules suspension (PMS). We used response surface methodology (RSM) combined with the Box–Behnken design (BBD) model to optimize the formulation of PMS. The encapsulation efficiency (EE) of PMS was investigated with respect to three independent variables including wall material dosage (X₁), emulsifier dosage (X₂), and polymerization stirring speed (X₃). The results showed that the regression equation model had a satisfactory accuracy in predicting the EE of PMS. To achieve an optimal condition for PMS preparation, the dose of wall material was set to 5%, the dose of emulsifier was set to 3.5% and the polymerization stirring speed was set to 200 rpm. The EE of PMS was up to 95.68% under the optimized condition, and the spherical shape with smooth surface morphology was observed. PMS was also proven to have delayed release capability and in vivo herbicidal activity against barnyard grass [Echinochloa crusgalli (L.) Beauv.] with an LC₅₀ value of 274 mg/L. Furthermore, PMS had efficient weed management compared to commercially available 30% pretilachlor emulsifier (PE), showing a promising potential application for weeding paddy fields.