1
|
Liang R, Maltby L. Spatial variation in the recovery potential of freshwater macroinvertebrate assemblages: Moving towards spatially defined assemblage vulnerability to chemicals. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 909:168402. [PMID: 37939950 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
The vulnerability of freshwater biodiversity to chemical stressors is dependent on its ability to resist chemical stress and recover from any stress-induced effects. Spatial variation in recovery has the potential to exacerbate or mitigate assemblage vulnerability but this has not been explored in detail. By combining information on assemblage-specific recovery potential with information on assemblage-specific chemical sensitivity, we have demonstrated that the vulnerability of 3307 macroinvertebrate assemblages to 18 different chemicals is spatially dependent and that recovery potential may reduce chemical risk. The recovery potential of each assemblage was quantified based on trait information and landscape factors using a weighted sum method, but it did not consider succession processes. Recovery potential varied by river type with assemblages in mid-altitude siliceous rivers with small catchments in the west of England having the lowest recovery potential. For 17 or the 18 chemicals investigated, there was a positive correlation between the recovery potential and sensitivity and this was strongest for assemblages exposed to metals. More sensitive assemblages had a higher recovery potential and were therefore potentially less vulnerable than would be expected based on sensitivity alone. Assemblages in rivers with small catchments were the most vulnerable to chemical exposure. Furthermore, assemblages with high vulnerability to insecticide exposure were more prevalent in mid-altitude rivers with siliceous geology in the west of England, whereas assemblages with high vulnerability to metals were more prevalent in lowland rivers with calcareous or mixed geology in the midlands. This study: (i) highlights the importance of spatial context in determining the risk of chemical pollution to freshwater biodiversity; (ii) demonstrates how spatial variation in taxonomic composition influences both the internal and external recovery of assemblages and how landscape factors modify trait-based recovery capabilities; (iii) provides the foundations for spatially-defined vulnerability assessment by identifying ecological scenarios for assessing chemical risk.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruoyu Liang
- School of Biosciences, The University of Sheffield, Alfred Denny Building, Western Bank, S10 2TN Sheffield, United Kingdom.
| | - Lorraine Maltby
- School of Biosciences, The University of Sheffield, Alfred Denny Building, Western Bank, S10 2TN Sheffield, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Karthick Raja Namasivayam S, Francis AL, Kavisri M, Alharbi NS, Thiruvengadam M, Moovendhan M. Biocompatible nanoscale silica particles fabricated from aminopropyltriethoxysilane functionalized brick ash induced versatile pesticidal activity. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 238:117090. [PMID: 37683791 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
The present study is aimed to evaluate pesticidal activity and biocompatibility including ecotoxicity of functionalized silica nanoparticles that synthesized by simple, in vitro, green technology principles. Sol-gel method was adopted for the synthesis of silica nanoparticles and was functionalized by Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APS), characterized and confirmed the uniform, monodispersive, highly stable particles with the size range of 10-200 nm. The synthesized Nano silica was screened against the developmental stages of Spodoptera litura. Pesticidal study revealed that the functionalized nanoparticles were effective against all the life stages of the insect by recording high mortality and the drastic reduction in the larval, pupae, adult emergence, and adult longevity stages. The ecotoxic effect of synthesized nano-silica was tested on soil parameters, growth parameters of Arachis hypogaea, and compatibility with Trichoderma viride. This study revealed there was no toxic effect on soil, growth parameters of Arachis hypogaea, and most significantly the growth of Trichoderma viride was not inhibited. A biocompatibility study was done by using Zebrafish and Rabbit model. The study divulges there was no toxic effect on all the developmental stages of the Embryo. Further, the nanoparticles did not exhibit any dermatotoxicological effect which confirmed no signs and symptoms of inflammation. Nano-silica emerges as a promising eco-friendly and non-toxic substitute for conventional insecticides. Its utilization has the potential to augment both environmental preservation and economic prosperity on a national scale. Furthermore, the integration of silica-based nanoparticles with biocidal agents demonstrates notable biocompatibility and the capacity to hinder bacterial adhesion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Karthick Raja Namasivayam
- Department of Research and Innovation, Saveetha School of Engineering, SIMATS Deemed University, Chennai, 602195, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - A L Francis
- Department of Research and Innovation, Saveetha School of Engineering, SIMATS Deemed University, Chennai, 602195, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - M Kavisri
- Department of Infrastructure Engineering, Saveetha School of Engineering, SIMATS Deemed University, Chennai, 602195, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Naiyf S Alharbi
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, P. O. Box 2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muthu Thiruvengadam
- Department of Crop Science, College of Sanghuh Life Sciences, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, South Korea
| | - Meivelu Moovendhan
- Centre for Ocean Research, Sathyabama Research Park, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, 600119, Tamil Nadu, India.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Sahni T, Sharma S, Verma D, Kaur H, Kumar S. Exploration of novel syringic esters as antifungal agent against phytopathogenic fungi of maize: Structure-activity studies. J Basic Microbiol 2023; 63:1265-1278. [PMID: 37236164 DOI: 10.1002/jobm.202300040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The production of maize is limited by major diseases such as foliar blights, stalk rot, maydis leaf blight; banded leaf and sheath blight and many more. Synthesis of ecologically sustainable and naturally derived products can help us counter these diseases. Hence, Syringaldehyde (a natural occurring isolate) should explore as a viable option as green agrochemical. We performed a structure-activity study to optimize syringaldehyde and its physicochemical properties. A series of novel syringaldehyde esters was synthesized and investigated focusing on esters' nature of lipophillicity, and membrane affinity. Tri-chloro acetylated ester of syringaldehyde was emerged as broad-spectrum fungicide.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tanvi Sahni
- Department of Chemistry, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India
| | - Sunita Sharma
- Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India
| | - Diksha Verma
- Department of Chemistry, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India
| | - Harleen Kaur
- Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India
| | - Sachin Kumar
- Department of Zoology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Bianchi FJ. From pattern to process: Towards mechanistic design principles for pest suppressive landscapes. Basic Appl Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2022.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
|
5
|
Hai Y, Leng G. A more than four-fold sex-specific difference of autism spectrum disorders and the possible contribution of pesticide usage in China 1990-2030. Front Public Health 2022; 10:945172. [PMID: 36187693 PMCID: PMC9525129 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.945172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are prevalent in children and adolescents and disproportionately affect males, and the main contributing factors underlying male vulnerability remain widely unknown. Pesticide use is widely reported to be associated with ASD risk, and the cases of pesticide poisoning incidence in rural areas are remarkably higher than those in the urban areas while the prevalence of ASDs in rural areas was higher than that in urban areas and the rate of male pesticide poisoning was significantly higher than female. Thus, pesticide usage may be an important contributing factor for causing sex-specific differences of ASD incidence. ASD burden was analyzed by using the data of ASD number, ASD rate (ASD cases per 100,000 persons) and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from 1990 to 2019. The changes from 1990 to 2030 were predicted using autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) in time series forecasting based on the small values of Akaike information criterion and Bayesian information criterion. Finally, the relationship between ASD rate and pesticide usage risk index (PURI) was analyzed via Pearson's correlation coefficient. ASD number, ASD rate and DALYs will be reduced by 45.5% ± 8.2% (t = 9.100 and p = 0.0119), 56.6% ± 10.2% (t = 9.111 and p = 0.0118), and 44.9% ± 7.0% (t = 20.90 and p = 0.0023) from 1990 to 2030 in China. PURI has a strong relationship with ASD rate (rho = 0.953 to 0.988 and p < 0.0001). Pesticide poisoning incidence in males is up to 2-fold higher than that in females. ASD number and DALYs in males are 4-fold higher than those in females. Furthermore, there is growing evidence supporting that males are more susceptible than females to pesticides with sex differences in neurotoxicogenetics. Therefore, pesticide poisoning may be a contributing factor for causing the sex differences of ASD. Much work still needs to be done to confirm that.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yang Hai
- International Education College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China,*Correspondence: Yang Hai
| | - Guodong Leng
- College of Business Administration, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wang X, Chi Y, Li F. Exploring China stepping into the dawn of chemical pesticide-free agriculture in 2050. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:942117. [PMID: 36161034 PMCID: PMC9504061 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.942117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
China has implemented a series of policies to reduce the usage of chemical pesticides to maintain food production safety and to reduce water and soil pollution. However, there is still a huge gap in developing biological pesticides to replace chemical agents or managing pests to prevent crop production loss. It is necessary to predict the future use of chemical pesticides and to exploit the potential ways to control pests and crop diseases. Pesticide usage is affected by seasonal changes and analyzed by using a seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model (a statistical model that predicts future trends using time-series data). The future development of biopesticides in China was predicted using the compound annual growth rate (CAGR), which is calculated via the equation [(Final value/Starting value)1/years - 1] according to the annual growth rate of target products over time. According to the reducing trend of pesticide and biological pesticide usage annually, China is predicted possibly step into the era of pesticide-free agriculture in 2050 based on the analysis of the ARIMA model. With CAGR calculation, China will produce from 500 thousand to one million tons of biopesticides in 2050, which can meet the need to replace chemical pesticides in agriculture to prevent the present crop production loss. To achieve the goal, China still has the greatest challenges to develop biopesticides and use various strategies to control pest and crop diseases. China may step into the dawn of chemical pesticide-free agriculture in 2050 if biopesticides can be developed smoothly and pests can be controlled well using various strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuejiang Wang
- Wuzhoufeng Agricultural Science & Technology Co., Ltd., Yantai, China
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Liang H, Wu X, Yao H, Weng X, Liu S, Chen J, Li Y, Wu Y, Wen L, Chen Q, Jing C. Association of urinary metabolites of non-persistent pesticides with serum sex hormones among the US females: NHANES 2013-2014. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 300:134577. [PMID: 35421444 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence indicated the possibility of non-persistent pesticides disrupting the homeostasis of sex hormones. However, few studies have focused on this relationship in females. We aimed to explore the relationship between non-persistent pesticide exposure and sex hormones among the US females from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2014. METHODS A total of 790 females, including girls (6-11 years), female adolescents (12-19 years), and adult females (>19 years), were enrolled in this study. Age stratified associations of individual non-persistent pesticide metabolites and their mixtures with sex hormones were analyzed by weighted multiple linear regression and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) using spot urinary non-persistent pesticide measurement, including 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 3,5,6-trichloropyridinol (TCPY), para-nitrophenol (PNP) and 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA), and three serum sex hormones [total testosterone (TT), estradiol (E2) and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG)]. RESULTS In girls, weighted multivariate linear regression indicated that both 2,4-D and PNP were negatively associated with TT, and TCPY was inversely associated with SHBG. In female adolescents, TCPY was negatively associated with TT and E2, and 3-PBA was negatively associated with SHBG; positive associations were detected both in 2,4-D with SHBG, and in PNP with TT. In adult females, a higher concentration of 3-PBA was associated with higher levels of TT. The BKMR model showed that in female adolescents, the concentrations of pesticide metabolite mixtures at or above the 55th percentile were negatively related to the levels of E2 compared with their mixtures at 50th percentile, and an inverse U-shaped exposure-response function between PNP and E2 was found. CONCLUSIONS Associations between the four non-persistent pesticide metabolites and serum sex hormones were identified in the US females from NHANES 2013-2014 and these associations were age dependent, especially in adolescents. Large-scale cohort studies are needed to confirm these findings and elucidate the potential biological mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huanzhu Liang
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, No.601 Huangpu Ave West, Guangzhou, 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaomei Wu
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, No.601 Huangpu Ave West, Guangzhou, 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Huojie Yao
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, No.601 Huangpu Ave West, Guangzhou, 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Xueqiong Weng
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, No.601 Huangpu Ave West, Guangzhou, 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Shan Liu
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, No.601 Huangpu Ave West, Guangzhou, 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Jingmin Chen
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, No.601 Huangpu Ave West, Guangzhou, 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Yexin Li
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, No.601 Huangpu Ave West, Guangzhou, 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Yingying Wu
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, No.601 Huangpu Ave West, Guangzhou, 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Lin Wen
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, No.601 Huangpu Ave West, Guangzhou, 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Qian Chen
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, No.601 Huangpu Ave West, Guangzhou, 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Chunxia Jing
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, No.601 Huangpu Ave West, Guangzhou, 510632, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Exposure and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, Guangdong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Preparation of an Environmentally Friendly Nano-Insecticide through Encapsulation in Polymeric Liposomes and Its Insecticidal Activities against the Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda. INSECTS 2022; 13:insects13070625. [PMID: 35886801 PMCID: PMC9323322 DOI: 10.3390/insects13070625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Simple Summary Pests are an important factor that causes a heavy loss in corn yield and quality. The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, is a newly invasive and extremely destructive pest, and it poses a major threat to agricultural production in China. While chemical pesticides are considered effective means for controlling the outbreak of destructive pests, pesticide delivery systems, such as microcapsules or nanoparticles, are an effective way to promote the utilization rate of traditional pesticides and to reduce environmental pollution. Therefore, the aim of this study is to design an environmentally friendly nano-insecticide that can enhance foliar retention and increase insecticidal activity. For this purpose, 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[amino(polyethylene glycol)-2000] (DSPE-PEG2000-NH2) was chosen to formulate the insecticide nanoparticles. The physicochemical properties were characterized and investigated in indoor and field efficacy trials. The results demonstrate that the nanoparticles hold promise for pest control. Abstract The insecticide emamectin benzoate (EB) was formulated with nanoparticles composed of DSPE-PEG2000-NH2 by the co-solvent method to determine its adverse impacts on the environment and to reinforce its dispersion, adhesion, and biocompatibility. A good encapsulation efficiency (70.5 ± 1.5%) of EB loaded in DSPE-PEG2000-NH2 polymeric liposomes was confirmed. Dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and contact angle meter measurements revealed that the DSPE-EB nanoparticles had a regular distribution, spherical shape, and good leaf wettability. The contact angle on corn leaves was 47.26°, and the maximum retention was higher than that of the reference product. DSPE-EB nanoparticles had strong adhesion on maize foliage and a good, sustained release property. The efficacy trial showed that the DSPE-EB nanoparticles had a strong control effect on S. frugiperda larvae, with the LC50 of 0.046 mg/L against the third-instar S. furgiperda larve after 48 h treatment. All these results indicate that DSPE-EB nanoparticles can serve as an insecticide carrier with lower environmental impact, sustained release property, and effective control of pests.
Collapse
|
9
|
Li Z, Zhang Y, Zhao Q, Cui Y, He Y, Li J, Yang Q, Lin Z, Wang C, Liang G, Jiao B. Determination, distribution and potential health risk assessment of insecticides and acaricides in citrus fruits of China. J Food Compost Anal 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jfca.2022.104645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
|
10
|
Scarlato M, Dogliotti S, Bianchi FJJA, Rossing WAH. Ample room for reducing agrochemical inputs without productivity loss: The case of vegetable production in Uruguay. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 810:152248. [PMID: 34896506 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Vegetables are commonly produced with high inputs of pesticides and fertilisers to boost production and meet cosmetic market standards. Yet, reports on the relationships between agrochemical inputs and crop productivity are scattered and an overview is missing. We assessed the relationship between pesticide and nutrient inputs and crop productivity for five vegetable crops in the south of Uruguay at field and farm level and explored the relation with farm resource endowment. We analysed crop yield and input use for tomato, onion, sweet potato, and strawberry with a dataset of 82 farms and 428 fields constructed between 2012 and 2017. Clear crop-specific patterns in pesticide and nutrient input levels were found, despite considerable variation across fields within the same crop. Strawberry and long cycle tomato had the greatest pesticide input regarding of the number of applications (20 and 18, respectively) and pesticide load (21 kg AI ha-1). Cumulative nutrient inputs were greatest for long cycle tomato (1127 kg ha-1). The relationships between inputs and yield were weak or non-significant, indicating inefficiencies and overuse of inputs, and there was no agronomical rationale for input use. We found substantial variation in management practices between fields and farms. In several cases, 21% of the fields and 17% of the farms producing onion, strawberry and tomato, attained relatively high yield levels with limited input levels. Yield and input use levels were not related to farm resource endowment. Our findings question the efficiency of the current high levels of pesticide and nutrient inputs in Uruguayan vegetable systems. The inputs may pose environmental and human health risks and in most cases did not increase yields. Learning from positive deviant farmers in combination with guided farm redesign, high-quality extension services, and use of context-specific knowledge and technologies may equip farmers to use more sustainable management practices.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Scarlato
- Farming Systems Ecology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands; Faculty of Agronomy, Universidad de la República del Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | - S Dogliotti
- Faculty of Agronomy, Universidad de la República del Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - F J J A Bianchi
- Farming Systems Ecology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - W A H Rossing
- Farming Systems Ecology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Lykogianni M, Bempelou E, Karamaouna F, Aliferis KA. Do pesticides promote or hinder sustainability in agriculture? The challenge of sustainable use of pesticides in modern agriculture. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 795:148625. [PMID: 34247073 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Sustainable agriculture aims to meet the food needs of the growing world population while ensuring minimal impact on the environment and humans as well as productivity. Although pesticides represent the backbone of the agri-food sector in its endeavor to secure food production their application is perceived by many as an obstacle towards the achievement of sustainability; the main concerns are linked with their adverse effects on human health and the environment. Τhis review aims to present the status of chemical plant protection and provide insights into the use of pesticides within the context of sustainable agriculture. It mainly focuses on the strengthened legislation frameworks, which especially in the European Union and the United States of America ensure the placement in the market of pesticides with acceptable toxicological and environmental profiles without compromising crop production. Furthermore, the implementation of Integrated Pest Management principles plays a key role in the sustainable use of pesticides. The stringent regulatory requirements have resulted in the dramatic increase of the associated effort and costs in pesticide research and development (R&D) of improved products. Nevertheless, the investment of leading agrochemical companies in the R&D of new pesticides remains high. All the above set the ground for the sustainable use of pesticides in crop production while their successful application remains a challenge.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maira Lykogianni
- Laboratory of Pesticide Science, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera odos 75, 118 55 Athens, Greece; Laboratory of Efficacy Assessment of Pesticides, Scientific Directorate of Pesticides Assessment and Phytopharmacy, Benaki Phytopathological Institute, 8 St. Delta str., 145 61, Kifissia, Attica, Greece.
| | - Eleftheria Bempelou
- Laboratory of Pesticide Residues, Scientific Directorate of Pesticides Assessment and Phytopharmacy, Benaki Phytopathological Institute, 8 St. Delta str., 145 61, Kifissia, Attica, Greece.
| | - Filitsa Karamaouna
- Laboratory of Efficacy Assessment of Pesticides, Scientific Directorate of Pesticides Assessment and Phytopharmacy, Benaki Phytopathological Institute, 8 St. Delta str., 145 61, Kifissia, Attica, Greece.
| | - Konstantinos A Aliferis
- Laboratory of Pesticide Science, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera odos 75, 118 55 Athens, Greece; Department of Plant Science, McGill University, Macdonald Campus, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Pesticide application, educational treatment and infectious respiratory diseases: A mechanistic model with two impulsive controls. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0243048. [PMID: 33270758 PMCID: PMC7714192 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In this paper, we develop and analyze an SIS-type epidemiological-mathematical model of the interaction between pesticide use and infectious respiratory disease transmission for investigating the impact of pesticide intoxication on the spread of these types of diseases. We further investigate the role of educational treatment for appropriate pesticide use on the transmission dynamics. Two impulsive control events are proposed: pesticide use and educational treatment. From the proposed model, it was obtained that the rate of forgetfulness towards educational treatment is a determining factor for the reduction of intoxicated people, as well as for the reduction of costs associated with educational interventions. To get reduced intoxications, the population’s fraction to which is necessary to apply the educational treatment depends on its individual effectiveness level and the educational treatments’ forgetfulness rate. In addition, the turnover of agricultural workers plays a fundamental role in the dynamics of agrotoxic use, particularly in the application of educational treatment. For illustration, a flu-like disease with a basic reproductive number below the epidemic threshold of 1.0 is shown can acquire epidemic potential in a population at risk of pesticide exposure. Hence, our findings suggest that educational treatment targeting pesticide exposure is an effective tool to reduce the transmission rate of an infectious respiratory disease in a population exposed to the toxic substance.
Collapse
|
13
|
Rosenheim JA, Cass BN, Kahl H, Steinmann KP. Variation in pesticide use across crops in California agriculture: Economic and ecological drivers. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 733:138683. [PMID: 32422460 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Pesticide use is a key component of efficient crop production, but is associated with a suite of costs. Understanding the main drivers of pesticide use will help us target research to develop effective alternatives. Although economic models predict, and empirical tests confirm, that the value of the crop being protected is an important determinant of between-crop variation in pesticide use, previous tests of this prediction have examined only modest numbers of crops and have not assessed the relative importance of crop value versus ecological determinants of pesticide use. Here we analyze variation in pesticide use across 93 crops grown in California, USA. We examine the joint roles of crop value and ecological determinants of pesticide use, including (i) the number of pest species associated with each crop; (ii) the distinction between annual vs. perennial crops; and (iii) the distinction between unprocessed vs. processed crops. As predicted, crop value was the dominant driver of the use of pesticides directed at arthropods and at plant pathogens, explaining 52.7% and 54.6% of total deviance, respectively. Ecological determinants of pesticide use were, however, also detected. Pesticide use was greater on crops that hosted a larger number of arthropod pest species (r = 0.32) or plant pathogen species (r = 0.29); for these pest groups, we saw no differences in pesticide use between annual vs. perennial crops, or processed vs. unprocessed crops. Perhaps surprisingly, crop value failed to explain the substantial between-crop variation in use of pesticides targeting weeds (1.7% of deviance explained, n.s.). Instead, an ecological factor, whether the crop was an annual versus a perennial plant, was the most important predictor of pesticide use against weeds, with more frequent applications on perennial crops. We conclude that both economic and ecological drivers influence the magnitude of potential crop losses, thereby shaping farmer pest control practices.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jay A Rosenheim
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - Bodil N Cass
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Hanna Kahl
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Kimberly P Steinmann
- California Department of Pesticide Regulation, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Möhring N, Wuepper D, Musa T, Finger R. Why farmers deviate from recommended pesticide timing: the role of uncertainty and information. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2020; 76:2787-2798. [PMID: 32216021 DOI: 10.1002/ps.5826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Precise timing of pesticide applications, as recommended by decision-support systems, can ensure crop protection, while maintaining efficient use of pesticides, yet farmers often deviate from recommended timing strategies. Here, we assess and explain farmers' choices to follow or not follow recommendations for the timing of fungicide applications against potato late blight in Switzerland. RESULT Based on daily fungicide application records as well as regional application recommendations and disease pressure, we found that 36% of applications took place earlier than recommended. Using regression analysis, we identified the exposure to economic risks of infection, susceptibility of the planted potato varieties to late blight infections, as well as yearly differences in disease occurrence as the most important determinants of farmers' application decision. CONCLUSION Our results indicate that decisions to not follow application recommendations and apply early are linked to available information and uncertainty with respect to disease predictions. Based on our results, we make recommendations on how to account for farmers' uncertainty with regard to the timing of pesticide applications in the design of pesticide policies and agricultural decision-support systems. These include the use of new technologies and data, mandatory reporting and tailor-made taxes and insurance solutions. Although the focus of this article is on late blight in Switzerland, our analysis can easily be extended to other countries and important plant diseases like powdery mildew in grapevines or Fusarium head blight in winter wheat. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Niklas Möhring
- Agricultural Economics and Policy Group, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - David Wuepper
- Agricultural Economics and Policy Group, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tomke Musa
- Ecological Plant Protection in Arable Crops, Plant Protection, Agroscope, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Robert Finger
- Agricultural Economics and Policy Group, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Karalexi MA, Dessypris N, Georgakis MK, Ryzhov A, Jakab Z, Zborovskaya A, Dimitrova N, Zivkovic S, Trojanowski M, Sekerija M, Antunes L, Zagar T, Eser S, Bastos J, Demetriou A, Agius D, Coza D, Gheorghiu R, Kantzanou M, Ntzani EE, Petridou ET. Birth seasonality of childhood central nervous system tumors: Analysis of primary data from 16 Southern-Eastern European population-based registries. Int J Cancer 2020; 147:1252-1263. [PMID: 31957026 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.32875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2019] [Revised: 12/01/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Season of birth, a surrogate of seasonal variation of environmental exposures, has been associated with increased risk of several cancers. In the context of a Southern-Eastern Europe (SEE) consortium, we explored the potential association of birth seasonality with childhood (0-14 years) central nervous system (CNS) tumors. Primary CNS tumor cases (n = 6,014) were retrieved from 16 population-based SEE registries (1983-2015). Poisson regression and meta-analyses on birth season were performed in nine countries with available live birth data (n = 4,987). Subanalyses by birth month, age, gender and principal histology were also conducted. Children born during winter were at a slightly increased risk of developing a CNS tumor overall [incidence rate ratio (IRR): 1.06, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.99-1.14], and of embryonal histology specifically (IRR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.01-1.27). The winter peak of embryonal tumors was higher among boys (IRR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.05-1.46), especially during the first 4 years of life (IRR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.03-1.71). In contrast, boys <5 years born during summer seemed to be at a lower risk of embryonal tumors (IRR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.54-0.99). A clustering of astrocytomas was also found among girls (0-14 years) born during spring (IRR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.03-1.46). Although the present exploratory results are by no means definitive, they provide some indications for age-, gender- and histology-related seasonal variations of CNS tumors. Expansion of registration and linkage with cytogenetic reports could refine if birth seasonality is causally associated with CNS tumors and shed light into the complex pathophysiology of this lethal disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria A Karalexi
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Nick Dessypris
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Marios K Georgakis
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Anton Ryzhov
- National Cancer Registry of Ukraine, National Cancer Institute & Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Zsuzsanna Jakab
- OGYR, Hun Childhood Cancer Registry, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anna Zborovskaya
- Belarusian Research Center for Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Immunology, Childhood Cancer Sub-registry of Belarus, Minsk, Belarus
| | - Nadya Dimitrova
- Bulgarian National Cancer Registry, National Oncology Hospital, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Snezana Zivkovic
- Central Serbia Cancer Registry, Institute of Public Health of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Maciej Trojanowski
- Greater Poland Cancer Registry, Greater Poland Cancer Center, Poznan, Poland
| | - Mario Sekerija
- Andrija Štampar School of Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.,Croatian National Cancer Registry, Croatian Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Luis Antunes
- North Region Cancer Registry of Portugal (RORENO), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Tina Zagar
- Cancer Registry of Slovenia, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Sultan Eser
- Izmir Cancer Registry, Izmir Hub, Izmir & Hacettepe University Institute of Public Health, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Joana Bastos
- Registo Oncológico Regional do Centro (ROR-Centro), Instituto Português de Oncologia de Coimbra Francisco Gentil, E.P.E., Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Anna Demetriou
- Health Monitoring Unit, Ministry of Health, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Domenic Agius
- Department for Policy in Health Information and Research, Malta National Cancer Registry, Pieta, Malta
| | - Daniela Coza
- Cluj Regional Cancer Registry, The Oncology Institute "Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricuţă", Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Raluca Gheorghiu
- Regional Cancer Registry, National Institute of Public Health, Iasi, Romania
| | | | - Maria Kantzanou
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Evangelia E Ntzani
- Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.,Center for Evidence Synthesis in Health, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI
| | - Eleni Th Petridou
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
State-of-the-Art Internet of Things in Protected Agriculture. SENSORS 2019; 19:s19081833. [PMID: 30999637 PMCID: PMC6514985 DOI: 10.3390/s19081833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Revised: 04/07/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The Internet of Things (IoT) has tremendous success in health care, smart city, industrial production and so on. Protected agriculture is one of the fields which has broad application prospects of IoT. Protected agriculture is a mode of highly efficient development of modern agriculture that uses artificial techniques to change climatic factors such as temperature, to create environmental conditions suitable for the growth of animals and plants. This review aims to gain insight into the state-of-the-art of IoT applications in protected agriculture and to identify the system structure and key technologies. Therefore, we completed a systematic literature review of IoT research and deployments in protected agriculture over the past 10 years and evaluated the contributions made by different academicians and organizations. Selected references were clustered into three application domains corresponding to plant management, animal farming and food/agricultural product supply traceability. Furthermore, we discussed the challenges along with future research prospects, to help new researchers of this domain understand the current research progress of IoT in protected agriculture and to propose more novel and innovative ideas in the future.
Collapse
|