1
|
Wend K, Zorrilla L, Freimoser FM, Gallet A. Microbial pesticides - challenges and future perspectives for testing and safety assessment with respect to human health. Environ Health 2024; 23:49. [PMID: 38811948 PMCID: PMC11134743 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-024-01090-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Plant protection measures are necessary to prevent pests and diseases from attacking and destroying crop plants and to meet consumer demands for agricultural produce. In the last decades the use of chemical pesticides has largely increased. Farmers are looking for alternatives. Biopesticides should be considered a sustainable solution. They may be less toxic than chemical pesticides, be very specific to the target pest, decompose quickly, and be less likely to cause resistance. On the other hand, lower efficacy and higher costs are two disadvantages of many biopesticides. Biopesticides include macroorganisms, natural compounds and microorganisms. Microbial pesticides are the most widely used and studied class of biopesticides. The greatest difference between microbial and chemical pesticides is the ability of the former to potentially multiply in the environment and on the crop plant after application. The data requirements for the European Union and the United States Environmental Protection Agency are highlighted, as these regulatory processes are the most followed in regions where local regulations for biopesticide products are not available or vague. New Approach Methods already proposed or harmonized for chemical pesticides are presented and discussed with respect to their use in evaluating microbial pesticide formulations. Evaluating the microbials themselves is not as simple as using the same validated New Approach Methods as for synthetic pesticides. Therefore, the authors suggest considering New Approach Method strategies specifically for microbials and global harmonization with acceptability with the advancements of such approaches. Further discussion is needed and greatly appreciated by the experts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K Wend
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, Berlin, 10589, Germany.
| | - L Zorrilla
- Bayer Crop Science, 700 Chesterfield Parkway West, Chesterfield, MO, 63017, USA
| | - F M Freimoser
- Agroscope, Research Division Plant Protection, Route de Duillier 60, Nyon 1, 1260, Switzerland
| | - A Gallet
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, INRAE, ISA, Sophia-Antipolis, 06903, France
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Henriquez JE, Badwaik VD, Bianchi E, Chen W, Corvaro M, LaRocca J, Lunsman TD, Zu C, Johnson KJ. From Pipeline to Plant Protection Products: Using New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) in Agrochemical Safety Assessment. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:10710-10724. [PMID: 38688008 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c00958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
The human population will be approximately 9.7 billion by 2050, and food security has been identified as one of the key issues facing the global population. Agrochemicals are an important tool available to farmers that enable high crop yields and continued access to healthy foods, but the average new agrochemical active ingredient takes more than ten years, 350 million dollars, and 20,000 animals to develop and register. The time, monetary, and animal costs incentivize the use of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) in early-stage screening to prioritize chemical candidates. This review outlines NAMs that are currently available or can be adapted for use in early-stage screening agrochemical programs. It covers new in vitro screens that are on the horizon in key areas of regulatory concern. Overall, early-stage screening with NAMs enables the prioritization of development for agrochemicals without human and environmental health concerns through a more directed, agile, and iterative development program before animal-based regulatory testing is even considered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Vivek D Badwaik
- Corteva Agriscience, Indianapolis, Indiana 46268, United States
| | - Enrica Bianchi
- Corteva Agriscience, Indianapolis, Indiana 46268, United States
| | - Wei Chen
- Corteva Agriscience, Indianapolis, Indiana 46268, United States
| | | | - Jessica LaRocca
- Corteva Agriscience, Indianapolis, Indiana 46268, United States
| | | | - Chengli Zu
- Corteva Agriscience, Indianapolis, Indiana 46268, United States
| | - Kamin J Johnson
- Corteva Agriscience, Indianapolis, Indiana 46268, United States
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Karaca M, Willenbockel CT, Tralau T, Bloch D, Marx-Stoelting P. Toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic mixture effects of plant protection products: A case study. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2023; 141:105400. [PMID: 37116736 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2023.105400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
Authorisation of ready to use plant protection products (PPPs) usually relies on the testing of acute and local toxicity only. This is in stark contrast to the situation for active substances where the mandatory data set comprises a most comprehensive set of studies. While the combination of certain active ingredients and co-formulants may nevertheless result in increased toxicity of the final product such combinations have never been evaluated systematically for complex and long-term toxicological endpoints. We therefore investigated the effect of three frequently used co-formulants on the toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic of the representative active substance combination of tebuconazol (Teb) and prothioconazol (Pro) or of cypermethrin (Cpm) and piperonyl butoxide (Pip), respectively. With all four active substances being potential liver steatogens, cytotoxicity and triglyceride accumulation in HepaRG were used as primary endpoints. Concomitantly transcriptomics and biochemical studies were applied to interrogate for effects on gene expression or inhibition of CYP3A4 as key enzyme for functionalization. Some of the tested combinations clearly showed more than additive effects, partly due to CYP3A4 enzyme inhibition. Other effects comprised the modulation of the expression and activity of steatosis-related nuclear key receptors. Altogether, the findings highlight the need for a more systematic consideration of toxicodynamic and toxicokinetic mixture effects during assessment of PPPs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mawien Karaca
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Department of Pesticides Safety, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany; Technical University of Berlin, Institute for Chemistry, Straße des 17. Juni 115, 10623, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian Tobias Willenbockel
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Department of Pesticides Safety, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tewes Tralau
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Department of Pesticides Safety, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Denise Bloch
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Department of Pesticides Safety, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Philip Marx-Stoelting
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Department of Pesticides Safety, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany; Technical University of Berlin, Institute for Chemistry, Straße des 17. Juni 115, 10623, Berlin, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Karaca M, Fischer BC, Willenbockel CT, Tralau T, Marx-Stoelting P, Bloch D. Effects of co-formulants on the absorption and secretion of active substances in plant protection products in vitro. Arch Toxicol 2021; 95:3205-3221. [PMID: 34417632 PMCID: PMC8448693 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-021-03140-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Currently, the authorisation process for plant protection products (PPPs) relies on the testing of acute and topological toxicity only. Contrastingly, the evaluation of active substances includes a more comprehensive set of toxicity studies. Nevertheless, mixture effects of active ingredients and co-formulants may result in increased toxicity. Therefore, we investigated effects of surface active co-formulants on the toxicity of two PPPs focussing on qualitative and quantitative toxicokinetic effects on absorption and secretion. The respective products are based on the active substances abamectin and fluroxypyr-meptyl and were tested for cytotoxicity in the presence or absence of the corresponding surfactants and co-formulants using Caco-2 cells. In addition, the effect of co-formulants on increased cellular permeation was quantified using LC-MS/MS, while potential kinetic mixture effects were addressed by fluorescence anisotropy measurements and ATPase assays. The results show that surface active co-formulants significantly increase the cytotoxicity of the investigated PPPs, leading to more than additive mixture effects. Moreover, analytical investigations show higher efflux ratios of both active substances and the metabolite fluroxypyr upon combination with certain concentrations of the surfactants. The results further point to a significant and concentration-dependent inhibition of Pgp transporters by most of the surfactants as well as to increased membrane fluidity. Altogether, these findings strongly support the hypothesis that surfactants contribute to increased cytotoxicity of PPPs and do so by increasing the bioavailability of the respective active substances.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mawien Karaca
- Department of Pesticides Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany.,Institute for Chemistry, Technical University of Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 115, 10623, Berlin, Germany
| | - Benjamin Christian Fischer
- Department of Pesticides Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian Tobias Willenbockel
- Department of Pesticides Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tewes Tralau
- Department of Pesticides Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Philip Marx-Stoelting
- Department of Pesticides Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany. .,Institute for Chemistry, Technical University of Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 115, 10623, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Denise Bloch
- Department of Pesticides Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Chushak Y, Gearhart JM, Ott D. In Silico Assessment of Acute Oral Toxicity for Mixtures. Chem Res Toxicol 2020; 34:345-354. [PMID: 33206501 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.0c00256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
While exposure of humans to environmental hazards often occurs with complex chemical mixtures, the majority of existing toxicity data are for single compounds. The Globally Harmonized System of chemical classification (GHS) developed by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development uses the additivity formula for acute oral toxicity classification of mixtures, which is based on the acute toxicity estimate of individual ingredients. We evaluated the prediction of GHS category classifications for mixtures using toxicological data collected in the Integrated Chemical Environment (ICE) developed by the National Toxicology Program (United States Department of Health and Human Services). The ICE database contains in vivo acute oral toxicity data for ∼10,000 chemicals and for 582 mixtures with one or multiple active ingredients. By using the available experimental data for individual ingredients, we were able to calculate a GHS category for only half of the mixtures. To expand a set of components with acute oral toxicity data, we used the Collaborative Acute Toxicity Modeling Suite (CATMoS) implemented in the Open Structure-Activity/Property Relationship App to make predictions for active ingredients without available experimental data. As a result, we were able to make predictions for 503 mixtures/formulations with 72% accuracy for the GHS classification. For 186 mixtures with two or more active ingredients, the accuracy rate was 76%. The structure-based analysis of the misclassified mixtures did not reveal any specific structural features associated with the mispredictions. Our results demonstrate that CATMoS together with an additivity formula can be used to predict the GHS category for chemical mixtures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yaroslav Chushak
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio 45433, United States
| | - Jeffery M Gearhart
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio 45433, United States
| | - Darrin Ott
- Warfighter Medical Optimization Division, 711 Human Performance Wing, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio 45433, United States
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Bloch D, Marx-Stoelting P, Martin S. Towards a tiered test strategy for plant protection products to address mixture toxicity by alternative approaches in human health assessment. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2020; 76:3326-3332. [PMID: 32770639 DOI: 10.1002/ps.6034] [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: 10/29/2019] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Plant protection products (PPPs) consist of pesticide active substances and co-formulants. Generally, active substance effects are assumed to dominate in PPP toxicity. Nevertheless, co-formulants may well affect the toxicity of PPPs via toxicodynamic and toxicokinetic interaction. To account for potential mixture effects and improve PPP data requirements for application in risk assessment, a tiered test strategy is proposed. The strategy is based on a comparison of PPP and active substance toxicity, which enables the prioritisation of PPPs for further testing, adaptation of the toxicological threshold value or removal of toxic co-formulants from the PPP. Moreover, it focuses on the integrative assessment of existing information and newly generated data using alternative test methods. The proposed strategy will improve PPP toxicological assessment by accounting for mixture toxicity, providing a set of regulatory options for risk assessment and the necessary data for hazard assessment. The predictivity of alternative methods for PPPs will improve by evaluation of their reliability and uncertainty. © 2020 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by JohnWiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Denise Bloch
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Sabine Martin
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Zarini D, Sangion A, Ferri E, Caruso E, Zucchi S, Orro A, Papa E. Are In Silico Approaches Applicable As a First Step for the Prediction of e-Liquid Toxicity in e-Cigarettes? Chem Res Toxicol 2020; 33:2381-2389. [PMID: 32786541 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.0c00136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies have raised concerns about e-cigarette liquid inhalation toxicity by reporting the presence of chemicals with European Union CLP toxicity classification. In this scenario, the regulatory context is still developing and is not yet up to date with vaping current reality. Due to the paucity of toxicological studies, robust data regarding which components in e-liquids exhibit potential toxicities, are still inconsistent. In this study we applied computational methods for estimating the toxicity of poorly studied chemicals as a useful tool for predicting the acute toxicity of chemicals contained in e-liquids. The purpose of this study was 3-fold: (a) to provide a lower tier assessment of the potential health concerns associated with e-liquid ingredients, (b) to prioritize e-liquid ingredients by calculating the e-tox index, and (c) to estimate acute toxicity of e-liquid mixtures. QSAR models were generated using QSARINS software to fill the acute toxicity data gap of 264 e-liquid ingredients. As a second step, the potential acute toxicity of e-liquids mixtures was evaluated. Our preliminary data suggest that a computational approach may serve as a roadmap to enable regulatory bodies to better regulate e-liquid composition and to contribute to consumer health protection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Zarini
- Trusticert SRL, Piazza della scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Alessandro Sangion
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON M1C1A4, Canada.,QSAR Research Unit in Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Department of Theoretical and Applied Science, University of Insubria, Via J.H. Dunant, 3, Varese 21100, Italy
| | - Emanuele Ferri
- Trusticert SRL, Piazza della scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Enrico Caruso
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences (DBSV), University of Insubria, Via J.H. Dunant, 3, Varese, 21100, Italy
| | - Sara Zucchi
- Trusticert SRL, Piazza della scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Alessandro Orro
- Institute for Biomedical Technologies National Research Council, Via Fratelli Cervi 19, 20133 Segrate, Milano, Italy
| | - Ester Papa
- QSAR Research Unit in Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Department of Theoretical and Applied Science, University of Insubria, Via J.H. Dunant, 3, Varese 21100, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Wittkowski P, Marx-Stoelting P, Violet N, Fetz V, Schwarz F, Oelgeschläger M, Schönfelder G, Vogl S. Caenorhabditis elegans As a Promising Alternative Model for Environmental Chemical Mixture Effect Assessment-A Comparative Study. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:12725-12733. [PMID: 31536708 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b03266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
A key challenge of mixture toxicity testing is that a multitude of substances with even more combinations need to be tested in a broad dose range. Consequently testing in rodent bioassays, the current gold standard of toxicity testing, is hardly feasible. High-throughput compatible cell culture systems, however, suffer from limitations with respect to toxicokinetics, tissue interactions, and compensatory mechanisms. Therefore, simple organisms like the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, combining relevant advantages of complex in vivo and fast in vitro assays might prove highly valuable within a testing strategy for mixtures. To investigate the comparability between results obtained with C. elegans and traditional rodent assays, we used five azole fungicides as well investigated model substances. Our findings suggest that azoles act additively in C. elegans which is in line with previous results in rats. Additionally, we show that toxicokinetics are one important factor for the differences in the relative toxicity of the azoles in both species. Importantly, we also demonstrate that in contrast to most rodent in vivo studies, C. elegans assays provide well-defined concentration-response relationships which are a very good basis for the prediction of mixture effects. We conclude that C. elegans may be an appropriate model for mixture toxicity testing at least within a first step to identify and prioritize relevant mixtures for further testing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul Wittkowski
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment , German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R) , 10589 Berlin , Germany
| | - Philip Marx-Stoelting
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment , German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R) , 10589 Berlin , Germany
| | - Norman Violet
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment , German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R) , 10589 Berlin , Germany
| | - Verena Fetz
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment , German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R) , 10589 Berlin , Germany
| | - Franziska Schwarz
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment , German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R) , 10589 Berlin , Germany
| | - Michael Oelgeschläger
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment , German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R) , 10589 Berlin , Germany
| | - Gilbert Schönfelder
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment , German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R) , 10589 Berlin , Germany
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin , Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health , 10117 Berlin , Germany
| | - Silvia Vogl
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment , German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R) , 10589 Berlin , Germany
| |
Collapse
|