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Al Haj Ishak Al Ali R, Mondamert L, Halwani J, Jandry J, Nassif N, Shaban A, Berjeaud JM, Labanowski J. Temporal evolution of organochlorine and organophosphate pesticide residues in wells in the Akkar Region (Lebanon). ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2022; 195:121. [PMID: 36399221 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-022-10671-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The Akkar plain is the second largest agricultural area in Lebanon. This region produces huge amount of regular crops such as maize, fruits, and vegetables. In order to protect the crops, farmers use large quantities of many pesticides (including authorized and prohibited molecules) without respecting the recommended doses. In this work, we wanted to study the evolution of OCP and OPP residues at 3-year intervals in water wells in the Akkar region. Twenty OCPs and 8 OPPs were monitored in eight wells in different villages in the plain and mountains of Akkar. Solid phase extraction (SPE) method was used for pesticide extraction, followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The results revealed an increasing concentration of OCPs and OPPs in groundwater over the last 3 years (between 2017 and 2019-2020). This increase in contamination is due to the uncontrolled and still unregulated (by the authorities) use of pesticides, and also to the introduction of new crops. The concentrations found in groundwater confirm that some banned pesticides are still widely used. The calculation of the theoretical pesticide intake suggests that pesticide concentrations in Akkar represent a greater health risk for the population consuming well water during the rainy season.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roukaya Al Haj Ishak Al Ali
- Institute of Chemistry, Materials and Natural Resources of Poitiers, UMR CNRS 7285, University of Poitiers, Poitiers, France
| | - Leslie Mondamert
- Institute of Chemistry, Materials and Natural Resources of Poitiers, UMR CNRS 7285, University of Poitiers, Poitiers, France
| | - Jalal Halwani
- Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon
| | - Joelle Jandry
- Faculty of Agronomy and Veterinary Sciences, Lebanese University, Dekwaneh, Lebanon
| | - Nadine Nassif
- Faculty of Agronomy and Veterinary Sciences, Lebanese University, Dekwaneh, Lebanon
| | - Amin Shaban
- Lebanese National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS-L), Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Jean-Marc Berjeaud
- Ecology and Biology of Interactions, UMR CNRS 7267, University of Poitiers, Poitiers, France
| | - Jérôme Labanowski
- Institute of Chemistry, Materials and Natural Resources of Poitiers, UMR CNRS 7285, University of Poitiers, Poitiers, France.
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2
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Hassan HF, Elaridi J, Kharma JA, Abiad MG, Bassil M. Persistent Organic Pollutants in Human Milk: Exposure Levels and Determinants among Lactating Mothers in Lebanon. J Food Prot 2022; 85:384-389. [PMID: 34762730 DOI: 10.4315/jfp-21-325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Exposure of newborns to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) is a public health concern. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of POPs in human milk collected from lactating mothers in Lebanon and to investigate the sociodemographic, nutritional, and other lifestyle determinants. Fifty-four breast milk samples were collected as per World Health Organization guidelines. A survey was used to assess the anthropometric and demographic characteristics of participants. Dietary habits were evaluated based on a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls were measured in milk samples with liquid-liquid extraction and gas chromatography. Among the screened POPs, dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) was the only POP detected in breast milk samples and was found in only 17.9% of the samples, with a mean (SD) of 11.6 (5.0) μg/L and a range of 5.7 to 21.4 μg/L. Prepregnancy body mass index and age were positively associated with DDE contamination in breast milk. Women who consumed cereals at least two times per week had detectable DDE contamination in their breast milk. Consumption of potatoes and beans at least once per week was also associated with DDE contamination. Our study is the first to assess the presence of POPs in breast milk in Lebanon. The benefits of breastfeeding compensate for the low prevalence of DDE in the breast milk. Our findings highlight the high need to implement monitoring policies, good agricultural practices, and education programs for breastfeeding mothers. HIGHLIGHTS
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Affiliation(s)
- Hussein F Hassan
- Nutrition Program, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Jomana Elaridi
- Chemistry Program, Department of Natural Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | | | - Mohamad Ghassan Abiad
- Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences and Laboratories for the Environment, Agriculture, and Food, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Maya Bassil
- Nutrition Program, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon.,Department of Human Nutrition, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
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Analytical Evaluation of Carbamate and Organophosphate Pesticides in Human and Environmental Matrices: A Review. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27030618. [PMID: 35163876 PMCID: PMC8840499 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27030618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Pesticides are synthetic compounds that may become environmental contaminants through their use and application. The high productivity achieved in the agricultural industry can be credited to the use and application of pesticides by way of pest and insect control. As much as pesticides have a positive impact on the agricultural industry, some disadvantages come with their application in the environment because they are intentionally toxic, and this is more towards non-target organisms. They are grouped into chlorophenols, organochlorines, synthetic pyrethroid, carbamates, and organophosphorus based on their structure. The symptoms of exposure to carbamate (CM) and organophosphates (OP) are similar, although poisoning from CM is of a shorter duration. The analytical evaluation of carbamate and organophosphate pesticides in human and environmental matrices are reviewed using suitable extraction and analytical methods.
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Haddaoui I, Mateo-Sagasta J. A review on occurrence of emerging pollutants in waters of the MENA region. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:68090-68110. [PMID: 34664173 PMCID: PMC8718386 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-16558-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Little is known about the occurrence of emerging pollutants (EPs) in waters in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region despite the extensive use of low-quality water there. Available data dealing with the sources, occurrence and removal of EPs within the MENA region in different categories of water is collected, presented and analyzed in this literature review. According to the collected database, the occurrence and removal efficiency of EPs in the water matrix in the MENA region is available, respectively, for 13 and six countries of the 18 in total; no available data is registered for the rest. Altogether, 290 EPs have been observed in different water matrices across the MENA countries, stemming mainly from industrial effluents, agricultural practices, and discharge or reuse of treated wastewater (TWW). Pharmaceutical compounds figure among the most frequently reported compounds in wastewater, TWW, surface water, and drinking water. Nevertheless, pesticides are the most frequently detected pollutants in groundwater. Worryingly, 57 cases of EPs have been reported in different fresh and drinking waters, exceeding World Health Organization (WHO) and European Commission (EC) thresholds. Overall, pharmaceuticals, organic compounds, and pesticides are the most concerning EP groups. The review revealed the ineffectiveness of treatment processes used in the region to remove EPs. Negative removals of some EPs such as carbamazepine, erythromycin, and sulfamethoxazole were recorded, suggesting their possible accumulation or release during treatment. This underlines the need to set in place and strengthen control measures, treatment procedures, standards, and policies for such pollutants in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imen Haddaoui
- Regional Center of Agricultural Research, Gafsa street, 9100,, Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia.
- Non-Conventional Water Valuation Research Laboratory (LR VENC), INRGREF, Hedi EL Karray Street, El Menzah IV, 1004, Tunis, Tunisia.
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Merhabi F, Gomez E, Amine H, Rosain D, Halwani J, Fenet H. Occurrence, distribution, and ecological risk assessment of emerging and legacy contaminants in the Kadicha river in Lebanon. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:62499-62518. [PMID: 34212327 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-15049-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The Kadicha river basin in Northern Lebanon is an illustrative example of multiple pressures encountered in the Mediterranean region: it is a small coastal river affected by rapid urbanization, population growth (drastically impacted by the influx of Syrian refugees), and a chronic default of wastewater treatment. In this context, multiple classes of contaminants may attain the river accumulating in sediment. However, very little information is available in the literature on the contamination status in such stressed Mediterranean contexts. This study proposed a first contamination evaluation of a small Mediterranean river submitted to multiple pressures. Two sediment sampling campaigns along sites impacted by increasing urban gradient within the Kadicha river basin were performed to determine the occurrence and the environmental risks of both emerging and legacy contaminants. The results revealed the detection of the 41 studied compounds. The highest concentrations were attained by PAHs and polycyclic musks (up to 311.79, 94.22, and 81.13 ng/g of dry weight for PAH, cashmeran, and galaxolide, respectively). The discontinuous urbanized upstream area and the estuary were the most contaminated areas of the river. An environmental risk assessment showed a hazard quotient (HQ) higher than 1 for both legacy and emerging compounds (EHMC and 4-MBC), indicating a potential risk to benthic species. Monitoring campaigns and implementation of wastewater treatment plants should be encouraged as the anthropogenic pressure on small Mediterranean rivers will increase over the years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatmé Merhabi
- Hydrosciences Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
- Water & Environment Science Laboratory, Faculty of Public Health (FSP III), Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon.
| | - Elena Gomez
- Hydrosciences Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Helmieh Amine
- Water & Environment Science Laboratory, Faculty of Public Health (FSP III), Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon
| | - David Rosain
- Hydrosciences Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Jalal Halwani
- Water & Environment Science Laboratory, Faculty of Public Health (FSP III), Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon
| | - Hélène Fenet
- Hydrosciences Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
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Mendes LD, Bernardi G, Elias WC, de Oliveira DC, Domingos JB, Carasek E. A green approach to DDT degradation and metabolite monitoring in water comparing the hydrodechlorination efficiency of Pd, Au-on-Pd and Cu-on-Pd nanoparticle catalysis. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 760:143403. [PMID: 33190896 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
DDT (1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bi(p-chlorophenyl)-ethane) and its metabolites (DDD, 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis-(4'-chlorophenyl)ethane, and DDE, 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis-(4'-chlorophenyl)ethylene) are persistent organic pollutants that can be catalytically degraded into a less toxic and less persistent compound. In this work, ecofriendly methodologies for catalyst synthesis, catalytic degradation of DDT and reaction monitoring have been proposed. Three types of Pd-based nanoparticles, NPs, (Pd, Au-on-Pd and Cu-on-Pd) were synthesized and used for catalytic hydrodechlorination of DDT and its metabolites. The structural and electronic properties of NPs were investigated using TEM and XAS spectroscopy. Au-on-Pd showed the highest hydrodechlorination efficiency within 1 h of reaction. To obtain the best reaction conditions, the effects of H2 flow and base addition Au-on-Pd NPs activity were investigated. To study the effectiveness of the different NPs, a solvent-free analytical method was optimized to detect and measure DDT and its by-products. The SPME-GC-MS method provided low detection limits (0.03 μg L-1) and high recovery (≥88.75%) and was a valuable tool for the NP degradation study. In this way, a green method for degradation and monitoring of DDT and its by-products in water was achieved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Dorácio Mendes
- Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Departamento de Química, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina 88040-900, Brazil
| | - Gabrieli Bernardi
- Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Departamento de Química, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina 88040-900, Brazil
| | - Welman Curi Elias
- Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Departamento de Química, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina 88040-900, Brazil
| | - Daniela C de Oliveira
- Laboratório Nacional de Luz Síncrotron, C.P. 6192, Campinas, São Paulo 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Josiel Barbosa Domingos
- Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Departamento de Química, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina 88040-900, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Carasek
- Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Departamento de Química, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina 88040-900, Brazil.
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Helou K, Matta J, Harmouche-Karaki M, Sayegh N, Younes H, Mahfouz Y, Mahfouz M, Karake S, Finan R, Abi-Tayeh G, Narbonne JF. Maternal and cord serum levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) among Lebanese pregnant women and predictors of exposure. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 266:129211. [PMID: 33316473 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In this study, the six indicator non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls NDL-PCBs (PCB28, PCB52, PCB101, PCB138, PCB153, PCB180), as well as four organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), β-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), and dichlorodiphenyldichlorethylene (DDE) were measured in 98 maternal and 49 cord sera samples of a group of Lebanese women who gave birth in three hospitals in Greater Beirut, between March and July 2018. Results showed that the levels of these persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in maternal serum were below critical limits as well as those in other countries (Tunisia, France, Portugal, Spain, Poland, Greenland, Canada, Brazil, and China). The ratios of cord serum concentrations to maternal serum concentrations of analyzed POPs were higher than 1. PCB maternal serum concentrations were found to be linked to illegal incineration (OR = 5.78; p = 0.004) as well as eggs (OR = 4.68; p = 0.027) and fruits and vegetables consumption (OR = 3.92; p = 0.016). OCP concentrations were linked to red meat and cold cuts intake (OR = 3.67-4.59; p = 0.001-0.004). While PCB levels were not correlated to newborns anthropometric measurements, OCP levels in cord serum were found to be positively linked to the birth length of newborns (p = 0.014-0.027).
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalil Helou
- Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmacy, Saint-Joseph University of Beirut, Medical Sciences Campus, Damascus Road, P.O.B. 11-5076, Riad Solh Beirut, 1107 2180, Lebanon.
| | - Joseph Matta
- Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmacy, Saint-Joseph University of Beirut, Medical Sciences Campus, Damascus Road, P.O.B. 11-5076, Riad Solh Beirut, 1107 2180, Lebanon; Industrial Research Institute, Lebanese University Campus, Hadeth Baabda, Lebanon.
| | - Mireille Harmouche-Karaki
- Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmacy, Saint-Joseph University of Beirut, Medical Sciences Campus, Damascus Road, P.O.B. 11-5076, Riad Solh Beirut, 1107 2180, Lebanon.
| | - Nicole Sayegh
- Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmacy, Saint-Joseph University of Beirut, Medical Sciences Campus, Damascus Road, P.O.B. 11-5076, Riad Solh Beirut, 1107 2180, Lebanon.
| | - Hassan Younes
- UniLaSalle University, 19 Pierre Waguet Street, 60026, Beauvais, France.
| | - Yara Mahfouz
- Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmacy, Saint-Joseph University of Beirut, Medical Sciences Campus, Damascus Road, P.O.B. 11-5076, Riad Solh Beirut, 1107 2180, Lebanon.
| | - Maya Mahfouz
- Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmacy, Saint-Joseph University of Beirut, Medical Sciences Campus, Damascus Road, P.O.B. 11-5076, Riad Solh Beirut, 1107 2180, Lebanon.
| | - Sara Karake
- Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmacy, Saint-Joseph University of Beirut, Medical Sciences Campus, Damascus Road, P.O.B. 11-5076, Riad Solh Beirut, 1107 2180, Lebanon.
| | - Ramzi Finan
- Lebanese Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Adliye, Beit El- Tabib - 3rd Floor, Beirut, Lebanon; Faculty of Medicine, Saint-Joseph University of Beirut, Medical Sciences Campus, Damascus Road, Beirut, Lebanon; Hotel-Dieu de France, Saint-Joseph University of Beirut Hospital, Blvd Alfred Naccache, P.O.B.: 166830, Beirut, Lebanon.
| | - Georges Abi-Tayeh
- Faculty of Medicine, Saint-Joseph University of Beirut, Medical Sciences Campus, Damascus Road, Beirut, Lebanon; Hotel-Dieu de France, Saint-Joseph University of Beirut Hospital, Blvd Alfred Naccache, P.O.B.: 166830, Beirut, Lebanon; Lebanese Fertility Society, Adliye, Beit El- Tabib, Beirut, Lebanon.
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Baroudi F, Al-Alam J, Delhomme O, Chimjarn S, Fajloun Z, Millet M. The use of Pinus nigra as a biomonitor of pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Lebanon. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:10283-10291. [PMID: 33447982 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-11954-y] [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: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Among the various species of vegetation, conifers play an important role as a biomonitor of air pollution. The current study presents the determination of pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in 15 conifer samples collected in August 2018 (summer season) from different regions in north Lebanon (Tripoli, Koura, Bcharre, and Akkar). Pollutants were extracted based on QuEChERS-SPME followed by liquid and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Results showed that the samples collected from Bcharre region had the lowest concentration in both pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with a total concentration of 50 and 66 ng g-1, while the samples collected from the regions widely known by their agriculture (Akkar, Tripoli, and Koura areas) were the most polluted with concentrations of 231 and 422 ng g-1, 192 and 370 ng g-1, and 127 and 98 ng g-1 for pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons respectively. This study revealed that conifers are suggested to be efficient biomonitors of contamination levels in the air.
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Affiliation(s)
- Firas Baroudi
- Institute of Chemistry and Processes for Energy, Environment and Health (ICPEES, UMR 7515 CNRS) - Group of Physical Chemistry of the Atmosphere, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Laboratory of Applied Biotechnology (LAB3B), Azm Center for Research in Biotechnology and Its Applications, EDST, Lebanese University, Tripoli, 1300, Lebanon
| | - Josephine Al-Alam
- School of Engineering, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon
| | - Olivier Delhomme
- Institute of Chemistry and Processes for Energy, Environment and Health (ICPEES, UMR 7515 CNRS) - Group of Physical Chemistry of the Atmosphere, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- University of Lorraine, Nancy, France
| | - Supansa Chimjarn
- Institute of Chemistry and Processes for Energy, Environment and Health (ICPEES, UMR 7515 CNRS) - Group of Physical Chemistry of the Atmosphere, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Ziad Fajloun
- Laboratory of Applied Biotechnology (LAB3B), Azm Center for Research in Biotechnology and Its Applications, EDST, Lebanese University, Tripoli, 1300, Lebanon
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences 3, Lebanese University, Michel Slayman Tripoli Campus, Ras Maska, Tripoli, 1352, Lebanon
| | - Maurice Millet
- Institute of Chemistry and Processes for Energy, Environment and Health (ICPEES, UMR 7515 CNRS) - Group of Physical Chemistry of the Atmosphere, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
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Abou Zeid MI, Jammoul AM, Melki KC, Jawdah YA, Awad MK. Suggested policy and legislation reforms to reduce deleterious effect of pesticides in Lebanon. Heliyon 2020; 6:e05524. [PMID: 33319086 PMCID: PMC7725726 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Countrywide pesticide management activities are resource draining, even for developed countries, which sometimes fall short in achieving the optimum protection against pesticides deleterious effects on humans and environment. Additionally, in Lebanon, basic flaws exist at different levels of pesticide management cycle. In this study, through an extensive review of relevant literature regarding the pesticides impact on humans and environment in Lebanon and adopted policies in existing legislation, several gaps have been identified. Accordingly, recommendations to reduce pesticide risk through a combination of reforms at the policy level and its tools, particularly legislation, are proposed. In our opinion, the starting point is to adopt a minimum list of lower risk pesticides supported by a combination of: "prescriptions" based on a comprehensive registration and an effective implementation systems, a suitable IPM/ICM government-supported credit system, traceability systems of agricultural commodities and pesticides containers, Pesticide stock management system to reduce the quantity of obsolete pesticides, and containers recycling system. For a global sustainability of pesticides risk reduction, a binding global intervention fostered by the UN, based on human rights for safe food, is called upon to ban hazardous pesticides-except those of WHO class IV- trafficking in developing countries scoring low in an international official assessment of their pesticides lifecycle management. At the same time, global funds should support pesticides alternatives and the enhancement of the developing countries capacities for pesticides lifecycle management, which is a part of a larger global matrix in risk reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamad I. Abou Zeid
- Faculty of Sciences, Biotechnology Laboratory, UR EGP, Saint- Joseph University, B.P. 11-514 Riad El Solh, Beirut, 1107 2050, Lebanon
- Kfarchima Laboratory, Ministry of Agriculture, Kfarchima, Lebanon
| | - Adla M. Jammoul
- Kfarchima Laboratory, Ministry of Agriculture, Kfarchima, Lebanon
| | - Khalil C. Melki
- Unifert s.a.l., P.O. Box 11-6937, Beirut Riad El Solh, 1107 2230, Lebanon
| | - Yusuf Abou Jawdah
- Department of Agriculture, Faculty of Agricultural & Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Bliss Street, P.O. Box 11-0236, Riad El-Solh, 1107-2020, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Mireille Kallassy Awad
- Faculty of Sciences, Biotechnology Laboratory, UR EGP, Saint- Joseph University, B.P. 11-514 Riad El Solh, Beirut, 1107 2050, Lebanon
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Jabali Y, Millet M, El-Hoz M. Spatio-temporal distribution and ecological risk assessment of pesticides in the water resources of Abou Ali River, Northern Lebanon. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 27:17997-18012. [PMID: 32170616 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-08089-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study is to assess the occurrence, spatial, and temporal distribution of forty-eight multiclass pesticides in surface and groundwater samples of the Abou Ali River, located in the North of Lebanon. A 3-year monitoring program (six batches from August 2015 to March 2017) was implemented, and thirty sampling points were selected along the river for analysis. The analysis was executed using a previously developed and optimized solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME) gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method. Statistical analysis, using Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Kruskal-Wallis, and Dunnet T3 multiple comparison tests, was applied to compare mean concentrations of pesticides between the different sampling sites and the batches taken. The pesticides that had the highest frequency of detection in the surface and groundwater samples were alachlor, α-endosulfan, and methomyl. For surface water samples, high mean concentrations were perceived for two stations in the upper stream (S5 and S7), two stations (S11 and S14) in the middle stream, and one station (S16) in the lower stream of the river. The highest mean concentrations were observed in October 2015 and August 2016, the time of the year which correlates with the period of pesticide application. Considering groundwater samples, high mean concentrations of pesticides were detected in sites G4, G9, G10, and G12 and during October 2015 and March 2016, following the rainy season. Ecotoxicological risk assessment using the risk quotient (RQ) methodology revealed high risk for five pesticides under average conditions and fourteen under extreme conditions. This study presents, for the first time, a statistical analysis showing the quantification of pesticides in the water resources of the Abou Ali River. In conclusion, it reveals the need to apply a complete pesticide monitoring program, not only for the Abou Ali River but for all the water resources in Lebanon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmine Jabali
- Institut de Chimie et Procédés pour l'Energie, l'Environnement et la Santé ICPEES UMR 7515 Groupe de Physico-Chimie de l'Atmosphère, Université de Strasbourg, 67081, Strasbourg, France.
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory: Faculty of Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, University of Balamand, Kelhat, El Koura, Lebanon.
| | - Maurice Millet
- Institut de Chimie et Procédés pour l'Energie, l'Environnement et la Santé ICPEES UMR 7515 Groupe de Physico-Chimie de l'Atmosphère, Université de Strasbourg, 67081, Strasbourg, France
| | - Mervat El-Hoz
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory: Faculty of Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, University of Balamand, Kelhat, El Koura, Lebanon
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11
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Helou K, Harmouche-Karaki M, Karake S, Narbonne JF. A review of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in Lebanon: Environmental and human contaminants. CHEMOSPHERE 2019; 231:357-368. [PMID: 31136903 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.05.109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Revised: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The country of Lebanon banned organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in 1982 and 1997, respectively, and adopted the Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in 2003. Compliance with the Stockholm Convention began immediately, and research related to POPs in Lebanon had already been completed. A National Implementation Plan for POPs was formulated and updated several times, and includes a national inventory of PCBs that were mainly detected in insulating oils and equipment in power stations. High levels of PCBs have also been detected in sediments from the Port of Tripoli, the second major sea port in Lebanon. High levels of OCPs, which are illegally smuggled into Lebanon and improperly handled and used by farmers, have been detected in underground and surface waters for many years. There have also been human biomonitoring studies of PCBs and OCPs; for example, in 1999, measurable amounts of DDE were found in breast milk, and a 2018 study reported measurable amounts of PCBs and OCPs in human serum. While these levels were well below concentrations observed in other countries, they were slightly higher than the levels observed by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). This review provides an overview of the available PCB and OCP data from Lebanon between 1999 and 2017. In total, 12 studies of PCBs and OCPs in environmental samples, human serum samples, and human milk samples are included in this review, and the results of these studies are compared in terms of geography and chronology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalil Helou
- Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmacy, Saint-Joseph University of Beirut, Medical Sciences Campus, Damascus Road, P.O.B. 11-5076, Riad Solh Beirut 1107 2180, Lebanon.
| | - Mireille Harmouche-Karaki
- Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmacy, Saint-Joseph University of Beirut, Medical Sciences Campus, Damascus Road, P.O.B. 11-5076, Riad Solh Beirut 1107 2180, Lebanon.
| | - Sara Karake
- Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmacy, Saint-Joseph University of Beirut, Medical Sciences Campus, Damascus Road, P.O.B. 11-5076, Riad Solh Beirut 1107 2180, Lebanon.
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12
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Jabali Y, Millet M, El-Hoz M. Optimization of a DI-SPME-GC–MS/MS method for multi-residue analysis of pesticides in waters. Microchem J 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2019.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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13
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El Alfy M, Faraj T. Spatial distribution and health risk assessment for groundwater contamination from intensive pesticide use in arid areas. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2017; 39:231-253. [PMID: 27052311 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-016-9825-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2016] [Accepted: 03/31/2016] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Arid and semiarid areas face major challenges in the management of scarce groundwater. This valuable resource is under pressures of population, economic expansion, contamination and over-exploitation. This research investigates groundwater vulnerability to pesticide contamination in the Al-Kharj area of Saudi Arabia. It explores the spatial distribution of pesticide concentrations in groundwater and other relevant factors. Thin permeable soils, permeable aquifers and shallow water tables, which are prevalent in the area, are especially vulnerable to pesticides. Analyses of 40 groundwater samples were performed using a gas chromatograph mass spectrometer coupled with a quadrupole mass spectrometer with a GC column. The analysis was conducted to detect 32 pesticides from different chemical families, and a total of 22 pesticides were detected. All 40 water samples were positive for at least one of the pesticides studied. In total, 21 compounds were above the quantification limit and 10 of them exceeded the legal limit. Total pesticide levels ranged from 0.18 to 2.21 μg/L, and 68 % of the analyzed samples exceeded the maximum allowable pesticide concentrations established by the European Community. Comparison of the daily intake peak (DIP) and daily intake mean (DIM) relative to the acceptable daily intake (ADI) shows that groundwater contamination with pesticides is a serious problem. Prolonged exposure to pesticides can cause adverse effects to human health and the ecosystem. Spatial distribution maps of groundwater contamination were developed using GIS. These maps will help risk managers identify vulnerable sources and provide a relative assessment of pesticide hazards to human health and the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed El Alfy
- PSIPW Chair, Prince Sultan Institute for Environmental, Water and Desert Research, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- Geology Department, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
| | - Turki Faraj
- PSIPW Chair, Prince Sultan Institute for Environmental, Water and Desert Research, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Soil Science, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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