Monitoring of pesticides residues in soil samples from the southern districts of Jordan in 2016/2017

Combined pollution and soil microbial effect of pesticides and microplastics in greenhouse soil of suburban Tianjin, Northern China

Current-used pesticides (CUPs) and plastic films are essential materials used in greenhouse cultivation, which can lead to the residual accumulation of CUPs and microplastics (MPs) over time. The impact of CUPs and MPs on soil quality and food safety cannot be overlooked. However, the combined pollution resulting from CUPs and MPs in greenhouse soil remains poorly understood. In this study, we conducted a survey at 30 greenhouse sites in the Wuqing District of Tianjin, China, to investigate the pollution levels and characteristics of CUPs and MPs using QuEChERS combined with LC-MS/MS, and density extraction, 30% H2O2 digestion and micro-fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, respectively. Additionally, we aimed to evaluate the interactions among these two pollutants, soil physicochemical properties, and the bacterial community in the soil. CUPs were frequently detected in the examined soil samples; however, they posed no significant ecological risks due to their low levels. Furthermore, MPs, which predominantly comprised fragmented and fibrous polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) particles smaller than 1.0 mm, could potentially degrade into nanoplastics, which might subsequently enter the food chain and pose a serious threat to human health. We observed no substantial correlations between CUPs and MPs, except for a negative correlation between dimethomorph and film MPs. The soil pH and total organic carbon (TOC) exhibited interactions with both types of pollutants, whereas soil clay content (CC) only correlated with CUPs, and soil available nitrogen (AN) only correlated with MPs. The variability of soil bacterial communities among the 30 sampling sites was minimal, with the dominant genus being Bacillus. Soil pH, TOC, and CC collectively exerted a strong influence on the microbial community across all samples; however, the effects of CUPs and MPs on the soil microbial structure were marginal. These results contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the environmental stress and ecological risks associated with the combined pollution of CUPs and MPs.

Pesticides Identification and Sustainable Viticulture Practices to Reduce Their Use: An Overview

The use of pesticides is a necessary practice in the modern era. Therefore, it is impossible to ignore the pesticide market, which has developed into one of the most lucrative in the world. Nowadays, humans are subjected to many potential risks, and significant amounts of toxic compounds enter their bodies through food, drink, and the air itself. Identification and quantification of these hazardous compounds is crucial for the sustainable development of an increasing world population which poses high climatic and political constraints on agricultural production systems. The maximum residue limits for pesticides have been regulated by the Codex Alimentarius Commission and European Union to protect human health. In this review, we have summarized and explained the analytical methods for pesticide extraction and determination. Also, sustainable viticulture practices like organic vineyards, tillage, biopesticides, nanobiopesticides, and precision viticulture are briefly discussed. These new techniques allow wine growers to be more profitable and efficient, while contributing to the reduction of pests and increasing the quality of wines.

An overview on the green synthesis and removal methods of pyridaben

Pyridaben is an acaricide widely used around the world to control phytophagous mites, white flies, aphids, and thrips. It is highly toxic to nontarget organisms such as predatory mites, bees, and fishes. Therefore, the occurrence and removal of pyridaben in food and the environment are worthy of concern. This mini-review focuses on pyridaben residue levels in crops, aquatic systems, and soils, as well as the green synthesis and removal of pyridaben. During the period of 2010–2022, pyridaben was reported in monitoring studies on fruits, vegetables, herbs, bee products, aquatic systems, and soils. Vegetable and agricultural soil samples exhibited the highest detection rates and residue levels. One-pot synthesis offers a green chemistry and sustainable alternative for the synthesis of pyridaben. Among traditional home treatments, peeling is the most effective way to remove pyridaben from crops. Magnetic solid-phase extraction technology has emerged as a powerful tool for the adsorption and separation of pyridaben. Photocatalytic methods using TiO2 as a catalyst were developed as advanced oxidation processes for the degradation of pyridaben in aqueous solutions. Current gaps in pyridaben removal were proposed to provide future development directions for minimizing the exposure risk of pyridaben residues to human and nontarget organisms.

Development of extraction and detection method for fluridone in water and sediment by HPLC-UV

Fluridone is widely used as a herbicide for controlling invasive aquatic plants such as hydrilla in surface water bodies. When applied on surface waters fluridone can attach to bed sediment, requiring rigorous extraction methods prior to analysis. Currently, very limited information exists in terms of fluridone residue detection in delta sediment. In this study, we researched fluridone detection in both water and sediment. To extract fluridone from sediment, here we have tested two extraction methods: (1) a rotavapor method (RM); and (2) a quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe (QuEChERS) method (QM). The extraction results of RM were compared with those of QM. To quantify fluridone concentrations in extracts, a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-UV detector was used. HPLC separation was achieved using an Allure C18 5 µm 150 × 4.6 mm column with a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile and water (60:40, v/v). The UV detector was operated at 237 nm. The method was tested and validated using a series of water and sediment samples taken from Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta in California. The average recovery of fluridone was 73% and 78% using RM and QM respectively. The proposed method can be used for testing fluridone in water and sediment samples.