Assessment of Environmental Pollution and Human Exposure to Pesticides by Wastewater Analysis in a Seven-Year Study in Athens, Greece

A comprehensive HRMS methodology using LC-(ESI)-/GC-(APCI)-QTOF MS complementary platforms for wide-scope target screening of >750 pesticides in olive oil

This study presents the development and validation of a comprehensive high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) methodology for the detection of 771 pesticides in olive oil, using liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization, operating in positive and negative mode, and gas chromatography with atmospheric-pressure chemical ionization in positive mode, both coupled to quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-(ESI)-/GC-(APCI)-QTOF MS). Special reference is made to the post-acquisition evaluation step, in which all LC/GC-HRMS analytical evidence (i.e. mass accuracy, retention time, isotopic pattern, MS/MS fragmentation) is taken into account in order to successfully identify the compounds. The sample preparation of the method involves a QuEChERS-based protocol, common for both techniques, differentiated only on the reconstitution step, making the method highly applicable in routine analysis. A smart evaluation of method's performance was carried out, with 65 representative analytes comprising the validation set. The method was validated in terms of linearity, accuracy, matrix effect and precision, while the limits of detection and quantification of the method were estimated. Finally, twenty Greek olive oil samples were analysed in both analytical platforms and the findings included the pesticides lambda-cyhalothrin, chlorpyrifos, phosphamidon, pirimiphos-methyl and esprocarb at low ng g-1 level.

Multi-omics and gut microbiome: Unveiling the pathogenic mechanisms of early-life pesticide exposure

The extensive application of pesticides in agricultural production has raised significant concerns about its impact on human health. Different pesticides, including fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides, cause environmental pollution and health problems for non-target organisms. Infants and young children are so vulnerable to the harmful effects of pesticide exposure that early-life exposure to pesticides deserves focused attention. Recent research lays emphasis on understanding the mechanism between negative health impacts and early-life exposure to various pesticides. Studies have explored the impacts of exposure to these pesticides on model organisms (zebrafish, rats, and mice), as well as the mechanism of negative health effects, based on advanced methodologies like gut microbiota and multi-omics. These methodologies help comprehend the pathogenic mechanisms associated with early-life pesticide exposure. In addition to presenting health problems stemming from early-life exposure to pesticides and their pathogenic mechanisms, this review proposes expectations for future research. These proposals include focusing on identifying biomarkers that indicate early-life pesticide exposure, investigating transgenerational effects, and seeking effective treatments for diseases arising from such exposure. This review emphasizes how to understand the pathogenic mechanisms of early-life pesticide exposure through gut microbiota and multi-omics, as well as the adverse health effects of such exposure.

Spatial and temporal trends of 64 pesticides and their removal from Australian wastewater

Pesticides are necessary for the control of pest plant, fungi and insect species. After application, they may find their way into waste streams, such as municipal sewage, where their spatio-temporal distribution has not been well characterised. To further understand the spatio-temporal distribution and to evaluate potential sources and fate after treatment, 64 pesticides were analysed in matched influents and effluents of 22 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) from across Australia. The pesticides consisted of 30 herbicides and 8 herbicide metabolites or transformation products, 16 insecticides and 10 fungicides. The samples were 1084 24-hr composite samples pooled into 113 samples. Pools represented two influent and one effluent pools at each of 22 sites in 2019, as well as two pools per year from 2009 to 2021 for an 11-year long-term temporal trend at a subset of two locations. The total population served by the 22 sites was equivalent to ~41 % of the Australian population. Of the 64 pesticides, 25 were detected in influent, with highest influent concentrations up to 100 μg/L and effluent concentrations up to 16 μg/L for the herbicide 2,4-D. The total mass of pesticides was extrapolated to Australia, suggesting ~33 t of the targeted pesticides entered WWTP influent annually nation-wide, with 14 t emitted into effluents annually. Long-term trends varied by analyte and for carbendazim decreases over time, may be related to restrictions in use. Risk quotients (RQs) were calculated for 14 analytes in the effluent. 35 % had an RQ above one, indicating a potential environmental risk. Fipronil had the highest RQ (49) at Site 6. The population-normalized mass loads of pesticides were site-specific, and in some cases correlated with land use attributes suggestive of point sources. This reflects a need to better characterise sources to enable prevention, or possible pre-treatment of pesticide-containing wastewater entering municipal sewage streams.

Discovery of 3-Formyl-N-(un)Substituted Benzylindole Pyrimidines as an Acaricidal Agent and Their Mechanism of Action

To discover the pronounced acaricide candidate, herein, a series of 3-formyl-N-(un)substituted benzylindole pyrimidines were prepared by structural modification of indoles at the N-1 and C-3 positions via the successive Vilsmeier-Haack-Arnold (VHA), aldol condensation, and cyclization reactions. The steric structures of nine compounds were undoubtedly confirmed by X-ray single-crystallography. Against Tetranychus cinnabarinus Boisduval, compounds V-15, V-31, V-34, V-42, V-44, and V-60 exhibited promising acaricidal activity with LC50 values of 0.299-0.481 mg/mL. In particular, compound V-34 displayed 4.2 times the acaricidal activity of its precursor 6-methylindole. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging revealed that the construction of the cuticle layer of V-34-treated T. cinnabarinus was seriously destroyed. Furthermore, RNA-Seq analysis indicated that compound V-34 could regulate the homeostasis metabolism of T. cinnabarinus through arachidonic acid and linoleic acid metabolism and lysosome pathways. These results suggested that compound V-34 can be further studied as a lead acaricidal agent.

Does climbazole instigate a threat in the environment as persistent, mobile and toxic compound? Unveiling the occurrence and potential ecological risks of its phototransformation products in the water cycle

Persistent, mobile, and toxic chemicals (PMT), such as the antimycotic climbazole-(CBZ), proliferate in water cycle and imperil drinking water quality, sparking off research about their environmental fate. Unlike the parent compound, its transformation products-(TPs) are scarcely investigated, much less as PMTs. To this end, phototransformation of CBZ was investigated. A novel suspect-screening workflow was developed and optimized by cross-comparing the results of the identified photo-TPs against literature data to create an enhanced HRMS-database for environmental investigations of CBZ/TPs in the water cycle. In total, 24 TPs were identified, 14 of which are reported for the first time. Isomerism, dechlorination, hydroxylation, and cleavage of the ether or C-N bond are suggested as the main transformation routes. A screening of CBZ/TPs was conducted in wastewater, leachates, surface, and groundwater, revealing a maximum concentration of 464.8 ng/L in groundwater. In silico and in vitro methods were used for toxicity assessment, indicating toxicity for CBZ and some TPs. Seemingly, CBZ is rightly considered as PMT, and a higher potential to occur in surface or groundwater than non-PM chemicals appears. Likewise, the occurrence of TPs due to PMT properties or emission patterns was evaluated.

High resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) determination of drugs in wastewater and wastewater based epidemiology in Cadiz Bay (Spain)

Multi-residue methods for the determination of the myriad of compounds of emerging concern (CECs) entering in the environment are key elements for further assessment on their distribution and fate. Here, we have developed an analytical protocol for the simultaneous analysis of 195 prescription, over-the-counter, and illicit drugs by using a combination of solid phase extraction (SPE) and determination by liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). The method was applied to the analysis of influent sewage samples from 3 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) from Cadiz Bay (SW Spain), enabling the quantification of more than 100 pharmaceuticals, 19 of them at average concentrations higher than 1 μg L^-1, including caffeine (92 μg L^-1), paracetamol (72 μg L^-1), and ibuprofen (56 μg L^-1), as well as several illicit drugs (e.g., cocaine). Wastewater based epidemiology (WBE) was applied for 27 of the detected compounds to establish their consumption in the sampling area, which has been never attempted before. Caffeine, naproxen, and salicylic acid stood out because of their high consumption (638, 51, and 20 g d^-1·1000pop^-1, respectively). Regarding illicit drugs, cocaine showed the highest frequency of detection and we estimated an average consumption of 3683 mg d^-1·1000pop^-1 in Cadiz Bay. The combination of new HRMS methods, capable of discriminating thousands of chemicals, and WBE will allow for a more comprehensive characterization of chemical substances and their consumption in urban environments in the near future.

Analytical research of pesticide biomarkers in wastewater with application to study spatial differences in human exposure

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) relies on the assessment and interpretation of levels of biomarkers in wastewater originating from a well-defined community. It has provided unique information on spatial and temporal trends of licit and illicit drug consumption, and has also the potential to give complementary information on human exposure to chemicals. Here, we focus on the accurate quantification of pesticide biomarkers (i.e., predominantly urinary metabolites) in influent wastewater at the ng L^-1 level to be used for WBE. In the present study, an advanced analytical methodology has been developed based on ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS), for the simultaneous determination of 11 specific human biomarkers of triazines, urea herbicides, pyrethroids and organophosphates in urban wastewater. The sample treatment consisted of solid-phase extraction using Oasis HLB cartridges. Direct injection of the samples was also tested for all compounds, as a simple and rapid way to determine these compounds without sample manipulation (i.e., minimizing potential analytical errors). However, if extraction recoveries are satisfactory, SPE is the preferred approach that allow reaching lower concertation levels. Six isotopically labelled internal standards were evaluated and used to correct for matrix effects. Due to the difficulties associated with this type of analysis, special emphasis has been placed on the analytical challenges encountered. The satisfactory validated methodology was applied to urban wastewater samples collected from different locations across Europe revealing the presence of 2,6-EA, 3,4-DCA, 3-PBA and 4-HSA i.e, metabolites of metolachlor-s, urea herbicides, pyrethroids and chlorpropham, respectively. Preliminary data reported in this paper illustrate the applicability of this analytical approach for assessing human exposure to pesticides through WBE.

Insects as Chemical Sensors: Detection of Chemical Warfare Agent Simulants and Hydrolysis Products in the Blow Fly Using LC-MS/MS

In this work, blow flies were investigated as environmental chemical sample collectors following a chemical warfare attack (CWA). Blow flies sample the environment as they search for water and food sources and can be trapped from kilometers away using baited traps. Three species of blow flies were exposed to CWA simulants to determine the persistence and detectability of these compounds under varying environmental conditions. A liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed to detect CWA simulants and hydrolysis products from fly guts. Flies were exposed to the CWA simulants dimethyl methylphosphonate and diethyl phosphoramidate as well as the pesticide dichlorvos, followed by treatment-dependent temperature and humidity conditions. Flies were sacrificed at intervals within a 14 day postexposure period. Fly guts were extracted and analyzed with the LC-MS/MS method. The amount of CWA simulant in fly guts decreased with time following exposure but were detectable 14 days following exposure, giving a long window of detectability. In addition to the analysis of CWA simulants, isopropyl methylphosphonic acid, the hydrolysis product of sarin, was also detected in blow flies 14 days post exposure. This work demonstrates the potential to obtain valuable samples from remote or access-restricted areas without risking lives.