Integrated approaches for Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) management: Insights from laboratory studies with entomopathogenic nematodes and insecticides.

BACKGROUND: In agricultural pest management, especially in combatting the invasive red imported fire ant (RIFA, Solenopsis invicta), significant challenges emerge due to the constraints of solely depending on chemical insecticides or entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs). The utilization of chemical insecticides carries environmental and ecological hazards, whereas EPNs, when applied independently, might not offer the immediate effectiveness necessary for adequate RIFA suppression. Acknowledging these hurdles, our study investigates a synergistic method that integrates EPNs with chemical insecticides, aiming to fulfill the urgent demand for more efficient and environmentally friendly pest control solutions. RESULTS: Our evaluation focused on the interaction between the highly pathogenic Steinernema riobrave 7-12 EPN strain and prevalent insecticides, specifically beta-cypermethrin and a mixture of bifenthrin and clothianidin, applied at highly diluted recommended concentrations. The findings revealed a notable increase in RIFA mortality rates when EPNs and these insecticides were used together, outperforming the results achieved with each method individually. Remarkably, this enhanced efficacy was especially evident at lower concentrations of the bifenthrin-clothianidin mixture, indicating a valuable approach to minimizing reliance on chemical insecticides in agriculture. Furthermore, the high survival rates of EPNs alongside the tested insecticides indicate their compatibility and potential for sustained use in integrated pest management programs. CONCLUSION: Our research underscores the effectiveness of merging EPNs with chemical insecticides as a powerful and sustainable strategy for RIFA management. This combined approach not only meets the immediate challenges of pest control in agricultural settings but also supports wider environmental objectives by reducing the dependency on chemical insecticides. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Ecological Risk Assessment of Three Pesticide Additives in Soil and Application to the Remediation of Contaminated Soil.

Pesticide additives (PAs) are auxiliary ingredients added to the pesticide manufacturing and use processes, constituting 1% to 99% of the pesticide and often composed of benzene and chlorinated hydrocarbons. We selected three typical PAs, toluene, chloroform, and trichloroethylene, to evaluate their retention function toxicity and ecological risk in soil. Soil immobilization techniques and aquatic model organisms were used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the immobilized soil method to determine the ecological risk of chemicals. The 48-h median lethal concentrations of toluene, chloroform, and trichloroethylene alone in spiked soil on Daphnia magna were 10.5, 2.3, and 1.1 mg/L (medium, high, and high toxicity, respectively). The toxicity of the three-PA mixtures showed an antagonistic effect. The risk levels of toluene, chloroform, and trichloroethylene in the soil were evaluated as moderate to high, low to high, and high risk, respectively. The toxicity of two pesticide-contaminated sites in the Yangtze River Delta before and after remediation was successfully evaluated by immobilized soil technology. The toxicity of two soil sampling points was reduced from medium toxic to low toxic and no toxic, respectively, after remediation. The results of our study give a rationale for and prove the validity of the aquatic model organisms and soil immobilization techniques in assessing the soil retention functions toxicity of PAs. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1-13. © 2024 SETAC.

Based on metabolomics, chemometrics, and modern separation omics: Identifying key in-pathway and out-pathway points for pesticide residues during solid-state fermentation of baijiu.

By collecting real samples throughout the entire production process and employing chemometrics, metabolomics, and modern separation omic techniques, it unveiled the patterns of pesticide transfer during solid-state fermentation. The results indicated that 12 types of pesticide residues were prevalent during baijiu production, with organochlorine and carbamate pesticides being the most abundant in raw materials. After fermentation, organochlorine pesticides and pyrethroid pesticides exhibited higher content, while carbamate pesticides dominated in the final product. The pathways for pesticide input and elimination were identified, and the intricate mechanisms underlying these changes were further elucidated. Additionally, key control points were defined to facilitate targeted monitoring. The results indicated that pesticide residue primarily originates from raw materials and Daqu, whereas both solid-state fermentation and distillation processes were effective in reducing pesticide residues. The study offers valuable guidance for establishing pesticide residue standards in the context of baijiu production.

Analysis of nationwide soil pesticide pollution: Insights from China.

China is a typical agricultural country that heavily relies on pesticides. Some pesticides can remain in the soil after application and thus pose a significant threat to human health. In order to characterize the status and hazards of nationwide soil contamination, this study extracted concentration data from published literature and analyzed them by a scoring approach, standard comparison and health risk assessment. For the soil pollution score, northern regions got the highest values, such as Henan (0.63), Liaoning (0.55), Heilongjiang (0.54) and Jilin (0.53), which implies high soil pesticide residues in these provinces. In contrast, Qinghai (-0.77), Guizhou (-0.64) and Tibet (-0.63) had lower scores. China's soil pesticide standards cover only 16 pesticides, and these pesticide concentrations were all below the corresponding standards. Direct exposure to soil pesticides in this study generally posed a negligible risk to children. Furthermore, pesticide dissipation and usage intensity in each province were analyzed as they were possible influences on pollution. The result showed that soil in the northern regions could accumulate more pesticides than those in the southern regions, and this geographic pattern was basically consistent with the distribution of soil pollution. However, the relationship between agricultural activities and soil pollution was less well characterized. It is recommended to establish a long-term monitoring database for pesticides and include more pesticides in regulatory frameworks. Additionally, efforts to accelerate pesticide degradation and shift the planting structure to reduce pesticide usage can help alleviate the pressure on soil from pesticides. This study can serve as a critical reference for policymakers and stakeholders in the field of agriculture.

Chronic cypermethrin induced toxicity and molecular fate assessment within common carp (Cyprinus carpio) using multiple biomarkers approach and its novel therapeutic detoxification.

Cypermethrin (CYP) is a chemical of emerging concern which has persistent and bioaccumulating impacts as it can be found extensively in freshwater ecosystem and agricultural products. It has exposure risk and toxic effects over human edible fish, as common carp. Four groups were designed for toxicity assessment and detoxification approach: control group (CL), CYP exposure group (CYP), CYP + 10% M. oleifera leaves and 10% M. oleifera seeds (CMO group), 10% M. oleifera leaves and 10% M. oleifera seeds (MO group). Trial period was forty days during which cohort of 240 fish in CYP and CMO group was exposed to 1/5 of 96h LC50 of CYP (0.1612 µg/L). CYP-exposed carp exhibited lower growth parameters, but carp fed with 10% M. oleifera seeds and leaves showed significant improvement in growth rate (SGR, RGR) and weight gain (WG) as compared to the control group. CYP exposure negatively affected haemato-biochemical parameters. Moreover, CYP exposure also led to oxidative stress, damaged immunological parameters, genotoxicity and histopathological damage in liver and intestinal cells. Whereas, M. oleifera supplementation has ameliorated these conditions. Thereby, supplementation with M. oleifera is potential and novel therapeutic detoxication approach for common carp and human health against persistent and bioaccumulating emerging chemicals.

Factors affecting safe pesticide-use behaviors among farm plant agriculturists in northeastern Thailand.

BACKGROUND: Pesticide poisoning is a major public health problem in Thailand and is the result of intensive inappropriate and unsafe use of pesticides. This analytical cross-sectional study aimed to determine the factors affecting safe pesticide-use behaviors among farm plant agriculturists in northeastern Thailand. METHODS: The study sample included 427 farm plant agriculturists in Loei Province, northeastern Thailand. Individuals were randomly selected by a multistage random sampling technique. The following data were collected via a self-administered questionnaire consisting of 8 parts: (1) sociodemographic characteristics, (2) knowledge about pesticide use, (3) perceived severity of impact from pesticide use among farm plant agriculturists, (4) perceived susceptibility to pesticide use, (5) perceived self-efficacy in the modification of safe pesticide-use behaviors, (6) perceived outcome of the modification of safe pesticide-use behaviors, (7) social support, and (8) safe pesticide-use behaviors. Frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations, and multiple regression analyses were employed for data analysis. RESULTS: The majority of participants (79.4%) had high scores for safe pesticide-use behaviors among farm plant agriculturists (scores of 112-150). Factors that significantly affected safe pesticide-use behaviors included knowledge about pesticide use (ß = 0.282), social support (ß = 0.217), reading information from pesticide labels before pesticide use (ß = 0.207), perceived self-efficacy (ß = 0.186), female sex (ß = -0.140), rice farmer status (ß = 0.129), corn farmer status (ß = 0.127), perceived susceptibility (ß = 0.126), having received information from the internet (ß = -0.124), and perceived severity (ß = -0.098). Together, these 10 factors were found to explain 32.5% of the safe pesticide-use behaviors among farm plant agriculturists. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that there is a need to increase the number of promotional activities related to the safe use of pesticides through social support and training, with the aim of increasing the overall level of knowledge, perceived self-efficacy, perceived susceptibility, and modification of the perceived impact severity of pesticide use. Thus, relevant agencies should promote and support the safe use of pesticides by farm plant agriculturists. This study revealed that the factors affecting safe pesticide-use behaviors among farm plant agriculturists included knowledge about pesticide use, social support, reading pesticide container labels, perceived self-efficacy in the modification of pesticide-use behaviors, sex, rice farmer status, corn farmer status, perceived susceptibility to pesticide use, having received information from the internet, and perceived severity of impact from pesticide use.

Remediation of acetamiprid pesticide from contaminated water by antibacterial biosorbent based on carboxymethyl tragacanth-grafted-poly(3-aminophenol) decorated with ZnO@Fe3O4.

Pesticides can have harmful impacts on the environment and living organisms. Thus, removing them from polluted water is crucial. In this study, a bionanocomposite of carboxymethyl tragacanth-grafted-poly(3-aminophenol)/zinc oxide@iron oxide (CMT-g-P3AP/ZnO@Fe3O4) synthesized by in situ copolymerization as an efficient adsorbent to eliminate the acetamiprid pesticide from polluted water. The CMT-g-P3AP/ZnO@Fe3O4 magnetic nanocomposite was analyzed utilizing various techniques including FTIR, EDX, FESEM, XRD, BET, CHNSO, and TGA. The results displayed that the resulting nanocomposite with maximum adsorption capacity (Qmax) successfully removed the acetamiprid pesticide from polluted water under optimal conditions such as pH of 7.00, 5.00 mg of adsorbent, 20.0 min duration, and 400 mg/L acetamiprid concentration. According to the linear Langmuir isotherm, the Qmax of the biosorbent was 833 mg/g. The experimental adsorption data fitted well with Temkin's nonlinear isotherm model. The adsorption kinetic data were closely related to the Weber-Morris intraparticle diffusion nonlinear model. After three repetitive cycles, CMT-g-P3AP/ZnO@Fe3O4 can be outstandingly renewed and recycled without significant reduction in its adsorption efficacy, as evidenced by the adsorption-desorption experiments. In addition, the CMT-g-P3AP/ZnO@Fe3O4 displayed the good antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus.

The 2022 European Union report on pesticide residues in food.

Under European Union legislation (Article 32, Regulation (EC) No 396/2005), the European Food Safety Authority provides an annual report assessing the pesticide residue levels in foods on the European market. In 2022, 96.3% of the overall 110,829 samples analysed fell below the maximum residue level (MRL), 3.7% exceeded this level, of which 2.2% were non-compliant, i.e. results in a given sample exceeded the MRL after taking into account the measurement uncertainty. For the EU-coordinated multiannual control programme subset, 11,727 samples were analysed of which 0.9% were non-compliant. To assess acute and chronic risk to consumer health, dietary exposure to pesticide residues was estimated and compared with available health-based guidance values (HBGV). Continuation of the probabilistic assessment methodology was consolidated to all pesticides listed in the 2022 EU Regulation providing the probability of a consumer being exposed to an exceedance of the HBGV. Overall, the assessed risk to EU consumer's health is low. Recommendations to risk managers are given to increase the effectiveness of European control systems and to ensure a high level of consumer protection throughout the EU.

Case fatality of repeated suicidal acts among suicide attempters in rural China: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Individuals presenting to hospital due to suicide attempt are at high risk for repeated suicidal act, yet there are meager data on the extent to which repeated suicidal acts result in death. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was based on a general hospital self-harm register system in a rural county in China. Identified individuals who attempted suicide were contacted and followed up for up to 8 years. Main outcomes over follow-up were: 1) suicide death, 2) nonlethal suicide attempt, and 3) suicidal acts including suicide death and nonlethal attempt. Incidence densities, correlates, and case fatality of repeated suicidal acts were estimated. Findings: A total of 1086 individuals (two-thirds females, mean age 40.6 years) with a suicide attempt presenting to hospital (index attempt) were identified and followed up, with most of the index attempts by pesticide ingestion (79%). Over follow-up, there were 116 suicidal acts carried out by 108 individuals (69 females, 39 males), including 34 suicide deaths (21 females, 13 males), yielding a high case-fatality of 29.3%. During follow-up, suicide death rates were also high overall and in the first year of follow-up (846.7 and 1787.2 per 100,000 person years). Over follow-up, pesticide was the most common method (47/116) of repeated suicidal act and yielded a higher case-fatality than other methods (46.8% vs 17.4%, χ2 = 11.68, P < 0.001). The incidence densities of repeated suicidal acts and nonlethal attempts were low compared to rates reported in previous literature. Interpretation: Incidence densities of repeated suicidal acts in a rural China cohort were low compared to previous studies. However, rates of suicide deaths over follow-up were high, a result driven by the high case-fatality of suicidal acts and attributable to the common use of pesticides. Reducing suicidal acts with pesticides is a key target for suicide prevention in rural China. Funding: Beijing Municipal High Rank Public Health Researcher Training Program, Beijing Hospitals Authority Clinical Medicine Development of Special Funding Support, and Beijing Hospitals Authority's Ascent Plan.

Turmeric shortens lifespan in houseflies.

Climate change poses a significant threat to food security and global public health with the increasing likelihood of insect pest outbreaks. Alternative ways to control insect populations, preferably using environmental-friendly compounds, are needed. Turmeric has been suggested as a natural insecticide with toxicity properties in some insect groups. However, empirical evidence of the effects of turmeric - and their interaction with other ecological factors such as diet - on insect survival has been limited. Here, we tested the effects of turmeric and its interactions with diets differing in protein source in the common housefly, Musca domestica. We found that turmeric shortened lifespan independent of diet and sex. Females in turmeric diets were heavier at death, which was likely driven by a combination of relatively lower rates of body mass loss during their lifetime and a higher percentage of water content at death. Each sex responded differently to the protein source in the diet, and the magnitude of the difference in lifespan between sexes were greatest in diets in which protein source was hydrolysed yeast; individuals from both sexes lived longest in sucrose-milk diets and shortest in diets with hydrolysed yeast. There was no evidence of an interaction between turmeric and diet, suggesting that the toxicity effects are independent of protein source in the diet. Given the seemingly opposing effects of turmeric in insects and mammals being uncovered in the literature, our findings provide further evidence in support of turmeric as a potential natural insecticide.

Reassessing clinical presentations of emamectin benzoate poisoning: A comprehensive study.

BACKGROUND: The mechanism of emamectin benzoate (EMB-a macrocyclic lactone insecticide like abamectin) action involves the disruption of glutamate-gated chloride channels and GABA receptors in insects, leading to paralysis and death. EMB overdose can breach the blood-brain barrier, resulting in severe poisoning and altered consciousness. AIM: Review EMB poisoning presentations in patients and reevaluate clinical manifestations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study reviewed (August 31, 2008-August 31, 2023) medical university hospital records. We analyzed symptoms, patient characteristics, vital signs, Glasgow Coma Scale scores, laboratory findings, and outcomes. RESULTS: Ten patients (males: 6, females: 4, median age = 64.5 years) experienced EMB poisoning. Common symptoms included sore throat, gastrointestinal distress, dyspnea, and altered consciousness; two patients showed laryngeal corrosive injuries. Management involved activated charcoal administration, gastric lavage, and intensive care unit admission. DISCUSSION: Sore throat and corrosive injuries were distinctive presentations of EMB poisoning, warranting vigilance. Potential mechanisms of corrosive injury include skin and eye irritation effects of EMB, the solvents of which might exert corrosive action. CONCLUSION: EMB poisoning manifests as diverse symptoms, including sore throat, gastrointestinal symptoms, central nervous system depression, and potential aspiration pneumonia. Recognizing and promptly managing EMB poisoning are crucial for enhancing patient outcomes and minimizing complications.

Tank-mix adjuvants improved spray performance and biological efficacy in rice insecticide application with unmanned aerial vehicle sprayer.

BACKGROUND: The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for the application of Plant Protection Products (PPPs) in paddy fields is becoming increasingly prevalent worldwide. Despite its growing usage, UAV spraying for rice pest control faces practical challenges, including limited canopy penetration, uneven deposition, and significant spray drift. This study investigated the impact of two tank-mix adjuvants, Wonderful Rosin (Adjuvant-1) and Tiandun (Adjuvant-2), at six volume concentrations, on the spray liquid's physicochemical properties, spray drift, plant deposition, and the biological efficacy of rice insecticides using a quadrotor UAV sprayer. RESULTS: The physicochemical characteristics of the spray liquid influenced spray performance and biological efficacy. Incorporating Adjuvant-1 and Adjuvant-2 led to a decrease in surface tension and contact angle while increasing the viscosity of the spray solution. These alterations in surface tension and viscosity contributed to an optimized droplet size distribution, reduced spray drift, enhanced deposition uniformity and penetration, and improved control efficacy against the rice planthopper in UAV applications. The highest control efficacy was observed at a concentration of 0.5%, showing an improvement of 35.12% (Adjuvant-1) and 20.23% (Adjuvant-2) over applications without tank-mix adjuvant 7 days after application. CONCLUSION: The judicious selection of tank-mix adjuvants for UAV PPP applications can significantly enhance spray performance and biological efficacy in controlling rice insects. This study's findings offer valuable insights for integrating tank-mix adjuvants into UAV spraying applications. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Association between exposure to a mixture of organochlorine pesticides and hyperuricemia in U.S. adults: A comparison of four statistical models.

The association between the exposure of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and serum uric acid (UA) levels remained uncertain. In this study, to investigate the combined effects of OCP mixtures on hyperuricemia, we analyzed serum OCPs and UA levels in adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005-2016). Four statistical models including weighted logistic regression, weighted quantile sum (WQS), quantile g-computation (QGC), and bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) were used to assess the relationship between mixed chemical exposures and hyperuricemia. Subgroup analyses were conducted to explore potential modifiers. Among 6,529 participants, the prevalence of hyperuricemia was 21.15%. Logistic regression revealed a significant association between both hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and trans-nonachlor and hyperuricemia in the fifth quintile (OR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.08-2.19; OR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.05-2.39, respectively), utilizing the first quintile as a reference. WQS and QGC analyses showed significant overall effects of OCPs on hyperuricemia, with an OR of 1.25 (95% CI: 1.09-1.44) and 1.20 (95% CI: 1.06-1.37), respectively. BKMR indicated a positive trend between mixed OCPs and hyperuricemia, with HCB having the largest weight in all three mixture analyses. Subgroup analyses revealed that females, individuals aged 50 years and above, and those with a low income were more vulnerable to mixed OCP exposure. These results highlight the urgent need to protect vulnerable populations from OCPs and to properly evaluate the health effects of multiple exposures on hyperuricemia using mutual validation approaches.

Effects of an environmentally relevant mixture of organochlorine pesticide compounds on adipogenesis and adipocyte function in an immortalized human adipocyte model.

Exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including organochlorine (OC) pesticide POPs, has been associated with the increased prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes. However, the underlying mechanisms through which exposure to these compounds may promote obesity and metabolic dysfunction remain an area of active investigation. To this end, the concentration dependent effects of an environmentally relevant mixture of OC pesticide POPs on adipocyte function was explored utilizing a translationally relevant immortalized human subcutaneous preadipocyte/adipocyte model. Briefly, immortalized human preadipocytes/adipocytes were exposed to a mixture of dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), trans-nonachlor, and oxychlordane (DTO) then key indices of preadipocyte/adipocyte function were assessed. Exposure to DTO did not alter adipogenesis. However, in mature adipocytes, exposure to DTO slightly increased fatty acid uptake whereas isoproterenol stimulated lipolysis, basal and insulin stimulated glucose uptake, mitochondrial membrane potential, and cellular ATP levels were all significantly decreased. DTO significantly increased Staphylococcus aureus infection induced increases in expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1ß, and Mcp-1 as well as the adipokine resistin. Taken together, the present data demonstrated exposure to an environmentally relevant mixture of OC pesticide compounds can alter mature adipocyte function in a translationally relevant human adipocyte model which further supports the adipose tissue as an effector site of OC pesticide POPs action.

The Effect of Social Norms on Residential Insecticide Use.

Insecticide products are widely used in homes around the world, despite concerns about their adverse health effects. Variations in insecticide use levels can stem not only from differences in environmental conditions, but also from societal factors. This study investigates the impact of religiosity on insecticide use in Jewish households, hypothesizing that religious families might use more insecticides because insects are considered taboo in Judaism. Data from interviews with 70 families, examining their insecticide use, exposure to pests, aversion to cockroaches, and other predisposing factors, revealed that despite similar levels of pest exposure, religious families reported higher insecticide use and greater aversion to cockroaches. Multiple linear regression analysis identified religiosity as the primary predictor of insecticide use, followed by pest exposure levels. The elevated insecticide use among religious Jewish families may stem from several factors, with the Jewish categorization of insects as "impure animals" that should be strictly avoided likely playing a crucial role in promoting insecticide use. Understanding how attitudes toward insects influence insecticide use across different societies is crucial for health and environmental authorities to develop novel insecticide-reduction initiatives that will be tailored to the unique social characteristics of various communities.

Detection and Identification of Pesticides in Fruits Coupling to an Au-Au Nanorod Array SERS Substrate and RF-1D-CNN Model Analysis.

In this research, a method was developed for fabricating Au-Au nanorod array substrates through the deposition of large-area Au nanostructures on an Au nanorod array using a galvanic cell reaction. The incorporation of a granular structure enhanced both the number and intensity of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) hot spots on the substrate, thereby elevating the SERS performance beyond that of substrates composed solely of an Au nanorod. Calculations using the finite difference time domain method confirmed the generation of a strong electromagnetic field around the nanoparticles. Motivated by the electromotive force, Au ions in the chloroauric acid solution were reduced to form nanostructures on the nanorod array. The size and distribution density of these granular nanostructures could be modulated by varying the reaction time and the concentration of chloroauric acid. The resulting Au-Au nanorod array substrate exhibited an active, uniform, and reproducible SERS effect. With 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene as the probe molecule, the detection sensitivity of the Au-Au nanorod array substrate was enhanced to 10-11 M, improving by five orders of magnitude over the substrate consisting only of an Au nanorod array. For a practical application, this substrate was utilized for the detection of pesticides, including thiram, thiabendazole, carbendazim, and phosmet, within the concentration range of 10-4 to 5 × 10-7 M. An analytical model combining a random forest and a one-dimensional convolutional neural network, referring to the important variable-one-dimensional convolutional neural network model, was developed for the precise identification of thiram. This approach demonstrated significant potential for biochemical sensing and rapid on-site identification.

Monitoring and Risk Assessment of Pesticide Residues in Fishery Products Using GC-MS/MS in South Korea.

The aim of this study was to assess the risk of pesticide contamination in aquaculture and its impact on fishery products. We conducted an assessment of 300 samples collected from nine regions in South Korea, including various types of seafood, such as freshwater fish, marine fish, crustaceans, and shellfish. Pesticide residues in seafood were analyzed using GC-MS/MS after sample preparation using a modified QuEChERS method, revealing the presence of eight pesticides (4,4'-DDE, 4,4'-DDT, boscalid, isoprothiolane, oxadiazon, pendimethalin, thifluzamide, and trifluralin) across seven fish species (carp, far eastern catfish, crucian carp, eel, Chinese muddy loach, mirror carp, and sea bass). Following the grouping of DDE with DDT, a risk assessment of fishery products was conducted. After the estimated daily intake (EDI) of fish was calculated and compared with the acceptable daily intake (ADI), the health risk index (HI, %ADI) of the detected pesticides was evaluated and found to be 1.07% or lower. The results suggest that the consumption of domestically farmed fish products in South Korea poses minimal health risks associated with pesticide residues.

Modeling the implications of policy reforms on pesticide risk for Switzerland.

Growing public awareness of the negative effects of pesticides on the environment, ecosystems, and human health has led governments to set targets for reducing pesticide risk. Switzerland introduced in 2023 two new policy measures to reduce pesticide risk by 50 % by 2027: (1) voluntary direct payment programs supporting pesticide-reduced and pesticide-free but non-organic cropping systems for most crops on arable land, and (2) restrictions of harmful pesticides for farmers managing under Swiss cross-compliance standards. This study aims to (1) develop a method to assess pesticide risk on a national scale and (2) carry out an ex-ante impact assessment to predict whether these policies can effectively reduce pesticide risks in Switzerland. Therefore, we introduced crop-specific pesticide quantities and pesticide risk scores into a sample of 1907 bio-economic farm optimization models. The models were used to predict farmers' adoption decisions regarding voluntary direct payment programs from 2019 to 2030. By combining the bio-economic farm optimization models with an agent-based modeling approach, we assessed the evolution of pesticide-related risks at the national level. Simulations for pesticide risk from 2019 to 2022 reflected the observed pesticide risk monitored by the Swiss government. In surface waters and semi-natural habitats, achieving the target depends on reducing pyrethroids, a class of insecticides with high-risk potential. Further, we highlight significant uncertainty in projecting the risk potential for surface waters and semi-natural habitats due to uncertainty about the amounts of pyrethroid used for different crops. The results underline the need for comprehensive datasets on pesticide use in Switzerland.

Flexible, scalable and simple-fabricated silver nanorod-decorated bacterial nanocellulose SERS substrates cooperated with portable Raman spectrometer for on-site detection of pesticide residues.

Owing to good flexibility, prominent mechanical properties, three-dimensional (3D) nanofibrous structure and low background interference, sustainable bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) is a highly attractive matrix material for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensor. Herein, a highly sensitive, flexible and scalable silver nanorod-decorated BNC (AgNRs@BNC) SERS sensor is developed by a simple vacuum-assisted filtration. The AgNRs were firmly locked in the 3D nanofibrous network of cellulose nanofibers upon vacuum drying process, resulting in the formation of 3D SERS hotspots with a depth of more than 10 µm on the sensor. With 4-aminothiophenol (4-ATP) as a target molecule, a lowest distinguishable level of 10-12 M and a high enhancement factor of 1.1 × 109 were realized by the optimal AgNRs1.5@BNC SERS sensor. Moreover, the AgNRs@BNC SERS sensor exhibits high detectable level of 10-9 M for thiram molecules by integrating with a portable Raman spectrometer. Besides, toxic thiram residues on grape surface could be directly on-site identified by the combination of AgNRs@BNC SERS sensors and a portable Raman spectrometer through a feasible press-and-peel method. The flexible AgNRs@BNC SERS sensor cooperated with portable Raman system demonstrates great potential for on-site detection of pesticide residues on irregular food surfaces.

Multimode ultrasonic-assisted decontamination of fruits and vegetables: A review.

Fruits and vegetables (F&V) are a significant part of our diet consumption. Microbial and pesticide residues are the predominant safety hazards of F&V consumption. Ordinary water washing has a very limited effect on removing microorganisms and pesticide residues and requires high water usage. Ultrasound, as an environmentally friendly technology, shows excellent potential for reducing microbial contamination and pesticide residue. This paper summarizes the research on ultrasound application in F&V washing, including the removal of microbial and pesticide residues and the comprehensive effect on their physicochemical characteristics. Furthermore, multimode ultrasonic-assisted techniques like multi-frequency and sequential ultrasound, combined with novel and conventional methods, can enhance the ultrasound-based effect and be more effective and sustainable in preventing F&V from microbial contamination. Overall, this work explicitly establishes the background on the potential for ultrasound cleaning and disinfection in the food industry as a green, effective, and ultimate method of preventing foodborne illnesses.