Effects of the pesticide carbendazim on broiler chicken health and carbendazim residue levels in broiler tissues.

Pesticide residues may enter the human body through the food chain when livestock and poultry consume pesticide-contaminated feed. Therefore, monitoring and limiting pesticide residues in animal feed and animal-origin foods is necessary. Carbendazim is one of the most frequently detected pesticides in food and feed and has various toxic effects on non-target animals. This study investigated the effects of varying concentrations of carbendazim contamination in feed on broiler chicken growth performance, serum biochemical indicators, histopathology, and carbendazim residues in broiler muscles and livers. The results demonstrated that contamination of 5-100 mg/kg carbendazim in feed did not affect broiler growth performance or health. Carbendazim contamination in feed at 200-800 mg/kg slightly reduced growth performance. Broiler kidneys showed minor histopathological alterations after 400 mg/kg carbendazim exposure. Furthermore, when the carbendazim content in feed was less than 25 mg/kg, the residual carbendazim in the muscles and livers of broilers did not exceed the maximum residue level set by the European Union and China. Based on the above findings, carbendazim residues in the feed of less than 25 mg/kg can be considered safe for chicken products.

2D/1D VSe2/MWCNT hybrid-based electrochemical sensor for carbendazim quantification of environmental, food, and biological samples.

For the first time the sensitive determination of carbendatim (CRB) is reported utilizing a well-designed sensing architecture based on vanadium diselenide-multiwalled carbon nanotube (VSMC). FTIR, XRD, FESEM, EDS, and EIS were employed to evaluate the sensor's structural integrity, and the results demonstrated the successful integration of nanomaterials, resulting in a robust and sensitive electrochemical sensor. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometric (CA) investigations showed that the sensor best performed at pH 8.0 (BRB) with an excellent detection limit of 9.80 nM with a wide linear range of 0.1 to 10.0 µM. A more thermodynamically viable oxidation of CRB was observed at the VSMC/GCE, with a shift of 200 mV in peak potential towards the less positive side compared with the unmodified GCE. In addition, the sensor demonstrated facile heterogeneous electron transfer, favorable anti-fouling traits in the presence of a wide range of interferents, good stability, and reproducible analytical performance. Finally, the developed sensor was validated for real-time quantification of CRB from spiked water, food, and bio-samples, which depicted acceptable recoveries (98.6 to 101.5%) with RSD values between 0.35 and 2.23%. Further, to derive the possible sensing mechanism, the valence orbitals projected density of states (PDOS) for C, H, and N atoms of an isolated CRB molecule, VSe2 + CNT and VSe2 + CNT + CRB were calculated using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The dominant charge transfer from the valence 2p-orbitals of the C and N atoms of CRB to CNT is responsible for the electrochemical sensing of CRB molecules.

Understanding the carbendazim adsorption from water using biochar derived from apple pomace and industrial wastewater sludge: experimental and DFT approaches.

Biochars derived from apple pomace (AP-BC) and industrial wastewater sludge (IS-BC) were used to investigate adsorption performance and mechanism for removing carbendazim from water and compare its performance with commercial biochar (commercial BC). The results showed that the adsorption capacity of AP-BC and IS-BC were 76 mg g-1 and 82 mg g-1 respectively that was comparable with the commercial BC (80 mg g-1). The adsorption kinetics and isotherms were best described by the Pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models. Thermodynamic analysis suggested that higher temperatures can enhance the mobility of molecules, increased mobility facilitates more frequent and stronger interactions between the adsorbate molecules and the surface of the adsorbent material, leading to greater adsorption capacity. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirmed carbendazim's weak electrophilic nature, supporting the primary physisorption mechanism. Even after five cycles of recycling, both biochars maintained a consistent carbendazim removal efficiency of around 82%, highlighting their high reusability. In this study, the examination of waste-derived biochar's economic feasibility revealed that using biochars derived from waste biomass for large-scale wastewater treatment applications is an economically viable choice.

Fungicide resistance in Colletotrichum fructicola and Colletotrichum siamense causing peach anthracnose in China.

Peach is one of the popular and economically important fruit crops in China. Peach cultivation is hampered due to attacks of anthracnose disease, causing significant economic losses. Colletotrichum fructicola and Colletotrichum siamense belong to the Colletotrichum gloeosporioides species complex and are considered major pathogens of peach anthracnose. Application of different groups of fungicides is a routine approach for controlling this disease. However, fungicide resistance is a significant drawback in managing peach anthracnose nowadays. In this study, 39 isolates of C. fructicola and 41 isolates of C. siamense were collected from different locations in various provinces in China. The sensitivity of C. fructicola and C. siamense to some commonly used fungicides, i.e., carbendazim, iprodione, fluopyram, and propiconazole, was determined. All the isolates of C. fructicola collected from Guangdong province showed high resistance to carbendazim, whereas isolates collected from Guizhou province were sensitive. In C. siamense, isolates collected from Hebei province showed moderate resistance, while those from Shandong province were sensitive to carbendazim. On the other hand, all the isolates of C. fructicola and C. siamense showed high resistance to the dicarboximide (DCF) fungicide iprodione and succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) fungicide fluopyram. However, they are all sensitive to the demethylation inhibitor (DMI) fungicide propiconazole. Positive cross-resistance was observed between carbendazim and benomyl as they are members of the same methyl benzimidazole carbamate (MBC) group. While no correlation of sensitivity was observed between different groups of fungicides. No significant differences were found in each fitness parameter between carbendazim-resistant and sensitive isolates in both species. Molecular characterization of the ß-tubulin 2 (TUB2) gene revealed that in C. fructicola, the E198A point mutation was the determinant for the high resistance to carbendazim, while the F200Y point mutation was linked with the moderate resistance to carbendazim in C. siamense. Based on the results of this study, DMI fungicides, e.g., propiconazole or prochloraz could be used to control peach anthracnose, especially at locations where the pathogens have already developed the resistance to carbendazim and other fungicides.

Preparation of W-N-C single atom catalyst and Cu3(HHTP)2 metal-organic framework dual-decorated graphene nanoplatelet flexible electrode arrays for the rapid detection of carbendazim in vegetables.

It is highly desirable to develop a low-cost and rapid detection method for trace levels of carbendazim fungicide residues, which would be beneficial for improving human health and mitigating environmental issues. Herein, isolated single tungsten atoms were implanted onto well-organized metal-organic framework (MOF)-derived N-doped carbons to form W-N-C single-site heterojunctions with ultrahigh electrocatalytic activity. The coupling of W-N-C with Cu3(HHTP)2, an electronically conductive MOF with a large surface area and porous structure, exhibited enhanced electrocatalytic performance for the oxidation of carbendazim (CBZ) when they were used for decorating graphene nanoplatelet flexible electrode arrays fabricated via template-assisted scalable filtration. A wide linear range (3.0 nM-50 µM) with an ultra-low detection limit of 0.97 nM and fast response was achieved for CBZ analysis. Moreover, the sensing platform has been utilised to monitor CBZ levels in vegetable samples with satisfactory recovery rates of 97.2-102% and a low relative standard deviation of 1.9%.

Electrochemical detection of carbendazim using molecularly imprinted poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) on Co,N co-doped hollow carbon nanocage@CNTs-modified electrode.

Precisely detecting trace pesticides and their residues in food products is crucial for ensuring food safety. Herein, a high-performance electrochemical sensing platform was developed for the detection of carbendazim (CBZ) using Co,N co-doped hollow carbon nanocage@carbon nanotubes (Co,N-HC@CNTs) obtained from core-shell ZIF-8@ZIF-67 combined with a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP). The Co,N-HC@CNTs exhibited excellent electrocatalytic performance, benefitting from the synergistic effect of CNTs that provide a large specific surface area and excellent electrical conductivity, Co,N co-doped carbon nanocages that offer high electrocatalytic activity and hollow nanocage structures that ensure rapid diffusion kinetics. The conductive PEDOT-MIP provided specific binding sites for CBZ detection and significantly amplified the detection signal. The sensor showed superior selectivity for CBZ with an extremely low detection limit of 1.67 pmol L-1. Moreover, the method was successfully applied to detect CBZ in tomato, orange and apple samples, achieving satisfactory recovery and accuracy, thus demonstrating its practical feasibility.

Dynamic and structural response of a multispecies biofilm to environmental perturbations induced by the continuous increase of benzimidazole fungicides in a permeable reactive biobarrier.

Purpose: This work explores the dynamics of spatiotemporal changes in the taxonomic structure of biofilms and the degradation kinetics of three imidazole group compounds: carbendazim (CBZ), methyl thiophanate (MT), and benomyl (BN) by a multispecies microbial community attached to a fixed bed horizontal tubular reactor (HTR). This bioreactor mimics a permeable reactive biobarrier, which helps prevent the contamination of water bodies by pesticides in agricultural wastewater. Methods: To rapidly quantify the microbial response to crescent loading rates of benzimidazole compounds, a gradient system was used to transiently raise the fungicide volumetric loading rates, measuring the structural and functional dynamics response of a microbial community in terms of the volumetric removal rates of the HTR entering pollutants. Results: The loading rate gradient of benzimidazole compounds severely impacts the spatiotemporal taxonomic structure of the HTR biofilm-forming microbial community. Notable differences with the original structure in HTR stable conditions can be noted after three historical contingencies (CBZ, MT, and BN gradient loading rates). It was evidenced that the microbial community did not return to the composition prior to environmental disturbances; however, the functional similarity of microbial communities after steady state reestablishment was observed. Conclusions: The usefulness of the method of gradual delivery of potentially toxic agents for a microbial community immobilized in a tubular biofilm reactor was shown since its functional and structural dynamics were quickly evaluated in response to fungicide composition and concentration changes. The rapid adjustment of the contaminants' removal rates indicates that even with changes in the taxonomic structure of a microbial community, its functional redundancy favors its adjustment to gradual environmental disturbances.

The investigation of the interaction determination between carbendazim and elastase, using both in vitro and in silico methods.

Pesticides, including fungicides, are one of the important groups of environmental toxins that affect human and animal health. Studies have shown that these compounds are considered chemical pollutants. Carbendazim is a systemic fungicide. Unfortunately, excessive use of carbendazim has caused environmental pollution all over the world. In this study, the effect of carbendazim on the enzyme elastase (secreted from the endocrine gland of the pancreas) has been investigated. In a study, the performance and reaction of carbendazim with elastase were investigated using spectroscopic techniques. The stability and structure of elastase enzymes were studied under the influence of carbendazim. The results of fluorescence emission and UV-visible absorption spectrum showed that in the presence of carbendazim, there is an increase in UV-Vis absorption and a decrease in the intensity of the intrinsic fluorescence emission in the protein spectrum. Additionally, a decrease in the thermal stability of elastase was observed in the presence of carbendazim. The stability and structure of elastase enzyme were investigated in the presence of carbendazim. The results revealed that the UV-Vis absorption increased due to the presence of carbendazim, as indicated by the hyperchromic spectrum at 220 and 280 nm peaks. Additionally, the intrinsic fluorescence emission in the protein spectrum decreased with increasing carbendazim concentration at three different temperatures (298, 303, and 313 K). Moreover, the study demonstrated that the TM decreased from 2.59 to 4.58 with the increase of carbendazim, suggesting a decrease in the stability of the elastase structure in response to the elevated carbendazim concentration. According to the results of the research, the interaction between elastase and carbendazim has occurred, and changes have been made in the enzyme under the influence of carbendazim. The formation of the complex between elastase and carbendazim was consistent with the results obtained from molecular simulation and confirmed the thermodynamic data.

Design and Fabrication of a Biomimetic Smart Material for Electrochemical Detection of Carbendazim Pesticides in Real Samples with Enhanced Selectivity.

Agricultural products are vitally important for sustaining life on earth and their production has notably grown over the years worldwide in general and in Brazil particularly. Elevating agricultural practices consequently leads to a proportionate increase in the usage of pesticides that are crucially important for enhanced crop yield and protection. These compounds have been employed excessively in alarming concentrations, causing the contamination of soil, water, and air. Additionally, they pose serious threats to human health. The current study introduces an innovative tool for producing appropriate materials coupled with an electrochemical sensor designed to measure carbendazim levels. The sensor is developed using a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) mounted on a glassy carbon electrode. This electrode is equipped with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) for improved performance. The combined system demonstrates promising potential for accurately quantifying carbendazim. The morphological characteristics of the synthesized materials were investigated using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and the Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) technique. The analytical curve was drawn using the electrochemical method in the range of 2 to 20 ppm while for HPLC 2-12 ppm; the results are presented as the maximum adsorption capacity of the MIP (82.4%) when compared with NIP (41%) using the HPLC method. The analysis conducted using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) yielded a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.0 ppm and a repeatability of 5.08% (n = 10). The results obtained from the analysis of selectivity demonstrated that the proposed electrochemical sensor is remarkably efficient for the quantitative assessment of carbendazim, even in the presence of another interferent. The sensor was successfully tested for river water samples for carbendazim detection, and recovery rates ranging from 94 to 101% were obtained for HPLC and 94 to 104% for the electrochemical method. The results obtained show that the proposed electrochemical technique is viable for the application and quantitative determination of carbendazim in any medium.

Pesticide residues in traditional and industrial honey marketed in Morocco and potential health risk.

This study evaluated the presence of the three pesticides methomyl (MET), carbendazim (CBZ) and chlorpyrifos-ethyl (CPE), as well as the degradation product of CPE (3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol; TCP), in 44 honey samples from all 12 regions of Morocco. With a validated HPLC-UV method occurrence frequencies of 63.6% for MET, 54.5% for CBZ, 95.1% for CPE and 34.1% for TCP were obtained, even at concentrations higher than the maximum residue limits for MET, CPE and TCP. Based on the predominant pesticide, principal component analysis separated sampling regions into three groups. Risk assessment indicated that ingestion of these pesticides, alone or in combination, in honey did not pose a risk to consumers (HQ and HI < 1).

Photocatalytic Deposition of Au Nanoparticles on Ti3C2Tx MXene Substrates for Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a promising technique for sensitive detection. The design and optimization of plasma-enhanced structures for SERS applications is an interesting challenge. In this study, we found that the SERS activity of MXene (Ti3C2Tx) can be improved by adding Au nanoparticles (NPs) in a simple photoreduction process. Fluoride-salt-etched MXene was deposited by drop-casting on a glass slide, and Au NPs were formed by the photocatalytic growth of gold(III) chloride trihydrate solutions under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. The Au-MXene substrate formed by Au NPs anchored on the Ti3C2Tx sheet produced significant SERS through the synergistic effect of chemical and electromagnetic mechanisms. The structure and size of the Au-decorated MXene depended on the reaction time. When the MXene films were irradiated with a large number of UV photons, the size of the Au NPs increased. Hot spots were formed in the nanoscale gaps between the Au NPs, and the abundant surface functional groups of the MXene effectively adsorbed and interacted with the probe molecules. Simultaneously, as a SERS substrate, the proposed Au-MXene composite exhibited a wider linear range of 10-4-10-9 mol/L for detecting carbendazim. In addition, the enhancement factor of the optimized SERS substrate Au-MXene was 1.39 × 106, and its relative standard deviation was less than 13%. This study provides a new concept for extending experimental strategies to further improve the performance of SERS.

Characterization of Fusarium species causing head blight of highland barley (qingke) in Tibet, China.

Most of the research on the characterization of Fusarium species focused on wheat, barley, rice, and maize in China. However, there has been limited research in highland barley (qingke). Recently, Fusarium head blight (FHB) of qingke was recently observed in Tibet, China, especially around the Brahmaputra River. To gain a better understanding of the pathogens involver, 201 Fusarium isolates were obtained from qingke samples in 2020. Among these isolates, the most abundant species was F. avenaceum (45.3 %), followed by F. equiseti (27.8 %), F. verticillioides (13.9 %), F. acuminatum (9.0 %), F. flocciferum (3.5 %), and F. proliferatum (0.5 %). The distribution of Fusarium species varied along the Brahmaputra River, with F. avenaceum being predominant in the midstream and downstream regions, while F. equiseti was more common in the upstream region. Chemical analyses of all the isolates revealed the production of different mycotoxins by various Fusarium species. It was found that enniatins were produced by F. acuminatum, F. avenaceum, and F. flocciferum, beauvericin (BEA) and fumonisins were produced F. proliferatum and F. verticillioides, and zearalenone (ZEN) and nivalenol (NIV) were produced by F. equiseti. Pathogenicity test showed that F. avenaceum was more aggressive in causing FHB compared to F. acuminatum, F. equiseti, and F. flocciferum. The disease severity, measured by the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC), was significantly positively (P < 0.01) correlated with the concentration of total toxins produced by each species. Furthermore, all the Fusarium strains which were used for pathogenicity test were susceptible to carbendazim, and the 50 % effective concentration (EC50) ranged from 0.406 µg/mL to 0.673 µg/mL with an average EC50 of 0.551 ± 0.012 µg/mL.

Statement on the assessment of quality of data available to EFSA to derive the health-based guidance values for carbendazim.

Carbendazim (CBZ) is an active substance in plant protection products that is no longer authorised within the European Union. CBZ is classified according to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 as mutagenic, category 1B and toxic for reproduction, category 1B. In 2010, EFSA established consumers' health-based guidance values (HBGVs) for CBZ (ADI and ARfD). In compliance with Article 43 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the European Commission asked EFSA on 1 March 2024 to carry out a follow-up qualitative assessment of the data gaps that were identified in the studies used in the framework of the assessment of the HBGVs for CBZ, in order to confirm the reliability of the existing toxicological studies and their impact for the setting of the HBGVs. By considering missing information in the extensive database and the reliability of the available toxicological studies, EFSA concluded that missing information does not prevent setting of HBGVs and that the critical effects of CBZ were investigated in studies of sufficient reliability and acceptability. Therefore, the HBGVs derived in 2010 are protective for the consumers.

Highly sensitive electrochemical quantification of carbendazim via synergistic enhancement of ring-opening metathesis polymerization and polyethyleneimine modified graphene oxide.

A novel aptamer-based sensor was developed using the signal amplification strategy of ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) and polyethyleneimine modified graphene oxide to achieve trace detection of carbendazim (CBZ). The dual identification of aptamer and antibody was used to avoid false positive results and improve the selectivity. Polyethyleneimine modified graphene oxide (GO-PEI), as a substrate material with excellent conductivity, was modified on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) to increase the grafting amount of aptamer on the electrode surface. Moreover, a large number of cyclopentenyl ferrocene (CFc) was aggregated to form long polymer chains through ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP), so as to significantly improve the detection sensitivity of the biosensor. The linear range of this sensor was 1 pg/mL-100 ng/mL with a detection limit as low as 7.80 fg/mL. The sensor exhibited excellent reproducibility and stability, and also achieved satisfactory results in actual sample detection. The design principle of such a sensor could provide innovative ideas for sensors in the detection of other types of targets.

Integration of a biocompatible metal-phenolic network and fluorescence microspheres as labels for sensitive and stable detection of carbendazim with a lateral flow immunoassay.

High fluorescence intensity microspheres such as aggregation-induced emission fluorescence microspheres (AIEFM) have improved the sensitivity of lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA). The preparation of immune probes in LFIA usually adopts the chemical coupling strategy with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide for antibody coupling, which has the problems of low coupling efficiency, tedious coupling process, and poor repeatability. A biocompatible metal-phenolic network (MPN), which contains large amounts of phenols and galloyl groups, could easily, quickly, and stably couple with antibodies. Herein, we proposed a strategy based on MPN modification on ultrabright AIEFM surface as a novel label for the rapid detection of carbendazim. The limit of detection of AIEFM@MPN-LFIA was 0.019 ng/mL, which was 4.9 times lower than that of AIEFM-LFIA. In spiked samples, the average recoveries of AIEFM@MPN-LFIA ranged from 80% to 118% (coefficient of variation <13.45%). Therefore, AIEFM@MPN was a promising signal label that could improve the detection performance of LFIA.

Transcriptomic profile in carbendazim-induced developmental defects in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos/larvae.

Carbendazim is a widely used fungicide to protect agricultural and horticultural crops against a wide array of fungal species. Published reports have shown that the wide usage of carbendazim resulted in reprotoxicity, carcinogenicity, immunotoxicity, and developmental toxicity in mammalian models. However, studies related to the developmental toxicity of carbendazim in aquatic organisms are not clear. To address this gap, an attempt was made by exposing zebrafish embryos to carbendazim (800 µg/L) and assessing the phenotypic and transcriptomic profile at different developmental stages [24 hour post fertilization (hpf), 48 hpf, 72 hpf and 96 hpf). At 48 hpf, phenotypic abnormalities such as delay in hatching rate, deformed spinal axial curvature, and pericardial edema were observed in zebrafish larvae over its respective controls. At 72 hpf, exposure of zebrafish embryos exposed to carbendazim resulted in scoliosis; however, unexposed larvae did not exhibit signs of scoliosis. Interestingly, the transcriptomic analysis revealed a total of 1253 DEGs were observed at selected time points, while unique genes at 24 hpf, 48 hpf, 72 hpf and 96 hpf was found to be 76.54 %, 61.14 %, 92.98 %, and 68.28 %, respectively. Functional profiling of downregulated genes revealed altered transcriptomic markers associated with phototransduction (24 hpf and 72 hpf), immune system (48 hpf), and SNARE interactions in the vesicular pathway (96 hpf). Whereas functional profiling of upregulated genes revealed altered transcriptomic markers associated with riboflavin metabolism (24 hpf), basal transcription factors (48 hpf), insulin signaling pathway (72 hpf), and primary bile acid biosynthesis (96 hpf). Taken together, carbendazim-induced developmental toxicity could be ascribed to pleiotropic responses at the molecular level, which in turn might reflect phenotypic abnormalities.

A smartphone-integrated aptasensor for pesticide detection using gold-decorated microparticles.

The increasing incidence of environmental concerns related to excessive use of pesticides, such as imidacloprid and carbendazim, poses risks to pollinators, water bodies, and human health, prompting regulatory scrutiny and bans in developed countries. In this study, we propose a portable smartphone-based biosensor for rapid and label-free colorimetric detection by using the gold-decorated polystyrene microparticles (Ps-AuNP) functionalized with specific aptamers to imidacloprid and carbendazim on a microfluidic paper-based analytical device (µ-PAD). Four aptamers were selected for the detection of these pesticides and their sensitivity and selectivity performance was evaluated. The sensitivity results show a detection limit for imidacloprid of 3.12 ppm and 1.56 ppm for carbendazim. The aptamers also exhibited high selectivity performance against other pesticides, such as thiamethoxam, fenamiphos, isoproturon, and atrazine. However, the platform presented cross-selectivity when detecting imidacloprid, carbendazim, and linuron, which is discussed herein. Overall, we present a promising platform for simple, on-site, and rapid colorimetric screening of specific pesticides, while highlighting the challenges of aptasensors in achieving selectivity amidst diverse molecular structures.

Research Progress on Benzimidazole Fungicides: A Review.

Benzimidazole fungicides are a class of highly effective, low-toxicity, systemic broad-spectrum fungicides developed in the 1960s and 1970s, based on the fungicidal activity of the benzimidazole ring structure. They exhibit biological activities including anticancer, antibacterial, and antiparasitic effects. Due to their particularly outstanding antibacterial properties, they are widely used in agriculture to prevent and control various plant diseases caused by fungi. The main products of benzimidazole fungicides include benomyl, carbendazim, thiabendazole, albendazole, thiophanate, thiophanate-methyl, fuberidazole, methyl (1-{[(5-cyanopentyl)amino]carbonyl}-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl) carbamate, and carbendazim salicylate. This article mainly reviews the physicochemical properties, toxicological properties, disease control efficacy, and pesticide residue and detection technologies of the aforementioned nine benzimidazole fungicides and their main metabolite (2-aminobenzimidazole). On this basis, a brief outlook on the future research directions of benzimidazole fungicides is presented.

Integration of a hamper pad on test strips for improved sensitivity of carbendazim detection.

Lateral flow immunoassays (LFIAs) are widely used to determine carbendazim (CBZ) residues in food products due to their advantages of low cost, ease and rapid use, on-site detection capability. However, conventional LFIAs have low detection sensitivity. Although improvements have been made to increase the sensitivity, it is not sufficient. Here, a hamper pad, polyvinyl alcohol coated on a nitrocellulose membrane, was integrated to enhance the sensitivity of LFIA for CBZ detection. The hamper pad was inserted between the conjugated and nitrocellulose pads to delay the flow rate, thereby increasing the possibility of the antibody and target analyte binding. This platform exhibited a fourfold sensitivity increase in CBZ detection compared with the conventional LFIA, and its limit of detection was 1.6 ng/mL. In addition, a single-step operation was successfully applied to detect CBZ in rice (white rice, brown rice, sticky rice, and paddy) and soybean samples, with acceptable recoveries of 93.6%-120.0%. This novel device was compared to the standard high-performance liquid chromatography method, which shows high accuracy with a Kappa coefficient of 0.91. Therefore, improved sensitivity with a rapid, simple, and inexpensive device could facilitate the detection of CBZ residues in agricultural products for on-field screening and improved user-friendliness.

In vitro immunotoxicity effects of carbendazim were inhibited by n-acetylcysteine in microglial BV-2 cells.

Carbendazim (CBZ) is a benzimidazole fungicide widely used worldwide in industrial, agricultural, and veterinary practices. Although, CBZ was found in all brain tissues causing serious neurotoxicity, its impact on brain immune cells remain scarcely understood. Our study investigated the in vitro effects of CBZ on activated microglial BV-2 cells. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV-2 cells were exposed to increasing concentrations of CBZ and cytokine release was measured by ELISA, and Cytometric Bead Array (CBA) assays. Mitochondrial superoxide anion (O2·-) generation was evaluated by Dihydroethidium (DHE) and nitric oxide (NO) was assessed by Griess reagent. Lipid peroxidation was evaluated by measuring the malonaldehyde (MDA) levels. The transmembrane mitochondrial potential (ΔΨm) was detected by cytometry analysis with dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide (DiOC6(3)) assay. CBZ concentration-dependently increased IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α and MCP-1 by LPS-activated BV-2 cells. CBZ significantly promoted oxidative stress by increasing NO, O2·- generation, and MDA levels. In contrast, CBZ significantly decreased ΔΨm. Pre-treatment of BV-2 cells with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) reversed all the above mentioned immunotoxic parameters, suggesting a potential protective role of NAC against CBZ-induced immunotoxicity via its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects on activated BV-2 cells. Therefore, microglial proinflammatory over-activation by CBZ may be a potential mechanism by which CBZ could induce neurotoxicity and neurodegenerative disorders.