Comparative assessment of microplastics and microalgae as vectors of mercury and chlorpyrifos in the copepod Acartia tonsa.

Microplastics (MPs) raise concerns not only as pollutants themselves, but also due to their ability to act as vectors of pollutants adsorbed from seawater, transferring them to marine organisms. However, the relevance of MPs as carriers of pollutants compared to microalgae needs further exploration. This study compared the role of MPs (2-10 µm non-oxidized and 10-15 µm oxidized high-density polyethylene) and natural organic particles (Rhodomonas lens microalgae, MA) as carriers of mercury (Hg, 2.3 µg Hg/L) and chlorpyrifos (CPF, 1.0 µg CPF/L) to adult Acartia tonsa copepods, after 24-48 h exposure. Dose-response experiments were first performed with adult female copepods exposed to oxidized MPs (0.25-4.0 mg/L), waterborne Hg (0.01-10.0 µg/L) and Ox MPs + Hg (0.25-4.0 mg oxidized MPs/L + 0.50-8.0 µg Hg/L) for 48 h, to complement previous studies that focused on the pesticide CPF. Effects were evaluated with four replicates for physiological and reproductive responses (6 females/replicate), biochemical techniques (40 individuals/replicate) and Hg/CPF bioaccumulation measurements (1000 individuals/replicate). Copepods accumulated Hg/CPF similarly from dissolved pollutants (6204 ± 2265 ng Hg/g and 1251 ± 646 ng CPF/g) and loaded MPs (3125 ± 1389 ng Hg/g and 1156 ± 266 ng CPF/g), but significantly less from loaded MA (21 ± 8 ng Hg/g and 173 ± 80 ng CPF/g). After 24-48 h, copepods exposed to MPs + Hg/CPF showed generally greater biological effects than those exposed to dissolved Hg/CPF or to MA + Hg/CPF, although differences were not statistically significant. MA + CPF had significantly lower AChE inhibition (1073.4 nmol min-1 mg-1) and MA + Hg lower GRx induction (48.8 nmol min-1 mg-1) compared to MPs + Hg/CPF and dissolved Hg/CPF (182.8-236.4 nmol min-1 mg-1 of AChE and 74.1-101.7 nmol min-1 mg-1 of GRx). Principal component analysis suggested different modes of action for Hg and CPF.

Pesticide risk assessment in European agriculture: Distribution patterns, ban-substitution effects and regulatory implications.

This study estimates the risks of agricultural pesticides on non-target organisms and the environment by combining detailed pesticide application data for 2015 with the Danish risk indicator Pesticide Load. We quantify and map the pesticide load of 59 pesticides on 28 crops and pastures in the EU. Furthermore, we investigate how recent bans on 14 pesticides in the EU could reduce pesticide use and load. Key findings show that the highest pesticide loads per hectare occur in Cyprus and the Netherlands due to high application rates and a high proportion of vegetable production. Chlorpyrifos caused the highest pesticide load per hectare on more than half of the assessed crops before its ban. The ban of 14 pesticides between 2018 and 2023 potentially reduced pesticide loads by 94%, but unobserved substitution effects could offset pesticide load reductions. Although bans on active substances are justified to control certain endpoint risks, our results highlight the potential weaknesses of bans that merely shift risks. These findings contribute to the ongoing scientific and societal discourse on efficiently mitigating pesticides' impacts on non-target organisms and the environment. However, to improve the evaluation of pesticide use, it is vital to enhance the reporting on detailed pesticide use for individual crop-pesticide combinations.

Residue behavior and consumer risk assessment of spirotetramat and chlorpyrifos on cabbage heads and cropped soil.

A field experiment following good agricultural practices was laid out to study the dissipation of spirotetramat (90 g a.i. ha-1 and 180 g a.i. ha-1) and chlorpyrifos (400 g a.i. ha-1 and 800 g a.i. ha-1) on cabbage heads and soil. Samples were processed using quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) method for residue estimation of spirotetramat and chlorpyrifos, which were further detected using HPLC-PDA and GC-FPD respectively. The residues of spirotetramat on cabbage heads reached below detection limit (BDL) (< 0.05 mg kg-1) on 7th and 10th day and for chlorpyrifos, BDL (< 0.01 mg kg-1) was achieved on 10th and 15th day for X and 2X dose, respectively. On 20th day after second spray, residues in soil were found to be BDL for both the pesticides. Half-life of spirotetramat and chlorpyrifos was found to be 3 and 2 days, respectively while a safe pre-harvest interval (PHI) of 9 days for spirotetramat and 10 days for chlorpyrifos is suggested on cabbage. The dietary risk assessment studies for various age groups of Indian population, ascertained safety of treated cabbage heads for consumption, as current study revealed that hazard quotient (HQ) < 1 and theoretical maximum dietary intake (TMDI) < maximum permissible intake (MPI) for both the pesticides at respective PHI.

Pesticides in surface water of the Ondas river watershed, western Bahia, Brazil: Spatial-seasonal distribution and risk assessment.

This study investigated the occurrence and seasonal distribution of different classes of pesticides in surface waters of the Ondas River Watershed, as well as potential risks to the aquatic health and human water consumption in the western region of Bahia state, Brazil. Two gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analytical methods were applied to monitor 34 pesticides in water samples collected during both the dry and rainy seasons at 17 sites. Upon individual analysis, only γ-HCH, methoxychlor, demeton-S, methyl parathion, fenitrothion, chlorpyrifos, and azoxystrobin exhibited statistically significant differences between seasons. During rainy season, concentration medians of residues were higher for γ-HCH (74.7 ng L-1), methoxychlor (25.1 ng L-1), and azoxystrobin (47.2 ng L-1), potentially linked to historical contamination or illegal use. Conversely, pesticides like methyl parathion, fenitrothion, and chlorpyrifos, belonging to the organophosphate class, showed higher concentration medians in the dry period, measuring 75.1, 5.50, and 10.8 ng L-1, respectively, probably due to region crop activities. The risk quotient (RQ) assessment for aquatic life indicated that 59.0% of the samples in the dry season and 76.0% in the rainy season had RQ values greater than one, signifying a critical scenario for species conservation. Regarding human consumption, elevated risks were observed for heptachlor in both sampling periods and for azoxystrobin during the rainy season, surpassing RQ levels above 1, indicating danger in untreated water ingestion. Additionally, 24.0% and 53.0% of the samples in the dry and rainy seasons, respectively, contained at least one pesticide exceeding the EU resolution limit (100 ng L-1). Therefore, considering this information, implementing mitigation measures to avoid the river's contamination becomes imperative.

Current-use pesticides monitoring and ecological risk assessment in vegetable soils at the provincial scale.

Pesticides represent one of the largest intentional inputs of potentially hazardous compounds into agricultural soils. However, as an important vegetable producing country, surveys on pesticide residues in soils of vegetable production areas are scarce in China. This study presented the occurrence, spatial distribution, correlation between vegetable types and pesticides, and ecological risk evaluation of 94 current-use pesticides in 184 soil samples from vegetable production areas of Zhejiang province (China). The ecological risks of pesticides to soil biota were evaluated with toxicity exposure ratios (TERs) and risk quotient (RQ). The pesticide concentrations varied largely from below the limit of quantification to 20703.06 µg/kg (chlorpyrifos). The situation of pesticide residues in Jiaxing is more serious than in other cities. Soils in the vegetable areas are highly diverse in pesticide combinations. Eisenia fetida suffered exposure risk from multiple pesticides. The risk posed by chlorpyrifos, which exhibited the highest RQs at all scenarios, was worrisome. Only a few pesticides accounted for the overall risk of a city, while the other pesticides make little or zero contribution. This work will guide the appropriate use of pesticides and manage soil ecological risks, achieving green agricultural production.

Residue behaviour and health risk assessment of chlorpyrifos and mancozeb in apple fruits and soil.

Mancozeb residue estimation was done using second derivative ultraviolet spectroscopy by Shimadzu ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer, and chlorpyrifos was estimated by QuEChERS technique using GC-FPD. The persistence for chlorpyrifos was carried out at two locations, and for mancozeb, persistence studies were carried out at four locations. Initial deposits of mancozeb on apple fruits ranged from 1.33 to 1.63 mg/kg at the recommended dose and from 2.55 to 3.26 mg/kg at double the recommended dose at all four locations. Chlorpyrifos residues in apple fruits had an initial deposit of 0.94-0.99 mg/kg at recommended dose and 1.75-1.92 mg/kg at double the recommended dose. Mancozeb residues in apple fruit were below the detection limit (BDL) after 20 days at recommended dose and after 25 days at double the recommended dose at two locations, while mancozeb residue at the other two locations and the residues of chlorpyrifos at all locations reached BDL after 15 and 20 days at recommended and double the recommended doses, respectively. Half-life of mancozeb varied from 3.07 to 4.02 days at recommended dose and from 3.30 to 4.32 days at double the recommended dose, whereas chlorpyrifos residues dissipated to half their initial concentration on 2.33-2.35 days at recommended dose and 2.89-2.90 days at double the recommended dose. The soil samples showed no presence of residues of chlorpyrifos and mancozeb at harvest. The risk assessment revealed that hazard quotient for the intake of mancozeb was in the range of 0.06-0.13% and 0.20-0.44% for rural and urban population, while for the intake of chlorpyrifos, hazard quotient was in the range of 0.10-0.12% for rural population and 0.33-0.38% for urban population, and theoretical maximum dietary intake (9.67 × 10-5 mg/person and 3.18 × 10-4 mg/person for rural population and urban population in case of mancozeb and 3.22 × 10-5 mg/person and 1.06 × 10-4 mg/person for rural population and urban population in case of chlorpyrifos) was also found to be less than maximum permissible intake (1.38 mg/kg for mancozeb and 0.60 mg/kg for chlorpyrifos). The results of risk assessment thereby indicated that apple consumption does not pose a risk to human health.

The concentration of pesticides in tomato: a global systematic review, meta-analysis, and health risk assessment.

To improve farming productivity, a large number of pesticides have been used worldwide in recent decades, leading to the pollution of soil, agri-products, and water, directly/indirectly affecting human health. In this regard, many studies were conducted in different countries on residual pesticides in the environment. In the current study, residual pesticides including chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin, diazinon, malathion, and metalaxyl in tomatoes were meta-analyzed and health risk of consumers was estimated. For this purpose, based on a systematic review, data from 47 studies were extracted and meta-analyzed, and the health impact of pooled concentrations was assessed via a health risk method. According to the results, metalaxyl had the most concentration followed by malathion, cypermethrin, diazinon, and chlorpyrifos, respectively. The non-carcinogenic risk (n-CR) was calculated from crop consumption also showed that exposure to malathion has the most risk. Among the investigated communities, Iranian consumers were in considerable health risk (THQ > 1). Considering that the potential for the use of pesticides will increase with the need for food in the future, hence, governments must manage the usage by governments via alternative methods such as cultural, biological, physical, and genetic modifications.

The Dissipation Behavior and Risk Assessment of Carbendazim Under Individual and Joint Applications on Peach (Amygdalus persica L.).

Dissipation, residue levels, and ingestion risks of carbendazim in peach (Amygdalus persica L.) were investigated with individual and joint applications in the present study. The dissipation kinetics of carbendazim, chlorpyrifos, prochloraz, and imidacloprid were evaluated by the first-order kinetics. When carbendazim was individually applied, the final residual concentration was 2.97 mg kg-1 and the half-life was 17.4 d. In the joint application of carbendazim with chlorpyrifos, prochloraz, and imidacloprid, the residual concentrations at 35 d after spraying were 7.16, 7.50, and 4.26 mg kg-1 and the half-lives were 30.8, 23.7, and 23.2 d, respectively, which showed an increase of 1.3-1.8 times compared with the single application of carbendazim. In addition, the effects of household processing of rinsing and peeling were investigated, and a high removal rate of 54.6% and 76.5% were found. Furthermore, the carbendazim ingestion risk assessment was conducted, which indicated that the acute health risk (aHI) and hazard quotient (HQ) of carbendazim were all within acceptable levels ranging from 21.7% to 40.9%. However, a higher ingestion risk of carbendazim was found under the joint application. This study provides some preliminary guidance for the joint application and risk assessment of carbendazim in peach, which is worth further investigation.

Cumulative health risk assessment of pesticide residues in apple products in the Northwest of Iran using Monte Carlo simulation.

Pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables cause serious health issues, especially among children. This research was carried out to monitor and evaluate the risks of organophosphate pesticide residues in Maragheh County apple products from 2020. The Monte Carlo Simulation approach (MCS) was used to evaluate the non-cancerous effects of exposure to pesticide residues in adults and children. Apple samples were taken every two weeks at the Maragheh central market during the summer and fall months. In this study, seventeen pesticide residues in 30 apple samples were estimated using a modified QuECheRS extraction technique coupled with GC/MS. Of the seventeen organophosphate pesticides, thirteen were identified as pesticide residues (76.47%). The highest concentration found in the apple samples was associated with chlorpyrifos pesticide at 1.05 mg/kg. Pesticide residues exceeding the maximum residue limits (MRLs) were found in 100% of apple specimens, and more than 75% of the samples contained ten or more pesticide residues. Approximately 45%-80% of pesticide residues on apple samples were removed after washing and peeling. Chlorpyrifos pesticide had the highest health quotient (HQ) for men, women, and children with values of 0.046, 0.054, and 0.23, respectively. Cumulative risk assessment (CRA) of non-carcinogenic effects indicates that there is no significant health risk in the adult age group from apple consumption (HI < 1). Nevertheless, children are at high non-cancer risk from eating unwashed apples (HI = 1.3). This finding shows that high levels of pesticide residues in apple samples, especially unwashed apples, can be a serious concern for the health of children. To better protect consumer health, continuous and regular monitoring, strict regulations, training, and awareness of farmers, especially control pre-harvest interval (PHI) is recommended.

Pesticides residues determination and probabilistic health risk assessment in the soil and cantaloupe by Monte Carlo simulation: A case study in Kashan and Aran-Bidgol, Iran.

Cantaloupe is a popular agricultural product in the hot season of Iran. On the other hand, the frequent use of pesticides in cantaloupe fields is the most important threat to the health of farmers and consumers. Therefore, the present study aims to measure the concentration of diazinon (DZN), chlorpyrifos (CPF), and malathion (MLT) in cantaloupe cultivated in Kashan and Aran-Bidgol (Iran) and to estimate the possible oral and dermal risk of these pesticides by Monte Carlo simulation (MCS). 36 cantaloupe samples, 18 samples before, and 18 samples after the latent period were collected from different places of cantaloupe cultivation from April to May 2021. After measuring the pesticides using the QuEChERS approach, oral and dermal risk assessments were calculated.The mean and standard deviation of the concentrations of chlorpyrifos, malathion, and diazinon in 18 cantaloupe samples, after the latent period, were (30.39 ± 13.85), (18.361 ± 1.8), and (21.97 ± 0.86) µg kg-1, respectively. Concentration of Malathion, diazinon, and Chlorpyrifos in the soil were 0.22, 0.25, and 0.3 mg kg-1, respectively, and pesticide cumulative risk assessment in soil was obtained 0.011 for Malathion, 0.05 for diazinon and 0.03 for Chlorpyrifos. Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) according to the cantaloupe consumption and dermal exposure in children and adults, was safe range. Although non-cancerous dermal and oral risk of cantaloupe is low, constant exposure can be harmful. Therefore, the findings of this study play an important role in increasing the understanding of the negative health consequences of pesticide contamination in cantaloupe for consumers, especially local residents, and can help by adopting remedial strategies to reduce environmental concerns.

Characterization and fitness cost of bifenthrin resistance in Rhopalosiphum padi (Hemiptera: Aphididae).

Rhopalosiphum padi is an important global wheat pest. The pyrethroid insecticide bifenthrin is widely used in the control R. padi. We explored the resistance potential, cross-resistance, adaptive costs, and resistance mechanism of R. padi to bifenthrin using a bifenthrin-resistant strain (Rp-BIF) established in laboratory. The Rp-BIF strain developed extremely high resistance against bifenthrin (1033.036-fold). Cross-resistance analyses showed that the Rp-BIF strain had an extremely high level of cross-resistance to deltamethrin (974.483-fold), moderate levels of cross-resistance to chlorfenapyr (34.051-fold), isoprocarb (27.415-fold), imidacloprid (14.819-fold), and thiamethoxam (11.228-fold), whereas negative cross-resistance was observed to chlorpyrifos (0.379-fold). The enzymatic activity results suggested that P450 played an important role in bifenthrin resistance. A super-kdr mutation (M918L) of voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) was found in the bifenthrin-resistant individuals. When compared with the susceptible strain (Rp-SS), the Rp-BIF strain was significantly inferior in multiple life table parameters, exhibiting a relative fitness of 0.69. Our toxicological and biochemical studies indicated that multiple mechanisms of resistance might be involved in the resistance trait. Our results provide insight into the bifenthrin resistance of R. padi and can contribute to improve management of bifenthrin-resistant R. padi in the field.

Occurrence and environmental risk assessment of 22 pesticides in Brazilian freshwaters.

Pesticide contamination in water resources is a global threat. Although usually found at low concentrations, pesticides raise considerable toxicological concerns, mainly when mixtures are considered. The occurrence of 22 pesticides (2,4 D, alachlor, aldicarb, aldrin, atrazine, carbendazim, carbofuran, chlordane, chlorpyrifos, DDT, diuron, glyphosate, lindane, mancozeb, methamidophos, metolachlor, molinate, profenofos, simazine, tebuconazole, terbufos, and trifluralin) was investigated, through consolidated database information, in surface freshwaters of Brazil. Moreover, scenarios of environmental risk assessment considering isolated compounds and mixtures were performed, as well as a meta-analytic approach for toxicity purposes. Pesticides in freshwater have been reported from 719 cities (12.9% of Brazilian cities), where 179 (3.2%) showed pesticide occurrence above the limit of detection or quantification. Considering cities with more than five quantified, 16 cities were prone to environmental risks considering individual risks. However, the number increased to 117 cities when the pesticide mixture was considered. The mixture risk was driven by atrazine, chlorpyrifos, and DDT. The national maximum acceptable concentrations (MAC) for nearly all pesticides are higher than the predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) for the species evaluated, except aldrin. Our results show the need to consider mixtures in the environmental risk assessment to avoid underestimation and review MAC to protect aquatic ecosystems. The results presented here may guide the revision of the national environmental legislation to ensure the protection of Brazilian aquatic ecosystems.

Pesticide Exposure among Latinx Children in Rural Farmworker and Urban Non-Farmworker Communities: Associations with Locality and Season.

This study uses repeated measures to document the pesticide exposure of rural and urban Latinx children (age eight at baseline), and to compare these children in terms of the frequency and concentration of their exposure to a large set of pesticides, accounting for season. We used silicone wristbands worn for one week up to ten times at quarterly intervals from 2018 to 2022 to assess pesticide exposure in children from rural farmworker (n = 75) and urban non-farmworker (n = 61) families. We determined the detection and concentrations (ng/g) of 72 pesticides and pesticide degradation products in the wristbands using gas chromatography electron capture detection and gas chromatography mass spectrometry. The most frequently detected pesticide classes were organochlorines, pyrethroids, and organophosphates. Controlling for season, organochlorine or phenylpyrazole detections were less likely for rural children than for urban children. Detections of organochlorines, pyrethroids, or organophosphates were lower in spring and summer versus winter. Controlling for season, urban children had greater concentrations of organochlorines, while rural children had greater concentrations of pyrethroids and Chlorpyrifos. Pesticide concentrations were lower in winter and spring compared with summer and fall. These results further document that pesticides are ubiquitous in the living environment for children in vulnerable, immigrant communities.

The Amphibian Short-Term Assay: Evaluation of a New Ecotoxicological Method for Amphibians Using Two Organophosphate Pesticides Commonly Found in Nature-Assessment of Behavioral Traits.

Neurotoxic pesticides are used worldwide to protect crops from insects; they are recognized to impact nontarget organisms that live in areas surrounded by treated crops. Many biochemical and cell-based solutions have been developed for testing insecticide neurotoxicity. Nevertheless, such solutions provide a partial assessment of the impact of neurotoxicity, neglecting important phenotypic components such as behavior. Behavior is the apical endpoint altered by neurotoxicity, and scientists are increasingly recommending including behavioral endpoints in available tests or developing new methods for assessing contaminant-induced behavioral changes. In the present study, we extended an existing protocol (the amphibian short-term assay) with a behavioral test. To this purpose, we developed a homemade device along with an open-source computing solution for tracking trajectories of Xenopus laevis tadpoles exposed to two organophosphates insecticides (OPIs), diazinon (DZN) and chlorpyrifos (CPF). The data resulting from the tracking were then analyzed, and the impact of exposure to DZN and CPF was tested on speed- and direction-related components. Our results demonstrate weak impacts of DZN on the behavioral components, while CPF demonstrated strong effects, notably on speed-related components. Our results also suggest a time-dependent alteration of behavior by CPF, with the highest impacts at day 6 and an absence of impact at day 8. Although only two OPIs were tested, we argue that our solution coupled with biochemical biomarkers is promising for testing the neurotoxicity of this pesticide group on amphibians. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:1595-1606. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

Ecological risk assessment of pesticides on soil biota: An integrated field-modelling approach.

Pesticide residues in soils can cause negative impacts on soil health as well as soil biota. However, research related to the toxicity and exposure risks of pesticides to soil biota are scarce, especially in the North China Plain (NCP) where pesticides are intensively applied. In this study, the occurrence and distribution of 15 commonly used pesticides in 41 fields in Quzhou county in the NCP were determined during the growing season in 2020. The ecological risks of pesticides to the soil biota, including earthworms, enchytraeids, springtails, mites and nitrogen mineralization microorganisms, were assessed using toxicity exposure ratios (TERs) and risk quotient (RQ) methods. Based on pesticide detection rates and RQs, pesticide hazards were ranked using the Hasse diagram. The results showed that pesticides were concentrated in the 0-2 cm soil depth. Chlorantraniliprole was the most frequently detected pesticide with a detection rate of 37%, while the highest concentration of 1.85 mg kg-1 was found for carbendazim in apple orchards. Chlorpyrifos, carbendazim and imidacloprid posed a chronic exposure risk to E. fetida, F. candida and E. crypticus with the TERs exceeding the trigger value. Pesticide mixtures posed ecological risks to soil biota in 70% of the investigated sites. 47.5% of samples were ranked as high-risk, with the maximum RQ exceeding 490. According to the Hasse diagram, abamectin, tebuconazole, chlorantraniliprole and chlorpyrifos were ranked as the most hazardous pesticides for soil biota in the study region, indicating that alternative methods of pest management need to be considered. Therefore, practical risk mitigation solutions are recommended, in which the use of hazardous pesticides would be replaced with low-risk pesticides with similar functions from the Hasse diagram, or with biopesticides.

Comparative assessment of acute toxicity and histological changes in liver of African catfish Clarias gariepinus exposed to cotton insecticides.

This study investigated the acute toxicity in Clarias gariepinus to insecticides currently used in Benin cotton fields, including Thalis 112 EC (Emamectin benzoate 48 g L-1, Acetamiprid 64 g L-1), Vizir C 92 EC (Cypermethrin 72 g L-1, Abamectin 20 g L-1), Pyrinex Quick 212 EC (Deltamethrin 12 g L-1, Chlorpyrifos 200 g L-1) and Pyro FTE 472 EC (Cypermethrin 72 g L-1, Chlorpyrifos 400 g L-1) with emphasis on liver histopathological effects. A set of 180 juveniles of C. gariepinus (5.21 ± 3.22 g) was exposed for 96 h to increasing concentrations of each pesticide. The values of 96-hLC50 were 4.778, 0.002, 0.004, and 0.012 µL L-1 for Thalis, Vizir, Pyrinex, and Pyro, respectively, indicating that Vizir, Pyrinex, and Pyro were very highly toxic to C. gariepinus juveniles. During the experiments, the morphological and behavioral responses (discoloration, hyperactivity, lethargy, etc.) were observed in exposed fish, hypothesizing the neurotoxicity of these pesticides. Histopathological alterations observed in liver of contaminated fish were regressive changes, such as necrosis, vacuolation, bleeding, nuclear degeneration, hepatocytes degeneration, sinusoids dilatation, etc. Vizir induced the highest histological alteration indices while the lowest were induced by Thalis, confirming the highest toxicity of Vizir. These results indicate that acute concentrations of these insecticidal molecules have destructive effects on the liver of C. gariepinus.

Ecological risk assessment of pesticides in sediments of Pampean streams, Argentina.

After their application in agricultural areas, pesticides are dispersed throughout the environment, causing contamination problems. In Argentina, the main promoter of transgenic biotechnology in the region, the total consumption of agrochemicals has increased significantly in recent years. Most chemicals dumped near surface waters eventually end up in bottom sediments and can be toxic to the organisms that live there. However, published data on the mixing of pesticides in this compartment is still scarce. The objective of this work was to detect and quantify pesticide residues in the sediment of rural streams in the Pampas region and to carry out acute and chronic risk assessment in these aquatic ecosystems. The study area comprises the mountainous system of Tandilia, located in one of the most productive agricultural areas in the country. The concentration of atrazine, acetochlor, chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin, and 2,4-D in the sediment of four rural streams was determined in three different seasons, and the toxic units (TU) and the risk ratios (RQ) were calculated. All the compounds analyzed were detected in most of the sampling seasons and study sites, at concentrations higher than those established in the national and international quality guidelines for the protection of aquatic biota in surface waters and for human consumption. Chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin, and acetochlor were the main pesticides contributing to the TU and RQ values, representing a medium or high ecological risk in most of the sites. Therefore, the evaluation of these pesticides in the bottom sediments could be a decisive factor in assessing the risk to the aquatic environment.

Surveillance and dietary risk assessment of endocrine-disrupting pesticides in eggplant/brinjal and cauliflower in Pakistan.

Several pesticides (used in vegetable production) have recently been identified as potential endocrine disruptors. The current study aimed to determine the consumer exposure risk associated with eating contaminated vegetables. The European Union-citrate buffered QuEChERS extraction protocol, validated in accordance with the European Union guidelines, was used to monitor selected endocrine-disrupting pesticides in eggplant/brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) and cauliflower (Brassica oleracea) marketed in Rawalpindi/Islamabad, Pakistan. A total of 80 and 69 percent of eggplant/brinjal (n = 25) and cauliflower (n = 26) samples were found contaminated, respectively. Sixty-five percent of cauliflower samples were found non-contaminated with both European Union (EU) and Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) maximum residue limits (MRL), while 20 % of brinjal samples were found to be non-compliant with EU-MRL. Both vegetables contained high levels of the androgen antagonist chlorpyrifos and the thyroid hormone inhibitor cyhalothrin-lambda. The estimated acute health risk associated with dietary exposure to chlorpyrifos and cyhalothrin-lambda in cauliflower for both males and females was found to be greater than 200 % of the FAO/WHO Joint Meeting on Pesticide Residues' (JMPR) established acute reference dose. The estimated chronic health risk for all studied endocrine-disrupting pesticides (0-5.27 %) indicates zero to very low health risk for studied population groups.

Cholinesterase activity as a potential biomarker for neurotoxicity induced by pesticides in vivo exposed Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia): assessment tool for organophosphates and synthetic pyrethroids.

Organophosphates (OPs) and synthetic pyrethroids (SPs) are the most popular broad spectrum pesticides, used in agriculture as they have a strong pesticidal activity while also being biodegradable in the environment. The present study aimed to demonstrate the effects of these pesticides on the Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in brain, gills and body muscles of Oreochromis niloticus - an important enzyme for the assessment and biomonitoring pollution caused by neurotoxins in the environment. The fish were exposed for 24 and 48 h to the LC0 concentrations of the malathion (1.425 mg/L), the chlorpyrifos (0.125 mg/L) and the λ-cyhalothrin (0.0039 mg/L), respectively. The activity of the AChE was significantly increased (p < 0.05) at 24 h and decreased at 48 h (except for the chlorpyrifos-treated brain and gills while tissues had shown no activity at 48 h's exposure) in all pesticides-treated tissues. The maximum increase in the activity and inhibition in the AChE activity were recorded as +92% and -52% in the chlorpyrifos and the lambda-cyhalothrin exposed brain tissues, respectively. Thus, the alterations in the AChE activities indicated that the applied pesticides are highly neurotoxic to fish and the enzyme (AChE) could be used as a useful biomarker for estimation of water pollution.

Assessment of soil enzymatic resilience in chlorpyrifos contaminated soils by biochar aided Pelargonium graveolens L. plantation.

Chlorpyrifos (CP), a broad-spectrum organophosphorus insecticide, is known for deleterious effects on soil enzymatic activities. Hence, the present study aims to examine the resilience effect of biochar (BC) aided Pelargonium graveolens L. plantation on enzymatic activities of chlorpyrifos contaminated soil. The two chlorpyrifos contaminated agriculture soils (with concentrations: S1: 46.1 and S2: 95.5 mg kg-1) were taken for the pot experiment. The plant biomass, plant growth parameters, soil microbial biomass, and enzymatic activities such as alkaline phosphatase, N-acetyl glucosaminidase, aryl sulphatase, cellulase, ß-glucosidase, dehydrogenase, phenoloxidase, and peroxidase enzymes were  examined. Ecoenzyme activities and their stoichiometry were used to enumerate the different indices including geometric mean, weighted mean, biochemical activity indices, integrated biological response, treated-soil quality index, and vector analysis in all treatments. The results of the study demonstrated that the biochar incorporation enhanced the tolerance of P. graveolens (from 42-45% to 55-67%) in chlorpyrifos contaminated soil and reduced the CP accumulation in plants. A reduction in the inhibitory effect of chlorpyrifos on soil enzymatic activities and plant growth by BC incorporation was observed along with an increase in the activities of ecoenzymes (16.7-18.6%) in soil. The investigation indicated more microbial investments in C and P than that in N acquisition under CP stress. The BC amendment catalyzed the activities of lignin and cellulose-degrading enzymes and enhanced nutrition acquisition. The CP contamination and BC amendment have no significant effect on the oil quality of P. graveolens. The study demonstrated that BC-aided P. graveolens plantation offers sustainable phytotechnology for CP contaminated soil with an economic return.