Portable label-free electrochemical aptasensor for sensitive detection of paraquat herbicide mediated by oxygen reduction reaction.

Paraquat (PQ) is a highly toxic herbicide that has been prohibited in almost 70 countries, but remains in use worldwide. Thus, routine on-site PQ monitoring is a key mechanism to ensure safety and efficiently enforce regulations. Herein, a label-free portable electrochemical aptasensor for the detection of PQ was developed by utilizing aptamer designed to specifically recognize PQ. The aptasensor employs square-wave voltammetry (SWV) to quantify PQ binding on the aptamer-functionalized electrode surface by tracking the downstream oxygen reduction reaction. It provided a detection range spanning from 0.01 to 100.0 µg mL-1 PQ with a limit of detection (LOD) of 8.9 ng mL-1. Validation against spiked tap water, pomegranate juice, and orange juice revealed recovery rate performances of 75 %-130 %. The aptasensor demonstrates promising feasibility for PQ detection in real-world applications, offering remarkable portability and operational simplicity. Notably, it can operate without supplementary redox agents, requiring only sample incubation and subsequent washing steps.

Highly sensitive detection of carbendazim in agricultural products using colorimetric and photothermal lateral flow immunoassay based on plasmonic gold nanostars.

The wide use and high toxicity of carbendazim (CBD) in agriculture pose unprecedented demands for convenient, sensitive, and cost-effective on-site monitoring. Herein, we propose a novel colorimetric and photothermal dual-mode lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) based on plasmonic gold nanostars (AuNSs) for CBD detection in agricultural products. The AuNSs were synthesized via a rapid seed-mediated growth method (with growth time of ∼5 s). A stable immunoprobe was formed by adsorbing CBD antibodies onto AuNSs. This immunoprobe exhibited high conversion efficiency and sensitivity in photothermal detection with a low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.28 ng mL-1. The LOD of the colorimetric mode was higher (0.48 ng mL-1). The results of CBD detection in various agricultural products aligned well with ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Overall, our LFIA shows excellent sensitivity, specificity, reproducibility, and rapidness in CBD detection, and thus is a highly potential on-site platform in resource-limited environments.

Novel electrochemiluminescence platform utilizing AuNPs@Uio-66-NH2 bridged luminescent substrates and aptamers for the detection of pesticide residues in Chinese herbal medicines.

A large number of Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) are included in daily recipes, but their pesticide residues have aroused more and more concerns. In this paper, an electrochemiluminescence aptasensor was constructed for the trace detection of acetamiprid (ACE) in Angelica sinensis and Lycium barbarum. Possessing a large specific surface area, UiO-66 was modified with amino groups to improve biocompatibility, and the addition of AuNPs allowed UiO-66-NH2 to catalyze the formation of excited states of luminescent molecules (TPrA⁎; Ru(bpy)32+⁎), and AuNPs@UiO-66-NH2 was used to bridge the aptamer (Au-S) and luminescent substrate (peptide bond). The conventional luminescent reagent Ru(bpy)32+ was doped with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) to obtain a more powerful and stable light signal. After optimizing the experimental parameters, the aptasensor could give results in 10 min with a detection range from 1×10-2-1×104 nM and a lower limit of detection (LOD) of 0.8 pM. The LOD of the study was at least one order of magnitude lower than that of the fluorescence detection method. Furthermore, the accuracy of the aptasensor was validated for spiked recovery experiments.

Enhanced enzymatic electrochemical detection of an organophosphate Pesticide: Achieving Wide linearity and femtomolar detection via gold nanoparticles growth within polypyrrole films.

The indiscriminate use of pesticides in agriculture demands the development of devices capable of monitoring contaminations in food supplies, in the environment and biological fluids. Simplicity, easy handling, high sensitivities, and low limits-of-detection (LOD) and quantification are some of the required properties for these devices. In this work, we evaluated the effect of incorporating gold nanoparticles into indigo carmine-doped polypyrrole during the electropolymerization of films for use as an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme-based biosensor. As proof of concept, the pesticide methyl parathion was tested towards the inhibition of AChE. The enzyme was immobilized simply by drop-casting a solution, eliminating the need for any prior surface modification. The biosensors were characterized with cyclic voltammetry, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The assays for the detection of methyl parathion with films containing polypyrrole, indigo carmine and AChE (PPy-IC-AChE) presented a sensitivity of 5.7 µA cm-2 g-1 mL and a LOD of 12 nmol L-1 (3.0 ng L-1) with a linear range from 1.3 x 10-7 mol L-1 to 1.0 x 10-5 mol L-1. The introduction of gold nanoparticles (AuNP) into the film (PPy-IC-AuNP-AChE) led to remarkable improvements on the overall performance, such as a lower redox potential for the enzymatic reaction, a 145 % increase in sensitivity (14 µA cm-2 g-1 mL), a wider detection dynamic range (from 1.3x10-7 to 1.0x10-3 mol L-1), and a very low LOD of 24 fmol L-1 (64 ag mL-1). These findings underscore the potential of using AuNPs to improve the enzymatic performance of biosensor devices.

Development of a hydrophilic-lipophilic-balanced copolymer@zirconium-based metal-organic framework-based solid-phase microextraction probe for the trace determination of organophosphorus pesticides in tea infusions.

Organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) present in tea infusions pose a serious threat to human health. In this study, a sensitive method for the determination of OPPs was developed based on a direct-immersion solid-phase microextraction (DI-SPME) probe. By fine adjustment of the ratio and one-step polymerization of dihydroxy-functionalized zirconium-based metal-organic framework UiO-66-(OH)2 and divinylbenzene-N-vinyl pyrrolidone (DVB-NVP) microspheres, the DVB-NVP@ UiO-66-(OH)2 (D-N@U) composite with an optimal hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) was achieved. Furthermore, D-N@U was adhesively bonded to stainless-steel wires to fabricate a DI-SPME probe. OPPs, especially those with nonpolar properties characterized by a high octanol-water partition coefficient (log KOW), were selectively and efficiently enriched on the D-N@U-coated DI-SPME probe from tea infusions. Coupled with a gas chromatography-flame photometric detector, the as-fabricated D-N@U-coated DI-SPME probe achieved good performance for OPPs analysis with a wide linear dynamic range of 0.10-500.00 µg/L and low detection limits of 1.96-6.69 ng/L. Moreover, in spiked samples, the recoveries and relative standard deviations were in the ranges of 73.12%-101.20 % and 1.03%-6.56 %, respectively. Owing to its simple operation, high extraction efficiency, and high sensitivity, this approach has great potential for the rapid determination of multiple pesticide trace-level residues in food.

Emerging carbonaceous material based on residual grape seed applied in selective and sensitive electrochemical detection of fenamiphos.

Fenamiphos (FNP) is a pesticide applied for soil pest control, particularly nematodes, and sucking insects, including aphids and thrips. Despite its use being banned in several countries due to its highly toxic nature for living beings, including mammals, because of its acetylcholine-inhibiting action, it is still marketed for use in agriculture. Therefore, a carbon paste electrode modified with residual grape seed biochar (bSU), served as an electrochemical sensor (E-bSU) for the quantification of fenamiphos in grape juice, tap water, and river water samples. The bSU underwent comprehensive characterization employing elemental, morphological, and spectroscopic analysis techniques. The impact of electrode modification and the electrochemical behavior of the FNP were systematically assessed through cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and differential pulse voltammetry. The biochar manifested a microporous surface adorned with dispersed functional groups, enhancing its affinity for organic compounds, particularly the investigated pesticide. Electrode modification and the optimization of analysis parameters resulted in a notable 6-fold amplification of the electrochemical signal of FNP relative to initial conditions, underscoring the efficacy of the E-bSU. The developed methodology attained limits of detection and quantification of 0.3 and 0.9 nmol L⁻1, respectively. Repeatability and reproducibility assays demonstrated relative standard deviations below 5%, underscoring the reliability of the applied electrode. The sensor showcased recoveries ranging from 99.75% to 109.9% across the analyzed samples, highlighting the utility of this selective, stable, and reproducible sensor for fenamiphos determination.

A microfluidic paper-based fluorescent sensor integrated with a smartphone platform for rapid on-site detection of omethoate pesticide.

A novel approach combing a fluorescent microfluidic paper strip with a portable smartphone-based sensing platform is developed for rapid and sensitive detection of omethoate pesticide. The detection mechanism of the microfluidic paper strip is based on the fluorescence quenching of graphene oxide (GO) toward the cyanine 3 (Cy3)-labeled aptamer (Cy3-APT). Upon exposure to omethoate, the Cy3-APT detaches from the surface of GO, resulting in considerable fluorescence recovery, which can be visualized through the smartphone-based sensing platform. The images are analyzed through a self-developed app embedded with a pretrained convolutional neural network model, achieving a high regression coefficient of 0.9964 at an omethoate concentration range of 0-750 nM. The smartphone-based platform enables rapid on-site detection of omethoate pesticide in real samples within 10 min, with results comparable to those obtained using standard methods. In short, the proposed microfluidic paper-based fluorescent sensor combined with the smartphone-based sensing platform enhances the detection performance toward organophosphorus pesticides.

A novel ultrafast and highly sensitive NIR fluorescent probe for the detection of organophosphorus pesticides in foods and biological systems.

The threat posed by organophosphorus pesticides (OPS) to food safety, human health, and the ecological environment is significant, which underscoring the need for the development of new detection tools. We designed and synthesized a NIR fluorescent probe PT-CES which targets carboxylesterase (CES), for the detection of OPS based on the principle of enzyme inhibition. The PT-CES is capable of instantaneous response to CES, exhibiting excellent stability, anti-interference capability. PT-CES realizes the quantitative detection of CES and OPS. It is noteworthy that PT-CES shows excellent stable and accurate detection ability in vegetable pesticide testing. It also enables the monitoring of CES activity in cells and liver tissue. This provides a novel tool for tracking the effect of OPS on CES activity in biological systems. Furthermore, it provides a useful method for ensuring food safety and enhancing pesticide residue analysis.

Efectos cardiovasculares de la exposición ocupacional a pesticidas / Cardiovascular effects of occupational exposure to pesticides

Resumen Los trabajadores agrícolas se exponen frecuentemente a los pesticidas, los cuales pueden afectar el sistema cardiovascular. El objetivo de la investigación fue revisar la asociación entre la exposición ocupacional a pesticidas, el desarrollo de enfermedades cardiovasculares y los biomarcadores utilizados en la vigilancia de la salud de los trabajadores. Para ello se realizó una revisión no sistemática de la literatura en tres bases de datos: Pubmed, Embase y Scopus, con ecuaciones de búsqueda elaboradas con los términos "agrochemicals", "myocardial infarction", "occupational exposure" y "farmers", y se incluyeron artículos publicados entre 2007 y 2022. Se encontró que los pesticidas causan elevación de las cifras de presión arterial en trabajadores expuestos y en mujeres embarazadas se relaciona con hipertensión gestacional y preeclampsia. Respecto al infarto agudo de miocardio (IAM), el contacto con los pesticidas clorpirifós, coumafós, carbofurano, pendimetalina, trifluralina y acilalanina aumentan el riesgo de IAM en mujeres, y entre los trabajadores masculinos la exposición a dibromuro de etileno, maneb/mancozeb y dimetil-ditiocarbamato de zinc se asoció con mayor mortalidad. La vigilancia epidemiológica se realiza principalmente con la medición de la actividad de la acetilcolinesterasa eritrocitaria (AChE). Se puede concluir que la exposición a pesticidas puede desencadenar enfermedades cardiovasculares agudas y crónicas, como elevación de las cifras de presión arterial, IAM fatal y no fatal. Los pesticidas dimetil ditiocarbamato de zinc, clorpirifós, coumafós, carbofurano, paratión y malatión son las sustancias que tienen mayor relación con el desarrollo de enfermedad cardiovascular.

Abstract Farmworkers are frequently exposed to pesticides, which can affect the cardiovascular system. The objective of the research was to review the association between occupational exposure to pesticides and the development of cardiovascular diseases, and the biomarkers used in monitoring the health of workers. For this, a non-systematic review of the literature was carried out in three databases: Pubmed, Embase and Scopus, with search equations prepared with the terms "agrochemicals", "myocardial infarction", "occupational exposure" and "farmers". Articles published between 2007 and 2022 were included. Pesticides were found to cause elevated blood pressure levels in exposed workers, and in pregnant women it is related to gestational hypertension and preeclampsia. Regarding acute myocardial infarction (AMI), contact the pesticides chlorpyrifos, coumaphos, carbofuran, pendimethalin, trifluralin, and acylalanine increased the risk of AMI in women, and among male workers exposure to ethylene dibromide, maneb/mancozeb, and zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate was associated with increased mortality. Epidemiological surveillance is mainly carried out by measuring erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. It can be concluded that exposure to pesticides can trigger acute and chronic cardiovascular diseases, such as elevated blood pressure, fatal and non-fatal AMI. Zinc dimethyl dithiocarbamate, chlorpyrifos, coumafos, carbofuran, parathion and malathion pesticides are the substances most closely related to the development of cardiovascular disease.

Superhydrophobic nanocellulose-based self-assembled flexible SERS substrates for pesticide detection.

Flexible surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates that provide simple sampling are helpful for the on-site detection of explosive contamination, pesticide residues on food surfaces, and water pollution in public spaces. Using superhydrophobic nanocellulose-based film as the support, 2D flexible SERS substrates that integrated sampling, enrichment, and detection were successfully fabricated via the solvent-induced evaporation method. This approach enabled the co-loading of two plasmonic nanoparticles with different sizes and shapes. A uniform and dense distribution of two-dimensional "hot spots" was created by the plasmonic nanoparticles' self-assembly on the hydrophobic substrate. By adjusting the loading ratio of Au-core/Ag-shell nanocubes and gold nanospheres, their synergistic effect optimized the "hot spots" structure and significantly increased the SERS signal intensity. Additionally, the hydrophobic property of the substrate allowed the target analytes to be concentrated throughout the drying process, significantly increasing the sensitivity of SERS detection. This flexible substrate can sensitively and accurately detect the pesticide residues of phosphorus and methyl parathion on apple peel with the detection limit of 10-7 g/L and relative standard deviation (RSD) less than 10 %. The high-performance SERS substrate has great potential for in-situ detection applications such as food safety and environmental monitoring.

Shifts in the spatiotemporal profile of inflammatory phenotypes of innate immune cells in the rat brain following acute intoxication with the organophosphate diisopropylfluorophosphate.

Acute intoxication with cholinesterase inhibiting organophosphates (OP) can produce life-threatening cholinergic crisis and status epilepticus (SE). Survivors often develop long-term neurological consequences, including spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS) and impaired cognition. Numerous studies implicate OP-induced neuroinflammation as a pathogenic mechanism contributing to these chronic sequelae; however, little is known about the inflammatory phenotype of innate immune cells in the brain following acute OP intoxication. Thus, the aim of this study was to characterize the natural history of microglial and astrocytic inflammatory phenotypes following acute intoxication with the OP, diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP). Adult male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were administered a single dose of DFP (4 mg/kg, sc) followed by standard medical countermeasures. Within minutes, animals developed benzodiazepine-resistant SE as determined by monitoring seizures using a modified Racine scale. At 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28 d post-exposure (DPE), neuroinflammation was assessed using translocator protein (TSPO) positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In both sexes, we observed consistently elevated radiotracer uptake across all examined brain regions and time points. A separate group of animals was euthanized at these same time points to collect tissues for immunohistochemical analyses. Colocalization of IBA-1, a marker for microglia, with iNOS or Arg1 was used to identify pro- and anti-inflammatory microglia, respectively; colocalization of GFAP, a marker for astrocytes, with C3 or S100A10, pro- and anti-inflammatory astrocytes, respectively. We observed shifts in the inflammatory profiles of microglia and astrocyte populations during the first month post-intoxication, largely in hyperintense inflammatory lesions in the piriform cortex and amygdala regions. In these areas, iNOS+ proinflammatory microglial cell density peaked at 3 and 7 DPE, while anti-inflammatory Arg1+ microglia cell density peaked at 14 DPE. Pro- and anti-inflammatory astrocytes emerged within 7 DPE, and roughly equal ratios of C3+ pro-inflammatory and S100A10+ anti-inflammatory astrocytes persisted at 28 DPE. In summary, microglia and astrocytes adopted mixed inflammatory phenotypes post-OP intoxication, which evolved over one month post exposure. These activated cell populations were most prominent in the piriform and amygdala areas and were more abundant in males compared to females. The temporal relationship between microglial and astrocytic responses suggests that initial microglial activity may influence delayed, persistent astrocytic responses. Further, our findings identify putative windows for inhibition of OP-induced neuroinflammatory responses in both sexes to evaluate the therapeutic benefit of anti-inflammation in this context.

Transcriptomic and proteomic analysis of resistance to matrine in Oedaleus asiaticus (Orthoptera: Oedipodidae).

In order to determine the specific genes and proteins that are affected by matrine and play a role in regulating metabolism in the locust species Oedaleus asiaticus, we conducted RNA-seq, proteomic sequencing, and bioinformatics analyses on third-instar nymphs. These nymphs were divided into two groups: one group was grown under normal conditions, while the other group was treated with matrine. The purpose of this investigation was to gain insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying matrine resistance. Genes and proteins that exhibited differential expression were identified and subjected to analysis using bioinformatics software. The DESeq analysis revealed a total of 743 transcripts that were differentially expressed (DETs). Among these, 208 transcripts were up-regulated, and 535 were downregulated in ZO/ZCK. The iTRAQ discovered that 34 and 65 proteins were, respectively, up- and down-regulated in ZO/ZCK. Additionally, enrichment studies based on Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were performed. The KEGG and GO analysis of the DEGs suggested the essential roles of matrine treatment in the regulation of O. asiaticus, especially via the biosynthesis of amino acids, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, iInsulin signaling pathway and MAPK signaling pathway. The findings demonstrated that matrine exerted control of the growth of O. asiaticus via modulating the synthesis of metabolism and biosynthesis. Increased expression of detoxifying enzymes was observed, which may be related to matrine detoxification. These findings provide a basis for better comprehension of the molecular mechanism behind the regulation of development mediated by matrine in Asian locust hoppers.

Analysis on pollutants removal and sludge characteristics of a novel two-phase anaerobic/aerobic/integrated deoxygenated and anoxic reactor associated with membrane process for treating pesticide wastewater.

Most frequently used biological method was improved anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic (A/A/O) process for treating actual pesticide wastewater presently. However, the effluent results were far away from what the national standard expects due to pesticide wastewater characteristics of high COD concentration, high total nitrogen (TN) concentration and high toxicity. In this study, a novel two-phase anaerobic/aerobic/integrated deoxygenated and anoxic reactor associated with membrane process (P1) were regarded as excellent candidates for the treatment of pesticide wastewater, compared the removal efficiency of pollutants with improved A/A/O process (P2) under different hydraulic retention times (HRTs). Effluent ethylene thiourea (ETU) concentration was reduced effectively by 67.1 % in P1. The average cyanide (CN-) effluent concentration in P1 and P2 was 0.40 mg/L and 6.67 mg/L, respectively. During the entire HRT change period, P1 significantly increased the biological oxygen demand (BOD5) removal efficiency by 12.98 %. The average effluent COD concentration of P1 was 36.41 mg/L, while that of P2 was 984.42 mg/L. In addition, TN removal efficiency of P1 exhibited distinct superiority. When HRT was 72 h, the average TN effluent concentration of P1 and P2 was 12.67 mg/L and 67.66 mg/L. The sludge performance indicators have been determined and results showed that the sludge viscosity of the membrane reactor in P1 had merely 32.6 % higher than that of the secondary sedimentation tank in P2, and the average vertical displacement of sludge settleability in P1 was 23.0 % slight lower than that of P2. The overall sludge performance proved that higher sludge concentration was allowed in P1. Moreover, experiment improved nitrite reductase (NIR) and nitrate reductase (NAR) in P1 were less susceptible to be suppressed by ETU and CN- increase compared with P2. Finally, the positive correlation relationship of sludge settleability with ETU and CN- has been identified successfully in P1.

Unveiling six novel bacterial strains for fipronil and thiobencarb biodegradation: efficacy, metabolic pathways, and bioaugmentation potential in paddy soil.

Introduction: Soil bacteria offer a promising approach to bioremediate pesticide contamination in agricultural ecosystems. This study investigated the potential of bacteria isolated from rice paddy soil for bioremediating fipronil and thiobencarb, common agricultural pesticides. Methods: Bacterial isolates capable of degrading fipronil and thiobencarb were enriched in a mineral salt medium. A response surface methodology with a Box-Behnken design was utilized to optimize pesticide degradation with the isolated bacteria. Bioaugmentation tests were performed in paddy soils with varying conditions. Results and discussion: Six strains, including single isolates and their mixture, efficiently degraded these pesticides at high concentrations (up to 800 µg/mL). Enterobacter sp., Brucella sp. (alone and combined), and a mixture of Stenotrophomonas sp., Bordetella sp., and Citrobacter sp. effectively degraded fipronil and thiobencarb, respectively. Notably, a single Pseudomonas sp. strain degraded a mixture of both pesticides. Optimal degradation conditions were identified as a slightly acidic pH (6-7), moderate pesticide concentrations (20-50 µg/mL), and a specific inoculum size. Bioaugmentation assays in real-world paddy soils (sterile/non-sterile, varying moisture) demonstrated that these bacteria significantly increased degradation rates (up to 14.15-fold for fipronil and 5.13-fold for thiobencarb). The study identifies these novel bacterial strains as promising tools for bioremediation and bioaugmentation strategies to tackle fipronil and thiobencarb contamination in paddy ecosystems.

Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance fludioxonil.

The conclusions of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) following the peer review of the initial risk assessments carried out by the competent authorities of the rapporteur Member State France and co-rapporteur Member State Spain for the pesticide active substance fludioxonil are reported. The context of the peer review was that required by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 844/2012, as amended by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2018/1659. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the representative use of fludioxonil as a fungicide on wheat, oats, grapes, pome fruit and strawberry. The reliable end points, appropriate for use in regulatory risk assessment are presented. Missing information identified as being required by the regulatory framework is listed. Concerns are reported where identified.

An electrochemical biosensor for on-glove application: Organophosphorus pesticide detection directly on fruit peels.

One of the greatest challenges for the future is represented by the conservation of global agricultural production: it is necessary to implement early monitoring of the health conditions of crops through innovative technologies that allow a sustainable development. To reach this goal, the development of portable biosensors might represent a robust strategy for monitoring agricultural sites in agreement with the requirement of precision agriculture. In this work, an electrochemical inhibition biosensor has been engineered onto a glove to quantify organophosphorus pesticides directly on fruits peels. The biosensor was obtained through modification with a bio-hybrid probe which included Prussian blue, Carbon black and butyrylcholinesterase enzyme. The detection concept is based on the inhibition of the enzyme in presence of the pesticide, namely dichlorvos. The experimental setup has been characterized and the ultimate on-glove configuration has been applied towards the detection of dichlorvos directly on fruit peels, namely apples and oranges. The only task required for the end-user was to scrub the surface of the fruit with the strip and performing the electrochemical reading. The portable system was characterized by a low detection limit in the nanomolar range (high ppt) and a satisfactory repeatability lower than 10 %. It represents the starting point towards the design of on-glove biosensors in many fields of application, including the precision agriculture.

Toxicological risk assessment of triadimenol for human exposure, broiler health, and food safety.

Triadimenol, a widely used triazole fungicide, leaves residues that pose risks to broiler health, food safety, and human health. Current studies focus on lab animals, leaving limited data regarding its impact on non-target organisms in agricultural ecosystems. Moreover, the doses in current studies often exceed typical agricultural pollution levels of triadimenol. Therefore, this study evaluates the toxic effects of triadimenol by exposing broilers to different concentrations (0.05-20 mg/kg) in their feed for 42 days, assessing growth performance, organ index, hematological parameters, histopathology, jejunum morphology, and tissue residues. The results show that triadimenol contamination at 0.05-20 mg/kg in feed does not significantly affect broiler growth performance. However, the significant changes in hematological parameters suggest the potential hematological toxicity of triadimenol in broilers. Triadimenol at 1 mg/kg or higher induces hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic effects, and significantly alters kidney organ index and histopathology in broilers. Additionally, when the triadimenol contamination level in feed exceeds 1 mg/kg, the residues in edible tissues of broilers exceed the limits set by the EU and China. Overall, our study indicates that even low-dose exposure to triadimenol poses potential risks, highlighting the need for strict regulation of its use in agriculture to protect food safety and human health.

A green extraction method based on aqueous two-phase system for trace-level enrichment of multi-residue pesticides in traditional Chinese medicine prior to HPLC-MS/MS quantitative analysis.

At present, the matrix interference in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is still a great challenge for multi-residue pesticides analysis. Herein, an alcohol/salt aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) based on n-propanol and (NH4)2SO4 was developed by comparing the binodal curve phase diagrams and the extraction rates of pesticides. The specific extraction conditions, including the composition of the ATPS, temperature, pH, and extraction time were explored through single factor experiments, and subsequently optimized using orthogonal array design and response surface methodology. The optimal conditions for the (NH4)2SO4/n-propanol ATPS extraction were determined to be: extraction time of 30 min, (NH4)2SO4 concentration of 22 %, temperature of 62.07 °C, n-propanol concentration of 30.13 %, and pH value of 7.66. In addition, the HPLC-MS/MS quantitative analysis of 25 pesticides in TCMs (i.e., honeysuckle and lily) was accomplished with recovery rates ranging from 64.2 % to 117.1 %. Moreover, the greenness of this method was evaluated using an analytical greenness calculator, and compared with other extraction techniques. The results indicate that the developed method is simple, efficient, and environmentally friendly, capable of trace-level enriching and simultaneously detecting multi-residue pesticides in TCM.

Pesticide Exposure and Its Association with Parkinson's Disease: A Case-Control Analysis.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complex disorder that arises from genetic and environmental factors. The current investigation endeavors to investigate the role of exposure to organochlorine (OCPs) and organophosphate pesticides (OPPs), recognized as the main environmental elements, in the genesis of PD. In this case-control study, 29 PD patients and 51 healthy subjects were involved. Gas chromatography was performed to measure the serum levels of organochlorine chemicals (2,4-DDT, 4,4-DDT, 2,4-DDE, 4,4-DDE, α-HCH, ß-HCH, and γ-HCH). Furthermore, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, arylesterase activity of paraoxonase-1 (PON-1), and several oxidative stress (OS) markers were assessed. The levels of OCPs in the PD patients were significantly higher than in the control subjects. In addition, AChE activity, arylesterase activity of PON-1, catalase activity, and superoxide dismutase 3 activity in PD patients were significantly less than controls. However, the levels of carbonyl protein, total antioxidant capacity, malondialdehyde, and nitric oxide in PD patients were higher than the controls. The findings of this investigation have indicated that OCPs and OPPs exposure could contribute to the development of Parkinson's disease. This potential linkage could either be established through the direct impact of these pesticides on the nervous system, leading to neurotoxicity, or via an indirect route through the triggering of OS.

Self-financing model for cabbage crops with pest management.

Smallholder farmers rely on their farm earnings to cover operating costs and generate income. That is not an easy task because of the pests, which reduce yields and generate plant protection costs. The farm yield and plant protection depend on the budget capacity of the farmer. In this work, we want to explore conditions for a sustainable and self-financing cabbage farm. We propose then a non-linear mathematical model for cabbage crops by considering the current account of the plantation as a dynamic variable. We assume that this variable increases due to the sale of cabbages, and provides for the seedling purchase, the plant protection costs, and the grower's income. In the first part, we analyze the model without pest management. We determine how the budget must be spent and we show the existence of a double transcritical bifurcation. We quantify the seasonal yield and income, and estimate the damage due to pest herbivory. In the second part, we analyze a slightly simplified version of our model and obtain the existence of a backward bifurcation. Furthermore, we show that botanical pesticides can be used to prevent pest spread with relatively low plant protection costs.