Atrazine residue in waters of Ijebu-North local government, Nigeria: implications on human health, hematological, and biochemical parameters.

Knowledge and implications of atrazine in waters from rural areas in Nigeria remain diminutive. Meanwhile, recent findings have shown presence of atrazine residue in water bodies. Atrazine level in six communities (Mamu, Oru, Ilaporu, Awa, Ijebu Igbo, and Ago-Iwoye) of Ijebu North local government, Ogun State, Nigeria using 69 hand-dug wells (HDWs), 40 boreholes (BHs) and four streams are monitored. Value of atrazine recorded was employed to appraise the implication on some hematological and biochemical parameters in relation to human health through dermal and ingestion contact using male albino rats. Highest atrazine of 0.08 mg/L was found in HDW of Ago-Iwoye out of 41 hand dug wells assessed, alongside 22 BH and four streams tested positive to atrazine, while the Oru documented lowest concentration with 0.01 mg/L. Ingestion and dermal hazard index (HI) were lower in adults than children and below acceptable limits in each community. Atrazine concentration at 0.01, 0.03, 0.04, and 0.08 mg/L in waters may not induce significant alteration in the hematological and some biochemical parameters of the exposed animal, while concentration at 0.04 and 0.08 mg/L might alter the blood glucose, albumin, and bilirubin. This is the first study to report atrazine in rural community waters in relation to human health in Nigeria.

Implications of atrazine concentrations in drinking water from Ijebu-North, Southwest Nigeria on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

There is an increasing overdependence and use of atrazine herbicide for the control of pre-and post-emergence broad leaf weeds on maize farms in rural agricultural communities in Nigeria. We carried out a survey of atrazine residue in 69 hand-dug wells (HDW), 40 boreholes (BH) and 4 streams from all the 6 communities (Awa, Mamu, Ijebu-Igbo, Ago-Iwoye, Oru and Ilaporu) in Ijebu North Local Government Area, Southwest Nigeria. The effect of the highest concentration of atrazine detected in the water from each of the communities on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis of albino rats was investigated. Varying concentrations of atrazine were detected in the HDW, BH and stream waters sampled. The highest concentration of atrazine recorded in the water from the communities ranged from 0.01 to 0.08 mg/L. Although there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in serum levels of corticosterone, aldosterone and ROS of rats exposed to 0.01, 0.03 and 0.04 mg/L concentrations of atrazine compared to control, a significant increase (p < 0.05) was observed at 0.08 mg/L. Catalase activity increased significantly (p < 0.05) only at 0.03 and 0.04 mg/L of atrazine exposure. Butyrylcholinesterase activity, lipid peroxidation and serum ACTH of rats exposed to all the atrazine concentrations were not significantly different (p > 0.05) compared to control. Atrazine at environmentally relevant concentrations of 0.01, 0.03 and 0.04 mg/L detected in the water may not affect the HPA axis, attention should be given to 0.08 mg/L, which increases the serum corticosterone and aldosterone of the exposed rats.

First report on atrazine monitoring in drinking water from Ijebu-North, South-West Nigeria: Human health risk evaluation and reproductive toxicity studies.

There are no available data on the level of atrazine in drinking water from rural agricultural areas in Nigeria and its potential health implications. Here, we measured atrazine residue in 69 hand-dug wells (HDW), 40 boreholes (BH), and four major streams from the six communities (Ago-Iwoye, Ijebu-Igbo, Oru, Awa, Ilaporu, and Mamu) in Ijebu North Local Government Area, Southwest Nigeria. Values of atrazine obtained were further used for the evaluation of non-carcinogenic risk associated with ingestion and dermal contact in adults and children as well as reproductive toxicity evaluation. A total of 41 HDW, 22 BH, and the four streams showed varying concentrations of atrazine, which was higher in HDW than BH and stream. Ago-Iwoye recorded the highest concentration of 0.08 mg/L in its HDW while the lowest concentration of 0.01 mg/L was recorded in HDW from Oru. Although the Hazard Index (HI) values associated with ingestion and dermal contact for children were higher than in adults, the values were below the acceptable limit for all the communities. Significant (p < 0.05) alterations in the oxidative stress parameters, reproductive hormones, sperm parameters, and mild testicular lesions were only observed in rats exposed to atrazine at 0.08 mg/L compared to control. But atrazine at 0.01, 0.03, and 0.04 mg/L triggered a defence mechanism capable of protecting the structural integrity of the testes and preventing reproductive dysfunction.

Impacts of a glyphosate-based herbicide on the gut microbiome of three earthworm species (Alma millsoni, Eudrilus eugeniae and Libyodrilus violaceus): A pilot study.

While the impact of glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) on earthworms has been studied, little is known about their effects on the earthworm gut microbiome. This study investigated the impact of a GBH on the gut microbial communities of three earthworm species (Alma millsoni, Eudrilus eugeniae and Libyodrilus violaceus). Earthworm species accommodated in soil were sprayed with 115.49 mL/m² of Roundup® Alphée or water. Gut microbiome composition was analysed using 16S rRNA Bacterial Tag-Encoded FLX Amplicon Pyrosequencing (bTEFAP) at the 8th week post-herbicide application. A profound shift in bacterial populationswas observed in all exposed earthworms with Proteobacteria becoming the dominant phylum. Affected bacteria were mostly from the genus Enterobacter, Pantoea and Pseudomonas, which together represented approximately 80 % of the total abundance assigned at the genus level in exposed earthworms, while they were present at a minor abundance (∼1%) in unexposed earthworms. Although consistent results were observed between the three groups of worm species, it is not possible to generalize these outcomes due to a lack of biological replicates, which does not allow for inferential statistical analysis. Nevertheless, our study is the first to report the effects of a GBH on the earthworm gut microbiome and paves the way for future more comprehensive investigations.

Wormcasts produced by three earthworm species (Alma millsoni, Eudrilus eugeniae and Libyodrilus violaceus) exposed to a glyphosate-based herbicide reduce growth, fruit yield and quality of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum).

It remains unknown if casts produced by earthworms exposed to a glyphosate-based herbicide (GBH) will retain their agricultural benefit. This study investigated the agricultural importance of surface casts produced by three earthworm species (Alma millsoni, Eudrilus eugeniae and Libyodrilus violaceus) exposed to a GBH on growth, fruit yield and quality of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). We sprayed 60 buckets (i.e 20 buckets/earthworm species) containing 20 adult earthworms of each species with 115.49 ml/m2 of Roundup® Alphée (Exposed) while another 60 buckets with earthworm species were sprayed with water (Control). Surface casts produced by the earthworms were collected for 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th week post herbicide application. Tomato planting experiment on soil treated with the casts, NPK fertilizer and normal soil were grouped into 32 treatments. Tomato growth performance, yield and quality were evaluated with standard methods. Only the tomatoes planted with the casts of the exposed earthworms were unable to set fruit. There was no significant difference (p < 0.05) in yields of tomatoes planted with the control casts of E. eugeniae and A. millsoni compared to those planted with fertilizer. Vitamin C and ß-carotene contents increased in fruits of tomatoes planted with control cast of A. millsoni while reductions were recorded in the fruits of tomatoes planted with the control casts of E. eugeniae and L. violaceus relative to those planted with fertilizer. Surface casts of earthworms exposed to GBH could not enhance tomato growth while casts produced by unexposed earthworms greatly improved the performance of tomato plant.

Comparative studies on endogenic stress hormones, antioxidant, biochemical and hematological status of metabolic disturbance in albino rat exposed to roundup herbicide and its active ingredient glyphosate.

There have been growing concerns and uncertainty about reports attributing the metabolic disturbance induced by a commercial formulation of glyphosate-based herbicide to its active ingredient. We therefore compared the effects of Roundup Original® and its active ingredient glyphosate on some hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) hormones and oxidative stress markers, biochemical and hematological profiles in 56 adult male albino rats randomly assigned to seven treatments of eight rats per treatment. The rats were orally exposed to Roundup Original® and its active ingredient daily at 3.6 mg/kg body weight (bw), 50.4 and 248.4 mg/kgbw of glyphosate equivalent concentrations for 12 weeks, while control treatment received distilled water. Serum concentrations of corticosterone, adrenocorticotropic hormone, aldosterone and concentration of oxidative stress marker, biochemical and hematological profiles in the blood were determined. Concentrations of corticosterone and aldosterone were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in rats treated with Roundup in a dose-dependent manner. Reduced glutathione concentration, catalase, and butyrylcholinesterase activities reduced significantly in rats treated with Roundup relative to those treated with the active ingredient. Lipid peroxidation was observed in rats treated with Roundup. Biochemical and hematological profiles of rats treated with Roundup were significantly altered (p < 0.05). However, significant changes in only acid phosphatase, lactase dehydrogenase, bilirubin, and white blood cells in rats treated with the active ingredient at 50.4 mg/kg were observed. The severe metabolic disturbance and stress observed in rats treated with the commercial formulation of Roundup herbicide may not be associated with the mild changes induced by the active ingredient.