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The Science of the Total Environment Mar 2020Data obtained from samples of poisoned domestic and wild animals sent for toxicological evaluation during the period between 2005 and 2014 have been analyzed. Among the...
Data obtained from samples of poisoned domestic and wild animals sent for toxicological evaluation during the period between 2005 and 2014 have been analyzed. Among the 4606 tested samples, the majority of which were collected in the northern regions of Italy, 2006 (43.55%) were found positive for pesticides. Analytical detections were performed via solvent extraction followed by separation and chromatographic characterization and all the methods applied for the toxicological investigations were developed by IZSLER. Insecticides, mainly represented by acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (carbamates 17.55%, n = 352; organophosphates 15.15%, n = 304) and organochlorines (29.21%, n = 586), were found to be the first category of pesticides involved in intoxications, in both domestic and in wild animals, followed by rodenticides (anticoagulant rodenticides 21.09%, n = 423; zinc phosphide 2.59%, n = 52; chloralose 0.95%, n = 19 and thallium 0.15%, n = 3) and molluscicides (metaldehyde 6.63%, n = 133). Second and third generation anticoagulants (bromadiolone and brodifacoum) were the most represented (10.52%, n = 211) but also first generation compounds (i.e. coumatetralyl and warfarin) were still found responsible of intoxications. Even if some pesticides are frequently involved in domestic animal poisoning (i.e. metaldehyde and strychnine), they did not show the same diffusion in wild animals. In particular, unlike domestic species, cyanide and pyrethroids have not been found responsible of intoxications in wild animals. Interestingly, a great number of positive samples involved banned pesticides like α- (14.41%, n = 289) and β- (14.16%, n = 284) endosulfan, carbofuran (5.73%, n = 115), methamidophos (9.47%, n = 190), strychnine (6.23%, n = 125) but, on the other hand, many positives were due to the exposure to commercially available products (i.e. metaldehyde and anticoagulant rodenticides). Thus, together with measures aimed to reduce illegal uses, educational campaigns and a wider range of compounds to detect would be beneficial in order to address the issue of animal poisoning, which besides has also repercussions on environmental and public health.
Topics: Animals; Animals, Domestic; Animals, Wild; Anticoagulants; Italy; Pesticides; Poisoning; Rodenticides
PubMed: 31869614
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136129 -
Food Additives & Contaminants. Part B,... Mar 2021The current study was conducted to assess the levels of organophosphates and carbamates in vegetables in Kenya and to examine potential consumer health risks. A total of...
The current study was conducted to assess the levels of organophosphates and carbamates in vegetables in Kenya and to examine potential consumer health risks. A total of 90 samples were analysed by liquid chromatography/high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry. Residues of acephate, chlorpyrifos, methamidophos, omethoate and profenofos were found in 22% of the samples, ranging from 10 to 1343 μg/kg. The EU MRL was exceeded in 21%, 10%, 8% and 22% of the samples of French beans, kales, spinach and tomatoes, respectively. Chlorpyrifos in spinach had an acute HQ of 3.3 and 2.2 for children and adults, respectively, implying that potential health risks with respect to acute dietary exposure cannot be excluded. For chronic dietary exposure, all chronic HQs were below 1. The HI for the pesticides was 0.54 and 0.34 for children and adults. Routine monitoring of OPs and carbamates in vegetables is recommended to minimise consumer's health risks.
Topics: Adult; Carbamates; Child; Chlorpyrifos; Food Contamination; Humans; Kenya; Pesticide Residues; Vegetables
PubMed: 33353480
DOI: 10.1080/19393210.2020.1861661 -
The Science of the Total Environment Mar 2021The buds and initial flowers of honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica Thunb.) are most widely used in traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). In recent years, the problem of...
The buds and initial flowers of honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica Thunb.) are most widely used in traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). In recent years, the problem of pesticide residues in honeysuckle has attracted much attention. This research aimed to study pesticide residual situation of honeysuckle in China and estimate the potential health risks for consumers using the HQ (hazard quotient) and HI (hazard index) methods. A reliable and robust method was established to determine and quantify 137 pesticide residues simultaneously by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) for 151 honeysuckle samples from different planting bases in China in 2017 and 2018. Fifty-four pesticides were detected in total, including 10 unauthorized pesticides (chlorpyrifos, fipronil, carbofuran, omethoate, isofenphos-methyl, triazophos, methomyl, dimethoate, methidathion, and methamidophos). One hundred and fifty (99.3%) samples contained at least 1 and up to 31 pesticides and/or their metabolites, with concentrations ranging from 0.001 to 3.087 mg/kg. Carbendazim, chlorbenzuron, imidacloprid, chlorpyrifos, and acetamiprid were the most frequently detected pesticides in 2017 and 2018, and the corresponding detection rates were 95.31%, 64.06%, 65.63%, 53.13%, 57.81%, and 98.85%, 88.51%, 70.11%, 77.01%, 57.47%, respectively. The acute hazard quotient (HQ) of carbofuran was 1.54 for specific population (fetus, infants, and pregnant or nursing women), which indicated that it posed a potential acute health risk. In the cumulative risk assessment, the acute hazard index (HI) of insecticides in honesuckle for children and the specific population were 1.34 and 3.36, respectively, suggesting that they posed potential acute cumulative health risks. These results were of theoretical and practical value for evaluating the safety of honeysuckle and improving its quality and safety.
Topics: Child; China; Food Contamination; Humans; Lonicera; Pesticide Residues; Risk Assessment; Tandem Mass Spectrometry
PubMed: 33121779
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142747 -
The Science of the Total Environment Dec 2017The incidence of pesticides in poisoned baits recovered from 2005 to 2014 in Italian northern regions of Emilia Romagna and Lombardy was analysed. A total of 956 baits...
The incidence of pesticides in poisoned baits recovered from 2005 to 2014 in Italian northern regions of Emilia Romagna and Lombardy was analysed. A total of 956 baits tested positive for pesticides during the study period. In 9.3% (n=89) of the baits analysed more than one toxic compound was present. Insecticides (53.2%) proved to be the pesticides most commonly involved followed by rodenticides (34.3%), molluscicides (12.3%) and herbicides (0.2%). Among insecticides, the anticholinesterases (organophosphates and carbamates) were the most frequently detected (59.1%, n=412) followed by organochlorines (39.8%; n=277). Anticoagulants proved to be the rodenticides most commonly involved (78.5%; n=353) with many baits containing brodifacoum or bromadiolone, while metaldehyde was the most used molluscicide (88.2%; n=142). A high number of baits contained banned pesticides such as endosulfan, methamidophos, carbofuran and strychnine indicating that the restrictions and the bans on the use of toxic and highly toxic pesticides are not accompanied by a lower use in poisoned baits. The high incidence of banned pesticides detected in the present survey is extremely worrying and poses the question of where and how these compounds were obtained. Efforts have to be made to reduce this illegal practice and its environmental impact. Moreover, education and awareness campaigns should be instituted.
Topics: Animal Welfare; Incidence; Insecticides; Italy; Pesticides
PubMed: 28564626
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.05.158 -
Chemosphere Dec 2020Triazophos (TAP), methamidophos (MAP) and carbofuran (CF) pesticides are highly toxic, soluble and absorbable. Efficient co-degradation of multi-pesticides is rare...
Simultaneous degradation of triazophos, methamidophos and carbofuran pesticides in wastewater using an Enterobacter bacterial bioreactor and analysis of toxicity and biosafety.
Triazophos (TAP), methamidophos (MAP) and carbofuran (CF) pesticides are highly toxic, soluble and absorbable. Efficient co-degradation of multi-pesticides is rare reported. The objectives of this study were to investigate TAP, MAP and CF co-degradative ability of Enterobacter sp. Z1 and study the degradation mechanisms. Strain Z1 was shown to efficiently co-degrade TAP, MAP and CF when they were used as primary carbon sources. The degradation occurred over a wide range of temperatures, pH values and pesticide concentrations and followed first-order kinetics. Under the optimum conditions (37 °C, pH 7 and 100 mg/L of each pesticide), the degradation efficiencies were 100%, 100%, and 95.3% for TAP, MAP and CF, respectively. In addition, strain Z1 could simultaneously degrade TAP, MAP, CF and total nitrogen in wastewater in a batch bioreactor, with high removal efficiencies of 98.3%, 100%, 98.7% and 100%, respectively. Genomics, proteomics, qRT-PCR and gene overexpression analyses revealed that the degradation mechanisms involved the activities of multiple proteins, among which, organophosphorus hydrolase (Oph) and 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (PaaC) are primarily responsible for TAP and MAP degradation, while carbofuran hydrolase (Mcd) and amidohydrolase (RamA) primarily degrade CF. Among these enzymes, PaaC and RamA are newly identified pesticide-degrading enzymes. Toxicity assays of strain Z1 using reporter recombinase gene (recA) and zebrafish showed that there was no accumulation of toxic metabolites during the degradation process. Biosafety test using zebrafish showed that the strain was nontoxic toward zebrafish. Strain Z1 provides a good purification effect for pesticides-containing wastewater and novel microbial pesticide-degrading mechanisms were discovered.
Topics: Biodegradation, Environmental; Bioreactors; Carbofuran; Containment of Biohazards; Enterobacter; Hydrolases; Organothiophosphates; Organothiophosphorus Compounds; Pesticides; Triazoles; Wastewater; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Water Purification
PubMed: 33113645
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128054 -
Industrial Health Feb 2020This study explored the potential association between chronic exposure to pesticide mixtures including paraquat and respiratory outcomes among Colombian farmers....
This study explored the potential association between chronic exposure to pesticide mixtures including paraquat and respiratory outcomes among Colombian farmers. Sociodemographic and occupational data, respiratory symptoms and spirometric data were collected. Paraquat in spot urine samples were quantified with solid-phase extraction high-performance liquid chromatography. Multiple Poisson regressions with robust variance were used to determine factors associated with respiratory outcomes. Profiles of pesticide mixtures used were identified among 217 farmworkers, but profenofos and methamidophos-based mixtures were more frequent. Chronic paraquat exposure was slightly associated with self-reported asthma (PR: 1.06; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.13). Different pesticide mixtures were associated with flu, thoracic pain, allergic rhinitis, and obstructive pattern in spirometry. Although acute exposure to paraquat is low among Colombian farmers participating in the study, associations between respiratory outcomes and chronic pesticide mixtures exposure including profenofos, methamidophos or glyphosate require further specific studies.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Chest Pain; Colombia; Farmers; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Occupational Exposure; Organothiophosphates; Organothiophosphorus Compounds; Paraquat; Pesticides; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Rhinitis, Allergic; Spirometry
PubMed: 30996154
DOI: 10.2486/indhealth.2018-0111 -
Food Chemistry Aug 2021Based on the successful synthesis of mercaptomethamidophos as a substrate, a novel nanogold/mercaptomethamidophos multi-residue electrochemical biosensor was designed...
Based on the successful synthesis of mercaptomethamidophos as a substrate, a novel nanogold/mercaptomethamidophos multi-residue electrochemical biosensor was designed and fabricated by combining nanoscale effect, strong Au-S bonds as well as interaction between acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and mercaptomethamidophos, which can simultaneously detect 11 kinds of organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) and total amount of OPPs using indirect competitive method. Electrochemical behavior of the modified electrode was characterized by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The AChE concentration and incubation time were optimized at 37.4 °C to achieve the best detection effect. This biosensor exhibits excellent electrochemical properties with a wider linear range of 0.1 ~ 1500 ng·mL, lower detection limit of 0.019 ~ 0.077 ng·mL, better stability and repeatability, which realizes the rapid detection of total amount of OPPs, and can simultaneously detect a large class of OPPs rather than one kind of OPP. Two OPPs (trichlorfon, dichlorvos) were detected in actual samples of apple and cabbage and achieved satisfactory test results.
Topics: Acetylcholinesterase; Biosensing Techniques; Brassica; Dielectric Spectroscopy; Electrodes; Enzymes, Immobilized; Gold; Limit of Detection; Metal Nanoparticles; Organophosphorus Compounds; Organothiophosphorus Compounds; Pesticides
PubMed: 33735695
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.129511 -
Reproductive Biology Sep 2020Methamidophos (MET) is a pesticide that has toxic properties, including effects on fertility. This study aimed to assess the joint action of treatment time and exposure...
Methamidophos (MET) is a pesticide that has toxic properties, including effects on fertility. This study aimed to assess the joint action of treatment time and exposure to methamidophos on the male reproductive system. MET was orally administered to adult male Swiss mice at a dose of 0.004 mg.kg for 15 and 50 consecutive days. The following parameters were evaluated: weight of reproductive organs, spermatogenesis, sperm and Sertoli cell count, daily sperm production and sperm transit time. Short-term exposure to methamidophos induced a decrease in epididymal weight. The frequency of stages V-VI of spermatogenesis increased and the frequency of stage IX decreased. In the epididymis, sperm transit time (caput/corpus) was reduced and the relative sperm number (cauda) increased. Long-term exposure induced an increase in the frequencies of stages I-IV and V-VI and decreased the stages VII-VIII and IX. The number of Sertoli cells with evident nucleoli was reduced in both exposures. These results confirm the reproductive toxicity of MET.
Topics: Animals; Epididymis; Insecticides; Male; Mice; Organ Size; Organothiophosphorus Compounds; Reproduction; Sertoli Cells; Sperm Count; Spermatogenesis; Spermatozoa; Testis
PubMed: 32405287
DOI: 10.1016/j.repbio.2020.05.003 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2020Over the last years, the detection of pesticide residues in the official food surveillance programs of Chile has been increased, mainly in fresh vegetables such as...
Over the last years, the detection of pesticide residues in the official food surveillance programs of Chile has been increased, mainly in fresh vegetables such as tomatoes and lettuces. The Metropolitana Region of Chile presents the highest detections in the country. The lack of evaluations of toxicological risks in human health have increased uncertainty of the potential effects of pesticides exposures in the Chilean population. This research aims to determinate health risks assessment of pesticide residues associated to tomatoes and lettuces produced in Metropolitana Region. The findings of this study reveal that tomatoes and lettuces cultivated in the MR show more than 50% of samples with one or multiple pesticides residues. From the total samples, 16% were over the Chilean Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs). The main pesticides detected in tomatoes and lettuces were methamidophos, methomyl, difenoconazole, cyprodinil and boscalid. The results obtained using the official data of the Ministry of Health of Chile (MINSAL) compared to the World Health Organization (WHO), describe relevant risks through the Estimated Daily Intakes (EDI), Hazard Quotients (HQ) and Hazard Index (HI) for the Chilean population due to high concentrations of methamidophos, methomyl and cyprodinil. More restrictions for the use of methamidophos, methomyl, difenoconazole, cyprodinil and boscalid and effective control programs should be implemented in order to mitigate the impacts on the Chilean population.
Topics: Environmental Monitoring; Farms; Food Contamination; Humans; Lactuca; Solanum lycopersicum; Pesticide Residues; Risk Assessment
PubMed: 31952243
DOI: 10.3390/molecules25020355 -
Environmental Science and Pollution... Sep 2016Pesticides are used for controlling the development of various pests in agricultural crops worldwide. Despite their agricultural benefits, pesticides are often... (Review)
Review
Pesticides are used for controlling the development of various pests in agricultural crops worldwide. Despite their agricultural benefits, pesticides are often considered a serious threat to the environment because of their persistent nature and the anomalies they create. Hence removal of such pesticides from the environment is a topic of interest for the researchers nowadays. During the recent years, use of biological resources to degrade or remove pesticides has emerged as a powerful tool for their in situ degradation and remediation. Fungi are among such bioresources that have been widely characterized and applied for biodegradation and bioremediation of pesticides. This review article presents the perspectives of using fungi for biodegradation and bioremediation of pesticides in liquid and soil media. This review clearly indicates that fungal isolates are an effective bioresource to degrade different pesticides including lindane, methamidophos, endosulfan, chlorpyrifos, atrazine, cypermethrin, dieldrin, methyl parathion, heptachlor, etc. However, rate of fungal degradation of pesticides depends on soil moisture content, nutrient availability, pH, temperature, oxygen level, etc. Fungal strains were found to harbor different processes including hydroxylation, demethylation, dechlorination, dioxygenation, esterification, dehydrochlorination, oxidation, etc during the biodegradation of different pesticides having varying functional groups. Moreover, the biodegradation of different pesticides was found to be mediated by involvement of different enzymes including laccase, hydrolase, peroxidase, esterase, dehydrogenase, manganese peroxidase, lignin peroxidase, etc. The recent advances in understanding the fungal biodegradation of pesticides focusing on the processes, pathways, genes/enzymes and factors affecting the biodegradation have also been presented in this review article.
Topics: Biodegradation, Environmental; Fungi; Pesticides
PubMed: 27272922
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-016-7003-8