-
Journal of Agricultural and Food... Jun 2022Pesticides are widely used agrochemicals for crop protection. The need for novel pesticides becomes urgent as a result of the emergence of resistance and environmental... (Review)
Review
Pesticides are widely used agrochemicals for crop protection. The need for novel pesticides becomes urgent as a result of the emergence of resistance and environmental toxicity. Pesticide informatics has been applied in different phase processes of pesticide target identification, active ingredient design, and impact evaluation. However, these valuable resources are scattered over the literature and web, limiting their availability. Here, we summarize and connect research on pesticide informatics resources. A pesticide informatics platform (PIP) was constructed to share these tools. We finally discuss the future direction of pesticide informatics, including pesticide contamination. We expect to share the pesticide informatics approaches and stimulate further research.
Topics: Agrochemicals; Crop Protection; Informatics; Pesticide Residues; Pesticides
PubMed: 35617526
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c02141 -
Chemosphere Jun 2022Pesticides are widely used in agriculture, households, and industries; however, they have caused severe negative effects on the environment and human health. To clean up... (Review)
Review
Pesticides are widely used in agriculture, households, and industries; however, they have caused severe negative effects on the environment and human health. To clean up pesticide contaminated sites, various technological strategies, i.e. physicochemical and biological, are currently being used throughout the world. Biological approaches have proven to be a viable method for decontaminating pesticide-contaminated soils and water environments. The biological process eliminates contaminants by utilizing microorganisms' catabolic ability. Pesticide degradation rates are influenced by a variety of factors, including the pesticide's structure, concentration, solubility in water, soil type, land use pattern, and microbial activity in the soil. There is currently a knowledge gap in this field of study because researchers are unable to gather collective information on the factors affecting microbial growth, metabolic pathways, optimal conditions for degradation, and genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic changes caused by pesticide stress on the microbial communities. The use of advanced tools and omics technology in research can bridge the existing gap in our knowledge regarding the bioremediation of pesticides. This review provides new insights on the research gaps and offers potential solutions for pesticide removal from the environment through the use of various microbe-mediated technologies.
Topics: Biodegradation, Environmental; Humans; Pesticides; Proteomics; Soil; Soil Pollutants; Water
PubMed: 35149016
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.133916 -
The Science of the Total Environment Jun 2023Cultivation of mass flowering entomophilous crops benefits from the presence of managed and wild pollinators, who visit flowers to forage on pollen and nectar. However,...
Cultivation of mass flowering entomophilous crops benefits from the presence of managed and wild pollinators, who visit flowers to forage on pollen and nectar. However, management of these crops typically includes application of pesticides, the presence of which may pose a hazard for pollinators foraging in an agricultural environment. To determine the levels of potential exposure to pesticides, their presence and concentration in pollen and nectar need assessing, both within and beyond the target crop plants. We selected ten pesticide compounds and one metabolite and analysed their occurrence in a crop (Brassica napus) and a wild plant (Rubus fruticosus agg.), which was flowering in field edges. Nectar and pollen from both plants were collected from five spring and five winter sown B. napus fields in Ireland, and were tested for pesticide residues, using QuEChERS and Liquid Chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Pesticide residues were detected in plant pollen and nectar of both plants. Most detections were from fields with no recorded application of the respective compounds in that year, but higher concentrations were observed in recently treated fields. Overall, more residues were detected in B. napus pollen and nectar than in the wild plant, and B. napus pollen had the highest mean concentration of residues. All matrices were contaminated with at least three compounds, and the most frequently detected compounds were fungicides. The most common compound mixture was comprised of the fungicides azoxystrobin, boscalid, and the neonicotinoid insecticide clothianidin, which was not recently applied on the fields. Our results indicate that persistent compounds like the neonicotinoids, should be continuously monitored for their presence and fate in the field environment. The toxicological evaluation of the compound mixtures identified in the present study should be performed, to determine their impacts on foraging insects that may be exposed to them.
Topics: Bees; Plant Nectar; Pesticides; Pesticide Residues; Fungicides, Industrial; Chromatography, Liquid; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Neonicotinoids; Insecticides; Pollen; Crops, Agricultural
PubMed: 36958551
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162971 -
Archives of Microbiology Apr 2022The imprudent use of agrochemicals to control agriculture and household pests is unsafe for the environment. Hence, to protect the environment and diversity of living... (Review)
Review
The imprudent use of agrochemicals to control agriculture and household pests is unsafe for the environment. Hence, to protect the environment and diversity of living organisms, the degradation of pesticides has received widespread attention. There are different physical, chemical, and biological methods used to remediate pesticides in contaminated sites. Compared to other methods, biological approaches and their associated techniques are more effective, less expensive and eco-friendly. Microbes secrete several enzymes that can attach pesticides, break down organic compounds, and then convert toxic substances into carbon and water. Thus, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the functional genes and genomic potential of microbial species for the removal of emerging pollutants. Here we address the knowledge gaps by highlighting systematic biology and their role in adaptation of microbial species from agricultural soils with a history of pesticide usage and profiling shifts in functional genes and microbial taxa abundance. Moreover, by co-metabolism, the microbial species fulfill their nutritional requirements and perform more efficiently than single microbial-free cells. But in an open environment, free cells of microbes are not much prominent in the degradation process due to environmental conditions, incompatibilities with mechanical equipment and difficulties associated with evenly distributing inoculum through the agroecosystem. This review highlights emerging techniques involving the removal of pesticides in a field-scale environment like immobilization, biobed, biocomposites, biochar, biofilms, and bioreactors. In these techniques, different microbial cells, enzymes, natural fibers, and strains are used for the effective biodegradation of xenobiotic pesticides.
Topics: Acclimatization; Biodegradation, Environmental; Environmental Pollutants; Pesticides; Soil
PubMed: 35482163
DOI: 10.1007/s00203-022-02899-6 -
Chemical Research in Toxicology Jan 2017Pesticide researchers are students of nature, and each new compound and mechanism turns a page in the ever-expanding encyclopedia of life. Pesticides are both probes to... (Review)
Review
Pesticide researchers are students of nature, and each new compound and mechanism turns a page in the ever-expanding encyclopedia of life. Pesticides are both probes to learn about life processes and tools for pest management to facilitate food production and enhance health. In contrast to some household and industrial chemicals, pesticides are assumed to be hazardous to health and the environment until proven otherwise. About a thousand current pesticides working by more than 100 different mechanisms have helped understand many processes and coupled events. Pesticide chemical research is a major source of toxicology information on new natural products, novel targets or modes of action, resistance mechanisms, xenobiotic metabolism, selective toxicity, safety evaluations, and recommendations for safe and effective pest management. Target binding site models help define the effect of substituent changes and predict modifications for enhanced potency and safety and circumvention of resistance. The contribution of pesticide chemical research in toxicology is illustrated here with two each of the newer or most important insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides. The insecticides are imidacloprid and chlorantraniliprole acting on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and the ryanodine receptor Ca channel, respectively. The herbicides are glyphosate that inhibits aromatic amino acid biosynthesis and mesotrione that prevents plastoquinone and carotenoid formation. The fungicides are azoxystrobin inhibiting the Q site of the cytochrome bc complex and prothioconazole inhibiting the 14α-demethylase in ergosterol biosynthesis. The two target sites involved for each type of pesticide account for 27-40% of worldwide sales for all insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides. In each case, selection for resistance involving a single amino acid change in the binding site or detoxifying enzyme circumvents the pesticide chemists's structure optimization and guarantees survival of the pest and a continuing job for the design chemist. These lessons from nature are a continuing part of pest management and maintaining human and environmental health.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Nature; Pesticides; Research
PubMed: 27715053
DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.6b00303 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Aug 2023Long-chain molecules play a vital role in agricultural production and find extensive use as fungicides, insecticides, acaricides, herbicides, and plant growth... (Review)
Review
Long-chain molecules play a vital role in agricultural production and find extensive use as fungicides, insecticides, acaricides, herbicides, and plant growth regulators. This review article specifically addresses the agricultural biological activities and applications of long-chain molecules. The utilization of long-chain molecules in the development of pesticides is an appealing avenue for designing novel pesticide compounds. By offering valuable insights, this article serves as a useful reference for the design of new long-chain molecules for pesticide applications.
Topics: Pesticides; Insecticides; Herbicides; Fungicides, Industrial; Agriculture
PubMed: 37570848
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28155880 -
Environment International Jul 2022Fungicides account for more than 35% of the global pesticide market and their use is predicted to increase in the future. While fungicides are commonly applied during... (Review)
Review
Fungicides account for more than 35% of the global pesticide market and their use is predicted to increase in the future. While fungicides are commonly applied during bloom when bees are likely foraging on crops, whether real-world exposure to these chemicals - alone or in combination with other stressors - constitutes a threat to the health of bees is still the subject of great uncertainty. The first step in estimating the risks of exposure to fungicides for bees is to understand how and to what extent bees are exposed to these active ingredients. Here we review the current knowledge that exists about exposure to fungicides that bees experience in the field, and link quantitative data on exposure to acute and chronic risk of lethal endpoints for honey bees (Apis mellifera). From the 702 publications we screened, 76 studies contained quantitative data on residue detections in honey bee matrices, and a further 47 provided qualitative information about exposure for a range of bee taxa through various routes. We compiled data for 90 fungicides and metabolites that have been detected in honey, beebread, pollen, beeswax, and the bodies of honey bees. The risks posed to honey bees by fungicide residues was estimated through the EPA Risk Quotient (RQ) approach. Based on residue concentrations detected in honey and pollen/beebread, none of the reported fungicides exceeded the levels of concern (LOC) set by regulatory agencies for acute risk, while 3 and 12 fungicides exceeded the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) chronic LOC for honey bees and wild bees, respectively. When considering exposure to all bees, fungicides of most concern include many broad-spectrum systemic fungicides, as well as the widely used broad-spectrum contact fungicide chlorothalonil. In addition to providing a detailed overview of the frequency and extent of fungicide residue detections in the bee environment, we identified important research gaps and suggest future directions to move towards a more comprehensive understanding and mitigation of the risks of exposure to fungicides for bees, including synergistic risks of co-exposure to fungicides and other pesticides or pathogens.
Topics: Animals; Bees; Fungicides, Industrial; Pesticides; Pollen
PubMed: 35714526
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107311 -
Food Chemistry Aug 2022Pesticides are indispensably essential in agricultural practices. Traditional pesticides and environmentally friendly pesticides both are used to control the damage... (Review)
Review
Pesticides are indispensably essential in agricultural practices. Traditional pesticides and environmentally friendly pesticides both are used to control the damage caused by pests and diseases. Conventional procedures were carried out to detect pesticide residues using chromatography and spectrophotometric techniques. Innovative extractions (micro-extraction) and detection technologies (biosensors, screening cards, etc.) have been developed for faster and more efficient screening of pesticide compounds in plant-derived foodstuffs. The present review summarized the trends of pesticide occurrence in plant-derived foodstuffs, and discussed the advances in pesticides detection. Also, the pesticide dissipation and the mechanism of action are discussed. The extensive literature review demonstrates various techniques already in use or having futuristic potential for detecting and dissipating pesticides in foodstuffs, which can pave the way for future research efforts.
Topics: Biosensing Techniques; Pesticide Residues; Pesticides
PubMed: 35189435
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.132494 -
Food Chemistry Aug 2019The sample extraction process is considered as the essential step in the pesticide residue analysis, as it provides the base for the detection of the pesticides in trace... (Review)
Review
The sample extraction process is considered as the essential step in the pesticide residue analysis, as it provides the base for the detection of the pesticides in trace level. Various factors need to be optimized during the extraction of pesticides due to the complexity of the matrix which is time-consuming and tedious. Therefore, the use of experimental design in the optimization process proves to be effective with minimum experiments and cost. This paper is aimed to overview the experimental designs that are frequently used for screening (full factorial, fractional factorial, Plackett-Burman Design) and optimizing (central composite design, Box-Behnken design, Taguchi design, Doehlert design, D-optimal design) the most influential factors to provide a sequential understanding of the linear and complex interactions in the pesticide extraction methods. Further, a systematic approach has been discussed about the use of experimental designs in pesticide extraction and also the softwares used for application-oriented readers.
Topics: Pesticide Residues; Pesticides; Research Design; Software
PubMed: 30955627
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2019.03.045 -
Journal of Environmental Sciences... Mar 2023Pesticides are a well-known family of chemicals that have contaminated water systems globally. Four common subfamilies of pesticides include organochlorines,... (Review)
Review
Pesticides are a well-known family of chemicals that have contaminated water systems globally. Four common subfamilies of pesticides include organochlorines, organophosphates, pyrethroids, and carbamate insecticides which have been shown to adversely affect the human nervous system. Studies have shown a link between pesticide exposure and decreased viability, proliferation, migration, and differentiation of murine neural stem cells. Besides human exposure directly through water systems, additional factors such as pesticide bioaccumulation, biomagnification and potential synergism due to co-exposure to other environmental contaminants must be considered. A possible avenue to investigate the molecular mechanisms and biomolecules impacted by the various classes of pesticides includes the field of -omics. Discovery of the precise molecular mechanisms behind pesticide-mediated neurodegenerative disorders may facilitate development of targeted therapeutics. Likewise, discovery of pesticide biodegradation pathways may enable novel approaches for water system bioremediation using genetically engineered microorganisms. In this mini-review, we discuss recently established harmful impacts of various categories of pesticides on the nervous system and the application of -omics field for discovery, validation, and mitigation of pesticide neurotoxicity.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Mice; Pesticides; Biodegradation, Environmental; Insecticides; Pyrethrins; Water
PubMed: 36375955
DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2022.03.033