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Environmental Geochemistry and Health Dec 2023Brazil, a global frontrunner in pesticide consumption and sales, particularly glyphosate, appears to be at odds with other countries that increasingly ban these products... (Review)
Review
Brazil, a global frontrunner in pesticide consumption and sales, particularly glyphosate, appears to be at odds with other countries that increasingly ban these products in their territories. This study gathers the values of Acceptable Daily Intake and Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) in the European Union for dozens of substances and subsequently contrasts them with the corresponding benchmarks upheld in Brazil concerning its predominant crops. Furthermore, this study delves into the toxicity levels and the potential health ramifications of glyphosate on humans through the ingestion of food containing its residues. The findings from this research underscore a notable surge in glyphosate and pesticide sales and usage within Brazil over the past decade. In stark contrast to its European counterparts, Brazil not only sanctioned the sale and application of 474 new pesticides in 2019, but extended the authorization for glyphosate sales while downgrading its toxicity classification. Finally, this review not only uncovers disparities among research outcomes but also addresses the complexities of replacing glyphosate and introduces environmentally friendlier alternatives that have been subject to evaluation in the existing literature.
Topics: Humans; Pesticide Residues; Brazil; Risk Assessment; Pesticides; Glyphosate
PubMed: 37776469
DOI: 10.1007/s10653-023-01763-w -
The Science of the Total Environment Jul 2024Among rising environmental concerns, emerging contaminants constitute a variety of different chemicals and biological agents. The composition, residence time in... (Review)
Review
Among rising environmental concerns, emerging contaminants constitute a variety of different chemicals and biological agents. The composition, residence time in environmental media, chemical interactions, and toxicity of emerging contaminants are not fully known, and hence, their regulation becomes problematic. Some of the important groups of emerging contaminants are pesticides and pesticide transformation products (PTPs), which present a considerable obstacle to maintaining and preserving ecosystem health. This review article aims to thoroughly comprehend the occurrence, fate, and ecotoxicological importance of pesticide transformation products (PTPs). The paper provides an overview of pesticides and PTPs as contaminants of emerging concern and discusses the modes of degradation of pesticides, their properties and associated risks. The degradation of pesticides, however, does not lead to complete destruction but can instead lead to the generation of PTPs. The review discusses the properties and toxicity of PTPs and presents the methods available for their detection. Moreover, the present study examines the existing regulatory framework and suggests the need for the development of new technologies for easy, routine detection of PTPs to regulate them effectively in the environment.
Topics: Pesticides; Ecotoxicology; Environmental Pollutants; Environmental Monitoring; Biodegradation, Environmental
PubMed: 38750741
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173026 -
The Science of the Total Environment Feb 2024Exposure to pesticides during pregnancy has been associated with several serious congenital malformations, such as neural tube defects, therefore, is a cause for concern... (Review)
Review
Exposure to pesticides during pregnancy has been associated with several serious congenital malformations, such as neural tube defects, therefore, is a cause for concern in terms of human health. This review aims to gather information related to maternal exposure during pregnancy and the risk of triggering neural tube defects in the offspring. The search strategy for the studies followed the PRISMA guidelines. We conducted a systematic search in the Science Direct, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases for all epidemiological studies that sought to associate exposure to pesticides during embryonic development with the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs). The keywords used were "pesticide", "herbicide", "congenital" and "neural". Of the 229 articles, 8 eligible ones (7 case-control and 1 cross-sectional) evaluated pesticide exposure in pregnancy. Different methods were used, including analysis of biological samples and questionnaires. The pesticides studied included insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and nematicides. Insecticides were the most studied, with variations in concentrations between tissues and studies. Distinct levels of pesticides have been detected in maternal serum, placenta, and umbilical cord. Models were statistically adjusted for confounding factors, such as smoking and dietary supplement intakes. Concentrations were measured in different exposure windows (periconception and prenatal), related to NTDs such as anencephaly and spina bifida. Different data collection techniques, types of biological samples, and exposure windows were used, which made comparison difficult. The main pesticides studied included DDT, DDE, HCH, and endosulfan. Maternal serum showed the highest concentrations of pesticides, but detection in placental tissue and umbilical cord confirms embryonic exposure. Confounding variables were adjusted for in the analysis of the articles, but they may still contribute to the risk of NTDs. All the studies analyzed pesticide exposure and the relationship with NTDs. However, a more standardized survey would be ideal for better comparisons.
Topics: Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Pesticides; Insecticides; Cross-Sectional Studies; Placenta; Neural Tube Defects; Herbicides; Risk Factors
PubMed: 38104833
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169317 -
Proceedings of the National Academy of... Nov 2023Over the last several decades, Brazil has become both the world's leading soy producer and the world's leading consumer of hazardous pesticides. Despite identified links...
Over the last several decades, Brazil has become both the world's leading soy producer and the world's leading consumer of hazardous pesticides. Despite identified links between pesticide exposure and carcinogenesis, there has been little population-level research on the effects of pesticide intensification on broader human health in Brazil. We estimate the relationship between expanded soy production-and related community exposure to pesticides-on childhood cancer incidence using 15 y of data on disease mortality. We find a statistically significant increase in pediatric leukemia following expanded local soy production, but timely access to treatment mitigates this relationship. We show that pesticide exposure likely occurs via water supply penetration. Our findings represent only the tip of the iceberg for substantial health externalities of high-input crop production and land use change. Our results are of particular interest in developing contexts with demand for intensified food production systems and underscore the need for stronger regulation of pesticides and increased public health attention to exposure in the broader community.
Topics: Child; Humans; Brazil; Neoplasms; Agriculture; Pesticides; Crop Production
PubMed: 37903255
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2306003120 -
Journal of Agricultural and Food... Sep 2023Plants are essential for life on earth, and agricultural crops are a primary food source for humans. For the One Health future, crop health is crucial for safe,... (Review)
Review
Plants are essential for life on earth, and agricultural crops are a primary food source for humans. For the One Health future, crop health is crucial for safe, high-quality agricultural products and the development of future green commodities. However, the overuse of pesticides in modern agriculture raises concerns about their adverse effects on crop resistance and product quality. Recently, biostimulants, including microecological bacteria agents and nanoparticles, have garnered worldwide interest for their ability to sustain plant health and enhance crop resistance. This review analyzed the effects and mechanisms of pesticide stress on crop health. It also investigated the regulation of biostimulants on crop health and the multiomics mechanism, combining research on nanoselenium activating various crop health aspects conducted by the authors' research group. The paper helps readers understand the impact of pesticides on crop health and the positive influence of various biostimulants, especially nanomaterials and small molecules, on crop health.
Topics: Humans; Pesticides; Agriculture; Crops, Agricultural; Multiomics; Nanoparticles
PubMed: 37669447
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c04013 -
Clinica Chimica Acta; International... Nov 2023Population and food requirements are increasing daily throughout the world. To fulfil these requirements application of pesticides is also increasing. Organophosphorous... (Review)
Review
Population and food requirements are increasing daily throughout the world. To fulfil these requirements application of pesticides is also increasing. Organophosphorous (OP) and Organocarbamate (OC) compounds are widely used pesticides. These pesticides are used for suicidal purposes too. Both inhibit Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and cholinergic symptoms are mainly used for the diagnosis of pesticide poisoning. Although the symptoms of the intoxication of OP and OC are similar, recent research has described different targets for OP and OC pesticides. Researchers believe the distinction of OP/OC poisoning will be beneficial for the management of pesticide exposure. OP compounds produce adducts with several proteins. There is a new generation of OP compounds like glyphosate that do not inhibit AChE. Therefore, it's high time to develop biomarkers that can distinguish OP poisoning from OC poisoning.
Topics: Humans; Acetylcholinesterase; Pesticides; Carbamates
PubMed: 37805177
DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2023.117584 -
Food Additives & Contaminants. Part B,... Sep 2023In this study 3307 samples of 24 vegetables and fruits from 18 regions of Henan Province, China, were collected in 2021 with the aim of assessing the levels of pesticide...
In this study 3307 samples of 24 vegetables and fruits from 18 regions of Henan Province, China, were collected in 2021 with the aim of assessing the levels of pesticide residues and analysing the differences between different sources in Henan Province. Thirteen kinds of pesticides were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and detection rates were compared by the chi-square test. In all samples, except ginger, pimento, edible fungi and yam, pesticide residues were detected. The detection rates of difenoconazole, acetamiprid, carbendazim, procymidone, emamectin benzoate, lambda-cyhalothrin, cypermethrin and dimethomorph in supermarkets and traditional farmers' markets were different. The difenoconazole group and the dimethomorph group were both statistically different ( < 0.05). This study showed common vegetables and fruits to contain pesticide residues in Henan Province and provided a scientific basis for their evaluation. Different sources take different regulatory measures to control pesticide residues to ensure food safety.
Topics: Pesticide Residues; Vegetables; Fruit; Food Contamination; Pesticides; China
PubMed: 37287103
DOI: 10.1080/19393210.2023.2214797 -
Integrated Environmental Assessment and... Nov 2023Synthetic pesticides are important agricultural tools that increase crop yield and help feed the world's growing population. These products are also highly regulated to...
Synthetic pesticides are important agricultural tools that increase crop yield and help feed the world's growing population. These products are also highly regulated to balance benefits and potential environmental and human risks. Public perception of pesticide use, safety, and regulation is an important topic necessitating discussion across a variety of stakeholders from lay consumers to regulatory agencies since attitudes toward this subject could differ markedly. Individuals and organizations can perceive the same message(s) about pesticides differently due to prior differences in technical knowledge, perceptions, attitudes, and individual or group circumstances. Social media platforms, like Twitter, include both individuals and organizations and function as a townhall where each group promotes their topics of interest, shares their perspectives, and engages in both well-informed and misinformed discussions. We analyzed public Twitter posts about pesticides by user group, time, and location to understand their communication behaviors, including their sentiments and discussion topics, using machine learning-based text analysis methods. We extracted tweets related to pesticides between 2013 and 2021 based on relevant keywords developed through a "snowball" sampling process. Each tweet was grouped into individual versus organizational groups, then further categorized into media, government, industry, academia, and three types of nongovernmental organizations. We compared topic distributions within and between those groups using topic modeling and then applied sentiment analysis to understand the public's attitudes toward pesticide safety and regulation. Individual accounts expressed concerns about health and environmental risks, while industry and government accounts focused on agricultural usage and regulations. Public perceptions are heavily skewed toward negative sentiments, although this varies geographically. Our findings can help managers and decision-makers understand public sentiments, priorities, and perceptions and provide insights into public discourse on pesticides. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:1581-1599. © 2023 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
Topics: Humans; Social Media; Pesticides; Communication
PubMed: 37070476
DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4777 -
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex... Mar 2024Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a widespread malignancy worldwide, and its relationship with pesticide exposure remains inconclusive. This study aims to elucidate the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a widespread malignancy worldwide, and its relationship with pesticide exposure remains inconclusive. This study aims to elucidate the relationship between pesticide exposure and the risk of colon, rectal, or CRC, focusing on specific pesticide groups. We conducted an extensive literature search for peer-reviewed studies published up to March 31, 2023. Summary risk ratios (RR) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using stratified random-effects meta-analyses, taking into account different types of exposure and outcomes, and various exposed populations and pesticide subgroups. This approach aimed to address the substantial heterogeneity observed across the literature. We also assessed heterogeneity and potential small-study effects to ensure the robustness of our findings. From the 50 studies included in this review, 33 contributed to the meta-analysis. Our results indicate a significant association between herbicide exposure and colon cancer in both lifetime-days (LDs) (RR = 1.20; 95% CI = 1.01-1.42) and intensity-weighted lifetime-days (IWLDs) (RR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.12-1.49) exposure. Similarly, insecticide exposure was associated with an increased risk of colon cancer in IWLDs (RR = 1.32; 95% CI = 1.02-1.70) exposure, and rectal cancer in any versus never exposure (RR = 1.21; 95% CI = 1.07-1.36), IDs (RR = 1.86; 95% CI = 1.30-2.67) and IWLDs (RR = 1.70; 95% CI = 1.03-2.83) exposure. While these findings suggest significant associations of herbicide and insecticide exposure with colon and rectal cancer, respectively, further research is needed to explore the impact of other pesticide groups and deepen our understanding of pesticide exposure. These results have important implications for policymakers and regulators, underscoring the need for stricter supervision and regulation of pesticide use to mitigate CRC risk.
Topics: Humans; Pesticides; Insecticides; Colonic Neoplasms; Herbicides; Rectal Neoplasms
PubMed: 38341063
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123530 -
Bioengineered Dec 2023The continually expanding global population has necessitated increased food supply production. Thus, agricultural intensification has been required to keep up with food... (Review)
Review
The continually expanding global population has necessitated increased food supply production. Thus, agricultural intensification has been required to keep up with food supply demand, resulting in a sharp rise in pesticide use. The pesticide aids in the prevention of potential losses caused by pests, plant pathogens, and weeds, but excessive use over time has accumulated its occurrence in the environment and subsequently rendered it one of the emerging contaminants of concern. This review highlights the sources and classification of herbicides and their fate in the environment, with a special focus on the effects on human health and methods to remove herbicides. The human health impacts discussion was in relation to toxic effects, cell disruption, carcinogenic impacts, negative fertility effects, and neurological impacts. The removal treatments described herein include physicochemical, biological, and chemical treatment approaches, and advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). Also, alternative, green, and sustainable treatment options were discussed to shed insight into effective treatment technologies for herbicides. To conclude, this review serves as a stepping stone to a better environment with herbicides.
Topics: Humans; Herbicides; Pesticides; Agriculture; Carcinogenesis; Food
PubMed: 37747278
DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2023.2259526