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Mikrochimica Acta Feb 2024A reliable, rapid, and inexpensive nano-sized chemosensor is presented for methamidophos (MET) - an insecticide. Poly(lactic acid) (PLA)-stabilized gold...
A reliable, rapid, and inexpensive nano-sized chemosensor is presented for methamidophos (MET) - an insecticide. Poly(lactic acid) (PLA)-stabilized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesized by a simple one-pot, two-phase chemical reduction method. The synthesized PLA-AuNPs were subsequently employed for selective, efficient, and quantitative detection of MET. MET is one of the highly toxic pesticides used for eradication of agricultural and urban insects. Upon the addition of MET, the wine-red color of PLA-AuNPs swiftly transformed into greyish-blue, further corroborated by a significant bathochromic and hyperchromic shift in the SPR band. The presence of other interfering insecticides, metal salts, and drugs did not have any pronounced effect on quantitative MET detection. The detection limit, the quantification limit, and linear dynamic range of MET utilizing PLA-AuNPs were 0.0027 µM, 0.005 µM, and 0.005-1000 µM, respectively. The PLA-AuNP-based assay renders an efficient, rapid, accurate, and selective quantification of MET in food, biological, and environmental samples. The proposed sensor provides an appropriate platform for fast and on-the-spot determination of MET without requiring a well-equipped lab setup.
Topics: Gold; Insecticides; Colorimetry; Metal Nanoparticles; Polyesters; Organothiophosphorus Compounds
PubMed: 38413405
DOI: 10.1007/s00604-024-06237-z -
Salud Publica de Mexico Jun 2021Objective. Evaluate compliance with the maximum permissible limits for pesticide residues in food in the state of Veracruz, as well as the risk to human health due to...
Objective. Evaluate compliance with the maximum permissible limits for pesticide residues in food in the state of Veracruz, as well as the risk to human health due to its consumption. Materials and methods. The concentration of pesticide residues in plant products were measured for comparison with the values established as safety limits and the regulatory framework for the use of pesticides. The hazard quotient and its possible effect on health were calculated. Results. 14.8% of the samples exceeded the allowed concentration. We found banned pesticides (methamidophos, monochotophos, triazophos and chlorpyrifos) that exceeded the established references dose, which increase the risk of possible neurological, hepatotoxic and endocrine alterations in health. Conclusions. There is the presence of highly hazardous pesticides, which are prohibited by international environmental conventions due to their impact on health and the environment, which is why their elimination is necessary. The regulatory framework in Mexico must be updated and dynamic as the knowledge of the adverse health effects of pesticides advances.
Topics: Food Contamination; Humans; Mexico; Pesticide Residues; Pesticides; Risk Assessment
PubMed: 35077103
DOI: 10.21149/12297 -
The Science of the Total Environment Mar 2020Amounts of banned and current pesticides have been used in domestic and agricultural pest control, and their residues have accumulated along the waste stream. In this...
Amounts of banned and current pesticides have been used in domestic and agricultural pest control, and their residues have accumulated along the waste stream. In this work, pesticides were characterized in concentrated leachates (CLs) from 5 municipal landfill sites, 2 incineration plants and 1 composting plant in six provinces. A total of 31 pesticides were detected which included 8 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs, 303-2974 ng/L), 16 organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs, 1380-13,274 ng/L) and 7 synthetic pyrethroids (SPs, 319-5636 ng/L). Despite the ten years ban of hexachlorocyclohexane, methamidophos and parathion-methyl, they were still in CL at a mean value of 320 ng/L and 88 ng/L, respectively. The average ΣOCPs, ΣOPPs and ΣSPs in CL from landfill sites were approximately 2.8, 1.1 and 4.5 times higher than those from incineration plants, which might have been influenced by pH, moisture and/or HRT. Additionally, it was found that CL from incineration plants and composting plant with lower pesticide contents posed a much higher acute and chronic eco-risk. Methamidophos was the dominant pesticide in CL from incineration plants, which was much higher than any other pesticides detected. The annual emissions of ΣOCPs, ΣOPPs and ΣSPs discharged from landfill-CL were estimated to be 2370, 10,357 and 2994 g, respectively. It was evident from the study that long-term release of CL after waste disposal could cause potential risk of ecological pollution.
PubMed: 31923666
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136287 -
Journal of Veterinary Emergency and... 2023To discuss the clinical presentation and successful treatment of a suspected case of intermediate syndrome due to organophosphate (OP) poisoning in a dog.
OBJECTIVE
To discuss the clinical presentation and successful treatment of a suspected case of intermediate syndrome due to organophosphate (OP) poisoning in a dog.
CASE SUMMARY
Two dogs presented with acute cholinergic signs after ingesting an OP insecticide containing 50% acephate. Clinical signs consistent with acute cholinergic crisis resolved in both dogs within 24 hours postingestion. One dog developed an onset of neurological signs consistent with intermediate syndrome approximately 24 hours postingestion. This patient's clinical signs resolved with the use of pralidoxime chloride.
NEW OR UNIQUE INFORMATION PROVIDED
OP poisoning most commonly presents as an acute cholinergic crisis, with rare instances of animals developing intermediate syndrome. Few reports of successful treatment and recovery from intermediate syndrome exist in the veterinary literature, particularly with instances in which 2 dogs within the same exposure setting were treated for acute cholinergic signs and only 1 progressed to an intermediate syndrome. This report also highlights the importance of early intervention with pralidoxime chloride prior to the onset of aging.
Topics: Dogs; Animals; Organophosphate Poisoning; Pralidoxime Compounds; Insecticides; Cholinergic Agents; Poisoning; Dog Diseases
PubMed: 37943072
DOI: 10.1111/vec.13342 -
Biosensors Feb 2023Analytical methods for detecting neurotransmitters (NTs) and organophosphorus (OP) pesticides with high sensitivity are vitally necessary for the rapid identification of...
Analytical methods for detecting neurotransmitters (NTs) and organophosphorus (OP) pesticides with high sensitivity are vitally necessary for the rapid identification of physical, mental, and neurological illnesses, as well as to ensure food safety and safeguard ecosystems. In this work, we developed a supramolecular self-assembled system (SupraZyme) that exhibits multi-enzymatic activity. SupraZyme possesses the ability to show both oxidase and peroxidase-like activity, which has been employed for biosensing. The peroxidase-like activity was used for the detection of catecholamine NTs, epinephrine (EP), and norepinephrine (NE) with a detection limit of 6.3 µM and 1.8 µM, respectively, while the oxidase-like activity was utilized for the detection of organophosphate pesticides. The detection strategy for OP chemicals was based on the inhibition of acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity: a key enzyme that is responsible for the hydrolysis of acetylthiocholine (ATCh). The corresponding limit of detection of paraoxon-methyl (POM) and methamidophos (MAP) was measured to be 0.48 ppb and 15.8 ppb, respectively. Overall, we report an efficient supramolecular system with multiple enzyme-like activities that provide a versatile toolbox for the construction of sensing platforms for the colorimetric point-of-care detection of both NTs and OP pesticides.
Topics: Pesticides; Organophosphorus Compounds; Colorimetry; Ecosystem; Acetylcholinesterase; Oxidoreductases; Metals; Biosensing Techniques; Peroxidases
PubMed: 36832043
DOI: 10.3390/bios13020277 -
World Journal of Microbiology &... Sep 2020Acephate is widely used in agriculture, but its poisonous metabolites and poor sorption characteristics make it a serious environmental pollutant and toxicant to human...
Acephate is widely used in agriculture, but its poisonous metabolites and poor sorption characteristics make it a serious environmental pollutant and toxicant to human health. To screen novel bacteria for biodegradation of acephate and uncover its degradation pathway, a strain called NDZ that is capable of utilizing acephate as a sole carbon and energy source was isolated from severely contaminated cultivated land. The bacterium was identified as Bacillus paramycoides based on 16S rDNA sequence analyses. The growth and degradation capacities of B. paramycoides NDZ under different conditions were studied using optical density at 600 nm (OD) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results showed that B. paramycoides NDZ can grow well with acephate as its sole carbon source (OD = 0.76), and degraded about 76% of acephate in mineral salt medium with an initial concentration of 500 mg/L within 48 h. The results of response surface methodology revealed the optimal conditions for degradation was 36 ℃ and pH 6.85 with 526 mg/L acephate. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry showed that methamidophos was the main metabolite of B. paramycoides NDZ, different from the degradation products of high-temperature steam (121 °C, 103 kPa). Based on the detection of this intermediate, we inferred that acephate was degraded to methamidophos through hydrolysis of the amide linkage, after which methamidophos was degraded to some small molecules, which can be metabolized easily by the bacterium. In summary, B. paramycoides NDZ is a potentially useful bacterium for acephate degradation and remediation of contaminated soils.
Topics: Bacillus; Biodegradation, Environmental; DNA, Bacterial; DNA, Ribosomal; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Hydrolysis; Metabolomics; Organothiophosphorus Compounds; Phosphoramides; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Soil Microbiology
PubMed: 32951077
DOI: 10.1007/s11274-020-02931-1 -
Journal of Exposure Science &... Jul 2020The use of pesticides has increased during the past decades, also increasing the risk of exposure to toxic pesticides that can cause detrimental health effects in the...
The use of pesticides has increased during the past decades, also increasing the risk of exposure to toxic pesticides that can cause detrimental health effects in the future. This is of special concern among farmers in low-to-middle-income countries that may lack proper training in the safe use of these chemicals. To assess the situation in Bolivia a cross-sectional study in three agricultural communities was performed (n = 297). Handling, use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and pesticide exposure were assessed by a questionnaire and measurements of urinary pesticide metabolites (UPMs). Results showed that methamidophos (65%) and paraquat (52%) were the most commonly used pesticides and that 75% of the farmers combined several pesticides while spraying. Notably, only 17% of the farmers used recommended PPEs while 84% reported to have experienced symptoms of acute pesticide poisoning after spraying. UPM measurements indicated high levels of exposure to chlorpyrifos, pyrethroids and 2,4D and that men generally were more highly exposed compared to women. Our study demonstrates that farmers who are better at following recommendations for pesticide handling and use of PPE had a significantly lower risk of having high UPM levels of most measured pesticides. Our results thus confirm the need of proper training of farmers in low-to-middle-income countries in proper protection and pesticide handling in order to reduce exposure levels and health problems.
Topics: Adult; Agriculture; Biomarkers; Bolivia; Cross-Sectional Studies; Farmers; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Hispanic or Latino; Humans; Male; Occupational Exposure; Pesticides; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 30787424
DOI: 10.1038/s41370-019-0128-3 -
Food Additives & Contaminants. Part A,... Aug 2020To assess the dietary exposure risks of pesticide residues in snow fungus for the general population and young children, 91 snow fungus samples were collected from major...
To assess the dietary exposure risks of pesticide residues in snow fungus for the general population and young children, 91 snow fungus samples were collected from major production areas in Fujian Province, China and the presence of 44 pesticides was determined. A total of thirteen pesticides were detected; 65.9% of the samples contained one or more pesticide residues. The most frequently found pesticide was carbofuran, followed by acetamiprid and then imidacloprid. Data obtained were used for chronic, acute, and chronic cumulative dietary exposure risk assessments. The chronic hazard quotient (cHQ) was extremely low for both the general population and young children. The values of cumulative dietary exposures to organophosphorus pesticides and carbamates ranged from 0.53% to 1.49%, and did not exceed their corresponding ADIs. However, the acute dietary risks from all 13 pesticides, especially carbofuran and methamidophos, were of concern due to the relatively high acute hazard quotient. The risk ranking scheme showed that carbofuran could pose a high risk to snow fungus consumers. Finally, suggestions are made about the potential use in snow fungus cultivation of the pesticides with detected residues.
Topics: Basidiomycota; China; Dietary Exposure; Food Analysis; Food Contamination; Humans; Pesticide Residues; Risk Assessment
PubMed: 32429748
DOI: 10.1080/19440049.2020.1766119 -
Food Chemistry May 2021The absorption, distribution, metabolism and primary risk evaluation data of four neonicotinoids and two organophosphate insecticides in tea plant (Camellia sinensis L.)...
The absorption, distribution, metabolism and primary risk evaluation data of four neonicotinoids and two organophosphate insecticides in tea plant (Camellia sinensis L.) were compared. 22 neonicotinoid metabolites and 2 organophosphate metabolites were identified. The amount ratio of each neonicotinoid metabolite to its corresponding parent (M/P) was lower than 0.076 in the treated time. The organophosphates (omethoate and methamidophos) increased sharply, with M/P as high as 1.111 and 0.612. The risks evaluation of insecticides and their metabolites in treated leaves on day seven showed that the chronic risk was from the lowest 0.0759 (clothianidin) to highest 43.6409% (dimethoate), and the acute risk was highest 0.0370 for all targets. The calculated combined toxicity of leaves treated with acephate reached 1.5 folds in mature, 1.5 folds in tender leaves than no metabolites, and which of dimethoate were 2.1 folds in mature and 3.7 folds in tender leaves.
Topics: Camellia sinensis; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Humans; Insecticides; Neonicotinoids; Nitro Compounds; Organophosphates; Plant Leaves; Plant Roots; Plant Stems; Risk; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Thiamethoxam
PubMed: 33199115
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.128579 -
Aquatic Toxicology (Amsterdam,... Jul 2023Pesticide contamination in water resources is a global threat. Although usually found at low concentrations, pesticides raise considerable toxicological concerns, mainly...
Pesticide contamination in water resources is a global threat. Although usually found at low concentrations, pesticides raise considerable toxicological concerns, mainly when mixtures are considered. The occurrence of 22 pesticides (2,4 D, alachlor, aldicarb, aldrin, atrazine, carbendazim, carbofuran, chlordane, chlorpyrifos, DDT, diuron, glyphosate, lindane, mancozeb, methamidophos, metolachlor, molinate, profenofos, simazine, tebuconazole, terbufos, and trifluralin) was investigated, through consolidated database information, in surface freshwaters of Brazil. Moreover, scenarios of environmental risk assessment considering isolated compounds and mixtures were performed, as well as a meta-analytic approach for toxicity purposes. Pesticides in freshwater have been reported from 719 cities (12.9% of Brazilian cities), where 179 (3.2%) showed pesticide occurrence above the limit of detection or quantification. Considering cities with more than five quantified, 16 cities were prone to environmental risks considering individual risks. However, the number increased to 117 cities when the pesticide mixture was considered. The mixture risk was driven by atrazine, chlorpyrifos, and DDT. The national maximum acceptable concentrations (MAC) for nearly all pesticides are higher than the predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) for the species evaluated, except aldrin. Our results show the need to consider mixtures in the environmental risk assessment to avoid underestimation and review MAC to protect aquatic ecosystems. The results presented here may guide the revision of the national environmental legislation to ensure the protection of Brazilian aquatic ecosystems.
Topics: Pesticides; Brazil; Chlorpyrifos; Atrazine; Ecosystem; Aldrin; DDT; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Fresh Water; Risk Assessment; Environmental Monitoring
PubMed: 37196509
DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2023.106566