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Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2023Pesticides are compounds applied on crops to eliminate or control pests, diseases and weeds and it is known that their use provides unquestionable benefits in increasing...
Pesticides are compounds applied on crops to eliminate or control pests, diseases and weeds and it is known that their use provides unquestionable benefits in increasing agricultural production [...].
Topics: Pesticide Residues; Pesticides; Agriculture; Crops, Agricultural
PubMed: 37049839
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28073074 -
Journal of Environmental Management May 2021Pesticides are a major tool for the intensification of agriculture, and helped to increase food, feed and biofuel production. Yet, there are persistent concerns about...
Pesticides are a major tool for the intensification of agriculture, and helped to increase food, feed and biofuel production. Yet, there are persistent concerns about the negative effects of pesticides in human health and the environment, particularly in low and middle income countries (LMICs). Given the lack of information on pesticide exposure and hazard, Colombia exemplifies the need to narrow the information gap on pesticide risk in LMICs. We assessed pesticide hazard in Colombia based on the official toxicity categorization, compared it to more integral international standards, and identified main actions to narrow this information gap. Results showed that Colombia has been a relevant regional actor in pesticide production and trade, reaching almost 75 million kilogrammes and liters sold in 2016. Based on acute toxicity for humans, a quarter of the amount of pesticides sales and imports, and a third of the exports in 2016 ranged from moderately to extremenly toxic. The top-selling agrochemicals in 2016 (glyphosate with 14% of the total sales, chlorpyrifos 7.5% and mancozeb 6.9%) are also commonly used in other countries, reflecting a homogenized global industry. Compared to integral international categorizations, we found that for that year 63% of the pesticides sold with slightly acute toxicity are actually considered highly hazardous pesticides (HHP) for humans or the environment, evidencing the need to use a more integral hazard categorization in the country. Narrowing the information gap in pesticide use and associated risks demands a transparent process of knowledge creation and sharing, including funtional information and monitoring systems. This should be part of an integral assessment and regulation that better defines HHP, their production and trade to reduce pesticide risk while informing a transition towards sustainable food systems.
Topics: Agriculture; Agrochemicals; Colombia; Commerce; Humans; Pesticides
PubMed: 33676136
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112141 -
Journal of Environmental and Public... 2022Pollution due to pesticide residues has been reported in the downstream of the Tano Basin in the rainy season and has been attributed to the anthropogenic activities...
Pollution due to pesticide residues has been reported in the downstream of the Tano Basin in the rainy season and has been attributed to the anthropogenic activities upstream. However, data on the seasonal variations in pesticide residues in the upstream of Tano Basin are limited. Seasonal variations in 13 organochlorine pesticide residues, 8 organophosphorus pesticide residues, and 5 synthetic pesticide residues in water and sediment samples of River Tano upstream were assessed through extraction and Varian CP-3800 gas chromatography equipped with a CombiPAL Auto sampler set at ionization mode electron impact methods. Significantly higher pesticide residues were detected in water and sediment samples in the rainy season than the dry season. Permethrin (rainy: 0.007 ± 0.01 mg/kg; dry: 0.008 ± 0.02 mg/kg) and profenofos (rainy: 0.021 ± 0.02 mg/kg; dry: 0.026 ± 0.01 mg/kg) showed higher dry season concentrations in the sediment samples. Two isomers of lindane (-HCH = 0.059 ± 0.24 g/L; -HCH = 0.002 ± 0.01 g/L) were detected in the water in the rainy season, but 3 were detected in the sediment samples (-HCH = 0.004 ± 0.12 mg/kg; -HCH = 0.003 ± 0.01 mg/kg; aldrin = 0.001 ± 0.01 mg/kg) suggesting possible illegal use. The detected pesticide residual levels in both water and sediment samples were lower than the maximum residual levels in water and sediment. The Chemical Control and Management Centre of the Environmental Protection Agency should check possible faking and adulteration of banned organochlorine pesticides.
Topics: Environmental Monitoring; Geologic Sediments; Ghana; Hexachlorocyclohexane; Organophosphorus Compounds; Pesticide Residues; Pesticides; Seasons; Water; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 35535351
DOI: 10.1155/2022/8997449 -
International Journal of Environmental... Jan 2022Pesticides are a large and heterogenous group of chemicals with a complex geographic distribution in the environment. The purpose of this study was to explore the...
Pesticides are a large and heterogenous group of chemicals with a complex geographic distribution in the environment. The purpose of this study was to explore the geographic distribution of pesticides in Danish drinking water and identify potential patterns in the grouping of pesticides. Our data included 899,169 analyses of 167 pesticides and metabolites, of which 55 were identified above the detection limit. Pesticide patterns were defined by (1) pesticide groups based on chemical structure and pesticide-metabolite relations and (2) an exploratory factor analysis identifying underlying patterns of related pesticides within waterworks. The geographic distribution was evaluated by mapping the pesticide categories for groups and factor components, namely those detected, quantified, above quality standards, and not analysed. We identified five and seven factor components for the periods 2002-2011 and 2012-2018, respectively. In total, 16 pesticide groups were identified, of which six were representative in space and time with regards to the number of waterworks and analyses, namely benzothiazinone, benzonitriles, organophosphates, phenoxy herbicides, triazines, and triazinones. Pesticide mapping identified areas where multiple pesticides were detected, indicating areas with a higher pesticide burden. The results contribute to a better understanding of the pesticide pattern in Danish drinking water and may contribute to exposure assessments for future epidemiological studies.
Topics: Denmark; Drinking Water; Environmental Monitoring; Herbicides; Pesticides; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 35055647
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19020823 -
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 -
The Science of the Total Environment Dec 2022Application of agricultural pesticides poses health concerns for farmworkers and for local communities due to pesticide drift from spraying or fumigation, pesticide...
Application of agricultural pesticides poses health concerns for farmworkers and for local communities due to pesticide drift from spraying or fumigation, pesticide volatilization into the air, contamination of household dust, as well as direct exposure for people who work in agriculture and their families. In this analysis of pesticide use records for Ventura County, California (USA) from 2016 to 2018, we identified the most prevalent toxicological effects of the pesticides applied. We also developed a cumulative toxicity index that incorporates specific toxicity endpoints for individual pesticides, the severity and strength of association for each endpoint, and the reliability of the data sources. Combining the toxicity index for each pesticide with the pounds applied within each square mile section in Ventura County, we calculated the total toxicity-weighted pesticide use and identified pesticides associated with higher potential risk to health. Analysis of U.S. Census data for Ventura County found a greater percentage of Hispanic/Latino, African American and Asian community members in township sections with a greater volume of pesticides applied and higher toxicity-weighted pesticide use. Similarly, areas with limited economic and social resources had elevated pesticide application overall and elevated toxicity-weighted pesticide use. The combination of toxicological and demographic analyses presented in this study provides information that can support the development of policies to protect public health from excessive exposure to pesticides and better environmental health protection for socially vulnerable populations.
Topics: Humans; Pesticides; Reproducibility of Results; Agriculture; California; Dust; Environmental Exposure
PubMed: 36063919
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158399 -
F&S Science Feb 2023To examine the association between consumption of fruits and vegetables and pesticide residue intake from consumption of fruits and vegetables and risk of ultrasound- or...
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association between consumption of fruits and vegetables and pesticide residue intake from consumption of fruits and vegetables and risk of ultrasound- or hysterectomy-confirmed fibroids. Only a few studies have evaluated the association of fruit and vegetable intake with uterine fibroids, with inconsistent results. No studies have examined pesticide exposure through fruits and vegetables with fibroid risk.
DESIGN
Prospective cohort study. Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
SETTING
Not applicable.
PATIENT(S)
A total of 81,782 premenopausal participants from the Nurses' Health Study II cohort were followed from 1991 to 2009 for fruit and vegetable analysis, and 49,927 participants were followed from 1999 to 2009 for pesticide residue burden analysis. Their diet was assessed every 4 years with a food frequency questionnaire. Fruits and vegetables were classified into high- or low-pesticide residues using a validated method based on surveillance data from the US Department of Agriculture.
INTERVENTION(S)
Not applicable.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)
Cases of ultrasound- or hysterectomy-confirmed fibroids were identified from self-reports to validated questionnaires.
RESULT(S)
From 1991 to 2009, 9,706 incident cases of ultrasound- or hysterectomy-confirmed fibroids were reported, and 4,195 incident cases were identified from 1999 to 2009. No association was observed between total fruit and vegetable consumption and uterine fibroid risk. Participants with the highest intake of total fruits (≥4/day) were 10% less likely to develop uterine fibroids compared with participants who consumed <1/day (95% CI = 0.80-1.01). No associations were observed with any other fruit or vegetable groups. An inverse association was observed between intake of high-pesticide-residue fruits and vegetables and fibroid risk (HR for 5 vs. 1 quintile = 0.87; 95% CI = 0.77-0.99), while no association with low-pesticide-residue fruits and vegetables was observed (HR for 5 vs. 1 quintile = 1.08; 95% CI = 0.95-1.23).
CONCLUSION(S)
Our findings suggest that pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables are not associated with a higher risk of uterine fibroids. Furthermore, our results suggest that intake of fruits may be associated with a lower risk of fibroids. Future research in this area should focus on dietary exposures across the life course as well as assessment of class-specific pesticides.
Topics: Female; Humans; Vegetables; Fruit; Pesticide Residues; Prospective Studies; Pesticides; Leiomyoma
PubMed: 36549440
DOI: 10.1016/j.xfss.2022.12.001 -
Gut Microbes 2023The human gut microbiota can be potentially disrupted due to exposure of various environmental contaminants, including pesticides. These contaminants enter into... (Review)
Review
The human gut microbiota can be potentially disrupted due to exposure of various environmental contaminants, including pesticides. These contaminants enter into non-target species in multiple ways and cause potential health risks. The gut microbiota-derived metabolites have a significant role in maintaining the host's health by regulating metabolic homeostasis. An imbalance in this homeostasis can result in the development of various diseases and their pathogenesis. Pesticides have hazardous effects on the host's gut microbiota, which is evident in a few recent studies. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore the effect of pesticide on gut microbiota-mediated metabolic changes in the host, which may provide a better understanding of pesticide-induced toxicity. The present review summarizes the pesticide-induced effects on gut microbiota, which in turn, induces changes in the release of their secondary metabolites that could lead to various host health effects.
Topics: Humans; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Pesticides
PubMed: 36919486
DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2023.2187578 -
Journal of Agricultural and Food... Feb 2023This paper reviews the impact of beer-making stages (malting, mashing, boiling, and fermentation) on the behavior of pesticide residues. The large use of pesticides on... (Review)
Review
This paper reviews the impact of beer-making stages (malting, mashing, boiling, and fermentation) on the behavior of pesticide residues. The large use of pesticides on barley and hop could cause the occurrence of their residues in beer. The foremost factors influencing the stability of residues (pH, temperature, and water content) and the physical-chemical properties of pesticides (octanol-water partition coefficient, vapor pressure, and water solubility) are essential to know their final fate. Most pesticides show a decrease in the unhopped wort because they are adsorbed onto the spent grains after mashing. In addition, their concentrations decrease during boiling and fermentation. Generally, maltsters should dedicate particular attention to the residues of hydrophobic pesticides because they can remain on the malt. Contrarily, brewers should control residues of hydrophilic pesticides because they can be carried over into young beer, disturbing the quality and organoleptic properties (flavor, aroma, taste, or color) of the beer.
Topics: Pesticide Residues; Beer; Pesticides; Sensation; Water; Hordeum; Fermentation
PubMed: 36651341
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c07830 -
Pest Management Science Jan 2021To guarantee sustainability and progress, the agrochemical industry is faced with several major challenges. Currently, loss of active ingredients due to consumer... (Review)
Review
To guarantee sustainability and progress, the agrochemical industry is faced with several major challenges. Currently, loss of active ingredients due to consumer perception, changing grower needs and ever-changing regulatory requirements is far higher than the number being introduced into the market. Therefore, there is a need to develop new products that can provide improved efficacy, selectivity and favorable environmental profiles. Strategies to achieve these goals are the search for acaricides and insecticides with new modes of action, or the discovery of novel molecules with activity on the most attractive target sites having resistance breaking properties against pest species. In this context, the introduction of halogen atoms or asymmetric centers into an active ingredient remains an important tool to modulate their properties, but so too is the pro-pesticide concept. This review gives an overview of agrochemicals launched over the past 8 years, reflects new insights into known mechanisms of action, and describes the status and outlook for acaricide and insecticide discovery.
Topics: Acaricides; Agrochemicals; Halogens; Insecticide Resistance; Insecticides; Pesticides
PubMed: 32926594
DOI: 10.1002/ps.6084