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Environmental Analysis, Health and... Mar 2024For farmers around the world to protect crops from disturbing pests, it is common to use pesticides to ward off the growth of pests or even eliminate them. Even though...
For farmers around the world to protect crops from disturbing pests, it is common to use pesticides to ward off the growth of pests or even eliminate them. Even though pesticides are seen as a good thing for protecting crops, there is one thing that mustn't be forgotten the origin of the pesticide itself is a toxin compound that is dangerous if used irresponsibly. The main concern of this study is excessive use of pesticides may cause serious consequences to the ecosystem and environment through the accumulation of pesticide residue by irresponsible farmers. To minimize the effects of pesticide residues, the selection of the type of pesticide needs to be considered which type may not be harmful to the environment's health even though accumulation happens. Therefore, in this study, a fuzzy-based computational model assessor was built to measure the safety level of pesticides toward the environment. The fuzzy model was created with consideration of several parameters related to pesticide behaviors, its effects on beneficial organisms, and its persistence in the environment. The method used for this study includes literature reviewing, fuzzification, statistical approach, expert knowledge sharing, and quantitative analysis. The model created in this study can assist in a more accurate and realistic method of selecting better pesticide options that will be used by farmers. To ensure the validity of the model, verifying and validating the formula and pesticide result assessment were done with related literature articles. In this study, from 10 types of pesticides used as a sample, dodine, and iprodione pesticides are the best option for protecting crops with a safety level of 7.36, and abamectin, dimethoate, chorpyrifos, and methidathion are not safe options for farming use because of its potential of harming the environment.
PubMed: 38631395
DOI: 10.5620/eaht.2024003 -
Journal of Insect Science (Online) 2010This research aimed to assess the toxicity of the pesticides abamectin 18 CE (0.02 g a.i. L-1), carbaryl 480 SC (1.73 g a.i. L-1), sulfur 800 GrDA (4.8 g a.i. L-1),...
This research aimed to assess the toxicity of the pesticides abamectin 18 CE (0.02 g a.i. L-1), carbaryl 480 SC (1.73 g a.i. L-1), sulfur 800 GrDA (4.8 g a.i. L-1), fenitrothion 500 CE (0.75 g a.i. L-1), methidathion 400 CE (0.4 g a.i. L-1), and trichlorfon 500 SC (1.5 g a.i. L-1) as applied in integrated apple production in Brazil on the survival, oviposition capacity, and egg viability of the lacewing, Chrysoperla externa (Hagen) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) from Bento Gonçalves and Vacaria, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. An attempt was made to study morphological changes caused by some of these chemicals, by means of ultrastructural analysis, using a scanning electronic microscope. Carbaryl, fenitrothion, and methidathion caused 100% adult mortality for both populations, avoiding evaluation of pesticides' effects on predator reproductive parameters. Abamectin and sulfur also affected the survival of these individuals with mortality rates of 10% and 6.7%, respectively, for adults from Bento Gonçalves, and were harmless to those from Vacaria at the end of evaluation. Trichlorfon was also harmless to adults from both populations. No compound reduced oviposition capacity. C. externa from Vacaria presented higher reproductive potential than those from Bento Gonçalves. In relation to egg viability, sulfur was the most damaging compound to both populations of C. externa. Ultrastructural analyses showed morphological changes in the micropyle and the chorion of eggs laid by C. externa treated with either abamectin or sulfur. The treatment may have influenced the fertilization of C. externa eggs and embryonic development. Sulfur was responsible for malformations in the end region of the abdomen and genitals of treated females. When applied to adults, abamectin, sulfur, and trichlorfon were harmless, while carbaryl, fenitrothion, and methidathion were harmful, according to the IOBC classification.
Topics: Animals; Female; Insecta; Insecticides; Ivermectin; Malus; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Oviposition; Ovum; Sulfur; Trichlorfon
PubMed: 20879916
DOI: 10.1673/031.010.12101 -
Journal of Medical Toxicology :... Mar 2007The measurement of blood cholinesterase activity is a useful tool for monitoring exposure to organophosphate and carbamate insecticides. Blood cholinesterase activity is...
INTRODUCTION
The measurement of blood cholinesterase activity is a useful tool for monitoring exposure to organophosphate and carbamate insecticides. Blood cholinesterase activity is measured colorimetrically or electrometrically. Recently, a simple and practical electrometric method has been described and validated for measuring blood cholinesterase activity in people and animals. The purpose of the present report was to use the modified electrometric technique for measuring blood (plasma, erythrocyte and whole blood) cholinesterase activities in apparently healthy human volunteers in Mosul, Iraq.
METHOD
Cholinesterase activities in the plasma, erythrocytes, and whole blood of healthy male (n = 72) and female (n = 31) volunteers were measured by an electrometric method; the method involved the addition of 0.2 ml of blood sample to 3 ml of distilled water followed by 3 ml of barbital-phosphate buffer solution (pH 8.1). The pH (pH1) of the mixture was measured, and then 0.1 ml of 7.5% of acetylcholine iodide, as a substrate, was added. The reaction mixture was incubated at 37 degrees C for 20 minutes. The pH (pH2) of the reaction mixture was measured after the end of the incubation period. Enzyme activity was expressed as DeltapH/20 min = pH1- pH2 - (DeltapH of the blank). The blank was without the blood sample. Following in vitro inhibition of pseudo cholinesterase by quinidine sulfate, true cholinesterase activity was estimated in the plasma of the subjects. After in vitro addition of the organophosphate (chlorpyrifos and methidathion, 0.5 and 1 microM) and carbamate (carbaryl, 5 and 10 microM) insecticides to the reaction mixtures, inhibitions of blood cholinesterases were measured.
RESULTS
Mean reference cholinesterase activities (DeltapH/20 min) in the plasma, erythrocytes, and whole blood of male subjects were 0.98, 1.39, and 1.41, respectively. Females were 0.85, 1.22, and 1.23, respectively. Ten minutes after in vitro addition of quinidine sulfate to inhibit pseudo cholinesterase activity in the plasma, the estimated true cholinesterase activities in males and females were 0.08 and 0.07 DeltapH/20 min, respectively. The percentage of true cholinesterase in the plasma of males and females was 8.2. Using the modified electrometric method, various percentages of cholinesterase inhibitions in the plasma, erythrocytes, and whole blood were detected after in vitro addition of the organophosphate insecticides (chlorpyrifos and methidathion) and the carbamate insecticide (carbaryl) to the reaction mixtures.
CONCLUSIONS
These findings are the first collective report of human plasma, erythrocyte, and whole blood cholinesterase activities as determined by the modified electrometric method, and they could serve as reference points for future studies that involve human exposure to anticholinesterase pesticides.
Topics: Adult; Carbaryl; Chlorpyrifos; Cholinesterases; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Erythrocytes; Female; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Male; Organothiophosphorus Compounds
PubMed: 18072155
DOI: 10.1007/BF03161035 -
Acute and Critical Care Nov 2022Extracorporeal removal of organophosphate from blood has been proposed, but the efficacy of hemodialysis and hemoperfusion has not been established. We report a case of...
Extracorporeal removal of organophosphate from blood has been proposed, but the efficacy of hemodialysis and hemoperfusion has not been established. We report a case of organophosphate poisoning in which continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) was applied with conventional indications and was found to increase plasma cholinesterase levels by hemodiafiltration. A 73-year-old male was found unconscious at home and was brought to the emergency department by ambulance. An empty bottle of Supracide insecticide, of which the active ingredient is methidathion, was found beside him. CRRT was initiated because he showed signs of oliguria and acidosis with an unstable hemodynamic condition. Although his condition improved temporarily after CRRT initiation, it subsequently deteriorated, and he died despite maximal supportive effort. His prefilter plasma cholinesterase levels remained at <200 U/L for 3 days, while his postfilter levels were 358 U/L 1 hour after CRRT initiation and they were 689 U/L 18 hours later. Our case suggests that CRRT might play a role in treating organophosphate poisoning by possibly eliminating organophosphate.
PubMed: 34510883
DOI: 10.4266/acc.2021.00780 -
Environmental Health : a Global Access... Mar 2011Studies report that residential use of pesticides in low-income homes is common because of poor housing conditions and pest infestations; however, exposure data on...
BACKGROUND
Studies report that residential use of pesticides in low-income homes is common because of poor housing conditions and pest infestations; however, exposure data on contemporary-use pesticides in low-income households is limited. We conducted a study in low-income homes from urban and agricultural communities to: characterize and compare house dust levels of agricultural and residential-use pesticides; evaluate the correlation of pesticide concentrations in samples collected several days apart; examine whether concentrations of pesticides phased-out for residential uses, but still used in agriculture (i.e., chlorpyrifos and diazinon) have declined in homes in the agricultural community; and estimate resident children's pesticide exposures via inadvertent dust ingestion.
METHODS
In 2006, we collected up to two dust samples 5-8 days apart from each of 13 urban homes in Oakland, California and 15 farmworker homes in Salinas, California, an agricultural community (54 samples total). We measured 22 insecticides including organophosphates (chlorpyrifos, diazinon, diazinon-oxon, malathion, methidathion, methyl parathion, phorate, and tetrachlorvinphos) and pyrethroids (allethrin-two isomers, bifenthrin, cypermethrin-four isomers, deltamethrin, esfenvalerate, imiprothrin, permethrin-two isomers, prallethrin, and sumithrin), one phthalate herbicide (chlorthal-dimethyl), one dicarboximide fungicide (iprodione), and one pesticide synergist (piperonyl butoxide).
RESULTS
More than half of the households reported applying pesticides indoors. Analytes frequently detected in both locations included chlorpyrifos, diazinon, permethrin, allethrin, cypermethrin, and piperonyl butoxide; no differences in concentrations or loadings were observed between locations for these analytes. Chlorthal-dimethyl was detected solely in farmworker homes, suggesting contamination due to regional agricultural use. Concentrations in samples collected 5-8 days apart in the same home were strongly correlated for the majority of the frequently detected analytes (Spearman ρ = 0.70-1.00, p < 0.01). Additionally, diazinon and chlorpyrifos concentrations in Salinas farmworker homes were 40-80% lower than concentrations reported in samples from Salinas farmworker homes studied between 2000-2002, suggesting a temporal reduction after their residential phase-out. Finally, estimated non-dietary pesticide intake for resident children did not exceed current U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (U.S. EPA) recommended chronic reference doses (RfDs).
CONCLUSION
Low-income children are potentially exposed to a mixture of pesticides as a result of poorer housing quality. Historical or current pesticide use indoors is likely to contribute to ongoing exposures. Agricultural pesticide use may also contribute to additional exposures to some pesticides in rural areas. Although children's non-dietary intake did not exceed U.S. EPA RfDs for select pesticides, this does not ensure that children are free of any health risks as RfDs have their own limitations, and the children may be exposed indoors via other pathways. The frequent pesticide use reported and high detection of several home-use pesticides in house dust suggests that families would benefit from integrated pest management strategies to control pests and minimize current and future exposures.
Topics: Adult; Agriculture; California; Child; Chlorpyrifos; Diazinon; Dust; Environmental Exposure; Environmental Pollutants; Housing; Humans; Mexican Americans; Pesticides; Socioeconomic Factors; Time Factors
PubMed: 21410986
DOI: 10.1186/1476-069X-10-19 -
Environmental Health Perspectives Dec 2002We assessed inhalation risks to California communities from airborne agricultural pesticides by probability distribution analysis using ambient air data provided by the...
We assessed inhalation risks to California communities from airborne agricultural pesticides by probability distribution analysis using ambient air data provided by the California Air Resources Board and the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. The pesticides evaluated include chloropicrin, chlorothalonil, chlorpyrifos, S,S,S-tributyl phosphorotrithioate, diazinon, 1,3-dichloropropene, dichlorvos (naled breakdown product), endosulfan, eptam, methidathion, methyl bromide, methyl isothiocyanate (MITC; metam sodium breakdown product), molinate, propargite, and simazine. Risks were estimated for the median and 75th and 95th percentiles of probability (50, 25, and 5% of the exposed populations). Exposure estimates greater than or equal to noncancer reference values occurred for 50% of the exposed populations (adults and children) for MITC subchronic and chronic exposures, methyl bromide subchronic exposures (year 2000 monitoring), and 1,3-dichloropropene subchronic exposures (1990 monitoring). Short-term chlorpyrifos exposure estimates exceeded the acute reference value for 50% of children (not adults) in the exposed population. Noncancer risks were uniformly higher for children due to a proportionately greater inhalation rate-to-body weight ratio compared to adults and other factors. Target health effects of potential concern for these exposures include neurologic effects (methyl bromide and chlorpyrifos) and respiratory effects (1,3-dichloropropene and MITC). The lowest noncancer risks occurred for simazine and chlorothalonil. Lifetime cancer risks of one-in-a-million or greater were estimated for 50% of the exposed population for 1,3-dichloropropene (1990 monitoring) and 25% of the exposed populations for methidathion and molinate. Pesticide vapor pressure was found to be a better predictor of inhalation risk compared to other methods of ranking pesticides as potential toxic air contaminants.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Agriculture; Body Weight; California; Child; Child, Preschool; Environmental Exposure; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Inhalation Exposure; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasms; Pesticides; Reference Values; Risk Assessment
PubMed: 12460795
DOI: 10.1289/ehp.021101175 -
Toxics Sep 2023New approach methods (NAMs) can reduce the need for chronic animal studies. Here, we apply benchmark dose (concentration) (BMD(C))-response modeling to transcriptomic...
New approach methods (NAMs) can reduce the need for chronic animal studies. Here, we apply benchmark dose (concentration) (BMD(C))-response modeling to transcriptomic changes in the liver of mice and in fathead minnow larvae after short-term exposures (7 days and 1 day, respectively) to several dose/concentrations of three organophosphate pesticides (OPPs): fenthion, methidathion, and parathion. The mouse liver transcriptional points of departure (TPODs) for fenthion, methidathion, and parathion were 0.009, 0.093, and 0.046 mg/Kg-bw/day, while the fathead minnow larva TPODs were 0.007, 0.115, and 0.046 mg/L, respectively. The TPODs were consistent across both species and reflected the relative potencies from traditional chronic toxicity studies with fenthion identified as the most potent. Moreover, the mouse liver TPODs were more sensitive than or within a 10-fold difference from the chronic apical points of departure (APODs) for mammals, while the fathead minnow larva TPODs were within an 18-fold difference from the chronic APODs for fish species. Short-term exposure to OPPs significantly impacted acetylcholinesterase mRNA abundance (FDR -value <0.05, |fold change| ≥2) and canonical pathways (IPA, -value <0.05) associated with organism death and neurological/immune dysfunctions, indicating the conservation of key events related to OPP toxicity. Together, these results build confidence in using short-term, molecular-based assays for the characterization of chemical toxicity and risk, thereby reducing reliance on chronic animal studies.
PubMed: 37888672
DOI: 10.3390/toxics11100820 -
Journal of Insect Science (Online) 2003A series of compounds representing four major pesticide groups were tested for toxicity to beneficial insects representing four different insect orders: Coleoptera...
A series of compounds representing four major pesticide groups were tested for toxicity to beneficial insects representing four different insect orders: Coleoptera (Coccinellidae), Hemiptera (Anthocoridae), Hymenoptera (Aphelinidae), and Neuroptera (Chrysopidae). These materials included organophosphates (methidathion, esfenvalerate and phosmet), carbamates (carbofuran, methomyl and carbaryl), pyrethroids (bifenthrin, fenpropathrin, zeta-cypermethrin, cyfluthrin and permethrin) and the oxadiazine indoxacarb. Toxicity to coccinellid and lacewing species was assessed by treating 1st instar larvae with the recommended field rate of commercial products, and two 10 fold dilutions of these materials, in topical spray applications. Adult Aphytis melinus Debach and 2nd instar Orius insidiosus (Say) were exposed to leaf residues of the same concentrations for 24 h. ANOVA performed on composite survival indices derived from these data resolved significant differences among materials with respect to their overall toxicity to beneficial insects. Cyfluthrin, fenpropathrin and zeta-cypermethrin all increased the developmental time of the lacewing and one or more coccinellid species for larvae that survived topical applications. Bifenthrin increased developmental time for two coccinellid species and decreased it in a third. Indoxacarb (Avaunt WG, DuPont Corp.) ranked highest overall for safety to beneficial insects, largely because of its low dermal toxicity to all species tested. Zeta-cypermethrin (Super Fury), FMC Corporation) received the second best safety rating, largely because of its low toxicity as a leaf residue to A. melinus and O. insidiosus. Phosmet (Imidan 70W, Gowan Co.) and methidathion (Supracide 25W, Gowan Co.) ranked high for safety to coccinellid species, but compounds currently recommended for use in citrus such as fenpropathrin (Danitol 2.4EC, Sumimoto Chem. Co.) and carbaryl (Sevin XLR EC, Rhone Poulenc Ag. Co.) ranked very low for IPM-compatibility based on their relatively high toxicity to all species tested.
Topics: Animals; Carbamates; Citrus; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Insecta; Insecticides; Larva; Organophosphates; Oxazines; Pest Control, Biological; Pyrethrins
PubMed: 15841234
DOI: 10.1093/jis/3.1.18 -
PeerJ 2017Pesticide application is the dominant control method for arthropod pests in broad-acre arable systems. In Australia, organophosphate pesticides are often applied either...
BACKGROUND
Pesticide application is the dominant control method for arthropod pests in broad-acre arable systems. In Australia, organophosphate pesticides are often applied either prophylactically, or reactively, including at higher concentrations, to control crop establishment pests such as false wireworms and earth mite species. Organophosphates are reported to be disruptive to beneficial species, such as natural enemies, but this has not been widely assessed in Australian systems. Neither has the risk that secondary outbreaks may occur if the natural enemy community composition or function is altered.
METHODS
We examine the abundance of ground-dwelling invertebrate communities in an arable field over successive seasons under rotation; barley, two years of wheat, then canola. Two organophosphates (chlorpyrifos and methidathion) were initially applied at recommended rates. After no discernible impact on target pest species, the rate for chlorpyrifos was doubled to elicit a definitive response to a level used at establishment when seedling damage is observed. Invertebrates were sampled using pitfalls and refuge traps throughout the experiments. We applied measures of community diversity, principal response curves and multiple generalised linear modelling techniques to understand the changes in pest and natural enemy communities.
RESULTS
There was large variability due to seasonality and crop type. Nevertheless, both pest (e.g., mites and aphids) and natural enemy (e.g., predatory beetles) invertebrate communities were significantly affected by application of organophosphates. When the rate of chlorpyrifos was increased there was a reduction in the number of beetles that predate on slug populations. Slugs displayed opposite trends to many of the other target pests, and actually increased in numbers under the higher rates of chlorpyrifos in comparison to the other treatments. Slug numbers in the final rotation of canola resulted in significant yield loss regardless of pesticide application.
DISCUSSION
Organophosphates are a cost-effective tool to control emergent pests in broad-acre arable systems in Australia. We found risks associated with prophylactic application in fields under rotation between different crop types and significant changes to the community of pests and natural enemy. Disrupting key predators reduced effective suppression of other pests, such as slugs, and may lead to secondary outbreaks when rotating with susceptible crops such as canola. Such non-target impacts are rarely documented when studies focus on single-species, rather than community assessments. This study represents a single demonstration of how pesticide application can lead to secondary outbreaks and reinforces the need for studies that include a longer temporal component to understand this process further.
PubMed: 29302395
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4179 -
BMJ Case Reports 2009Spontaneous, bilateral, quadriceps tendon rupture is a rare injury. Many predisposing conditions have been reported that contribute to quadriceps tendon degeneration. We...
Spontaneous, bilateral, quadriceps tendon rupture is a rare injury. Many predisposing conditions have been reported that contribute to quadriceps tendon degeneration. We report a case of a 42-year-old farmer with spontaneous, bilateral, quadriceps tendon rupture and clear medical history. Clinical and laboratory investigations revealed no risk factors for tendon degeneration but the patient reported that he was exposed locally to methidathion 1 week before the rupture. Methidathion is an organophosphate insecticide commonly used in agriculture that is highly toxic via the dermal route. Methidathion induces lipid pre-oxidation and consequently alters quadriceps tendon blood supply and ultrastructure. The injury was treated with early surgical repair and final outcome was excellent 44 months postoperatively.
PubMed: 22114623
DOI: 10.1136/bcr.09.2009.2256