Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part B-pesticides Food Contaminants and Agricultural Wastes最新文献

Animal-derived foods intended for human consumption are susceptible to the accumulation of toxic substances, including pesticides. In Mexico and other countries, pork is one of the most consumed meats, with a high demand. Therefore, the entire production and marketing chain must adhere to the quality standards established by each country and international quality guidelines. This study aimed to identify five pesticide residues of the family organophosphates (glyphosate, malathion, diazinon, parathion, and methamidophos) and one neonicotinoid (imidacloprid), in pork meat samples obtained from supermarkets and butcher shops in the northeast (Monterrey, State of Nuevo León, and Victoria, State of Tamaulipas) from Mexico utilizing Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS). Glyphosate, malathion, parathion, methamidophos, and imidacloprid were not detected in the pork samples. However, diazinon was detected with a positive rate of 30.30 % in pork samples from local supermarkets and butcher shops in Monterrey and Victoria. The detection of diazinon residues in pork samples from northeastern Mexico underscores a potential risk to human health. Therefore, it is crucial to implement monitoring and control strategies for this or other pesticide residues.

This study investigated the individual and combined effects of polyethylene microplastics (mPE) and arsenic (As) on maize (Zea mays L.) seed germination. Maize seeds were exposed to mPE (0.1%, 0.5%, 1%, and 2%) and As (1, 2, 5, and 10 mg/L) to assess changes in germination indices (germination rate, vigor index, germination index, germination energy, root/shoot length, and fresh/dry weight) and antioxidant enzyme activities [peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT)]. Low concentrations of mPE (0.1%) or As (1 mg/L) were found to slightly promote germination rate, vigor index, and root/shoot length. In contrast, high concentrations (1-2% mPE; 10 mg/L As) significantly inhibited germination indices. Under combined exposure, 0.1% mPE with all concentrations of As synergistically enhanced the vigor index and shoot length, whereas 2% mPE with all concentrations of As exhibited antagonistic effects. Low concentrations of mPE (0.1-0.5%) or As (1 mg/L) individually enhanced POD, SOD, and CAT activities. In contrast, high concentrations of As reduced POD and SOD activities, suggesting potential impairment of the antioxidant system. The interactions between mPE and As exert concentration-dependent effects on maize germination and antioxidant defense. These results provide a basis for the risk assessment of combined mPE and As contamination in agricultural ecosystems.

This study evaluated the efficiency of herbicides used in pre and post-emergence to control Tithonia diversifolia. The first study tested atrazine, oxyfluorfen, fomesafen, and nicosulfuron in pre and initial post-emergence applications. Post-emergence applications of glyphosate, glufosinate ammonium, 2,4-D, and picloram targeted young plants of seminiferous and vegetative origin. In the field, glyphosate, 2,4-D, and picloram were tested for adult plants. A control treatment without herbicide application was included for comparison. Atrazine, oxyfluorfen, and fomesafen achieved 100% control in pre and initial post-emergence, whereas nicosulfuron was ineffective against the species. Picloram provided excellent post-emergence control (>99%) of adult plants in the field and young plants from seeds and cuttings, even at doses lower than those recommended for other species. Glyphosate effectively controlled young plants, but doses above 2400 g a.e. ha^-1 were necessary for adult plants. Ammonium glufosinate at a dose of 800 g a.e. ha^-1 promoted control of over 80% in seedlings from seeds and cuttings. Higher doses of 2,4-D effectively controlled both adult and young plants. Glyphosate, 2,4-D, and picloram effectively controlled both young and adult plants. The study provides an alternative to control T. diversifolia, this important invader of natural and agricultural systems in tropical and subtropical regions.

In the burndown of Conyza spp., non selective herbicides are recurrent in soybean pre-sowing, and it is necessary to respect the time interval between the application of these products and the sowing of the crop, known as the plant back. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate soybean phytotoxicity resulting from the application of postemergence herbicides commonly used for the control of Conyza spp., applied at different intervals between herbicide application and soybean sowing. A field experiment was conducted in randomized blocks, with four replicates, in a 6 × 4  +  2 factorial design, with the following herbicides applied: halauxifen + diclosulam (6.3 g ae ha ^-1 + 31.9 g ai ha ^-1); triclopyr (960 ae ha ^-1); fluroxypyr + clethodim (300 ae ha ^-1 + 210 g ai ha ^-1); atrazine + mesotrione (500  + 50 g ai ha ^-1); dicamba (480 ae ha ^-1); and imazapic + imazapir (78.75 + 26.25 g ai ha ^-1) at 0, 15, 30 and 45 days before soybean sowing (DBS). At 0 DBS, soybean phytotoxicities close to 70, 40 and 10% were observed for dicamba, atrazine + mesotrione and imazapic + imazapyr, respectively. For the intervals of 15, 30 and 45 DBS, percentages close to 50, 15 and 6% phytotoxicity were observed in soybean after the application of dicamba. For the other treatments and time intervals between herbicide application and soybean sowing, no significant phytotoxic effects were observed. However, notably, the herbicides dicamba and imazapic + imazapyr resulted in a significant reduction in soybean yield at the tested intervals. In this sense, dicamba was the herbicide that caused the most damage to the crop, regardless of the period, and the safest herbicide for the crop was fluroxypyr + clethodim, with a low phytotoxicity index at 0 days.

A GC-MS method in selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode was optimized and validated for the determination of twelve polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Barbus carpathicus tissues (muscle and hepatopancreas). Two chromatographic columns (HP-5ms and DB-EUPAH) were evaluated with multiple temperature programs, and the DB-EUPAH column proved superior for separating critical PAH isomers within a 25-minute runtime. Method validation demonstrated excellent linearity (R² ≥ 0.995), with deviation from linearity <20%, precision expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD ≤ 10%), and detection limits (LOD) ranging from 0.3 to 2.2 ng/mL and quantification limits (LOQ) from 0.95 to 6.85 ng/mL across the twelve validated analytes. Sample preparation optimization comparing ultrasonic and shaker-assisted extraction revealed that mechanical shaker extraction yielded superior results, particularly in the 12-16 min retention time window. Subsequent solid-phase extraction (SPE) purification using dichloromethane as the eluent significantly reduced matrix interference. Overall recovery rates ranged from 63.1% to 146.0%, with eight PAHs meeting acceptable criteria (70-120% recovery) for B.carpathicus tissue analysis. The developed method provides a reliable, validated analytical tool suitable for routine monitoring and risk assessment of PAH contamination in B.carpathicus, supporting environmental monitoring and food safety protocols.

This study investigated the individual and combined toxicological effects of lead (Pb) and endosulfan on Labeo rohita fingerlings following a 28-day sublethal exposure. Seven experimental groups were established, including control, low and high concentrations of Pb and endosulfan, and their respective combinations. Hematological, biochemical, neurotoxic, tissue bioaccumulation, and genotoxic biomarkers were assessed. Results revealed significant hematological disturbances characterized by reductions in red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit, alongside elevated white blood cell counts. Biochemical analyses showed hyperglycemia, hypoproteinemia, dyslipidemia, increased creatinine and urea levels, and marked elevation of hepatic enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP). Neurotoxicity was evident through significant inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity, with the greatest suppression observed under combined high-dose exposure. Tissue analysis demonstrated substantial accumulation of Pb and endosulfan in gill, liver, and kidney tissues, with co-exposure resulting in up to 1.7-fold higher accumulation than individual treatments. Genotoxicity assessment using the comet assay revealed pronounced DNA damage, with damaged erythrocytes exceeding 65% and a threefold increase in genetic damage index in the combined high-dose group. Two-way ANOVA confirmed significant Pb × endosulfan interactions, highlighting synergistic toxicity. Overall, the findings underscore the heightened ecological and food safety risks associated with concurrent heavy metal and pesticide contamination in freshwater ecosystems.

Phytotoxic metabolites released by plants can be beneficial or harmful to other plant species that share the same environment. Therefore, studying these metabolites is important to determine the dominance of plant diversity and the natural succession of agroecosystems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the phytotoxic activity of different concentrations of aqueous and ethanolic extracts from the leaves and bark of Anadenanthera macrocarpa (Benth.) Brenan and Tabebuia caraiba (Mart.) Bureau, on germination and anatomical characteristics of lettuce. The treatments were established from the dilution of aqueous (20, 10, 8, 6, 4, and 0%) and ethanolic (20, 10, 8, 6, 4, and 0 mg mL^-1) extracts. The percentage of germination, number of abnormal seedlings, germination speed index, average germination time, and tissue anatomy of the lettuce root were evaluated. The tested extracts reduced the germination percentage by up to 36% and the germination speed index by up to 83%; increased the number of abnormal seedlings by up to 81%, causing greater damage to exoderm and xylem tissues. In addition, the average germination time of lettuce increased by up to three days. Therefore, both species studied have allelopathic potential on the germinal metabolism of lettuce.

This study presents a label-free optical biosensor based on fully spherical liquid crystal (LC) microdroplets for the simple and sensitive pesticide detection. The LC-water interface was modified with myristoylcholine chloride (Myr), a cationic surfactant, resulting in a radial molecular configuration of the LC microdroplets, in which LC molecules orient perpendicularly to the droplet surface. Upon the introduction of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), enzymatic hydrolysis of Myr is triggered, inducing a transition to a bipolar configuration, where LC molecules align parallel to the droplet interface. Conversely, the presence of AChE inhibitors, such as dimethoate and fenobucarb, suppresses this hydrolysis, thereby preserving or restoring the droplets to a radial configuration. Experimental results reveal that the detection limits for fenobucarb and dimethoate reach 1 × 10^-8mg/mL and 1 × 10^-9mg/mL, respectively, both well below the maximum permissible levels specified by water quality regulations. This platform exhibits a sensitivity improvement of approximately two orders of magnitude compared to systems utilizing hemispherical LC microdroplets. Additionally, successful application to real water samples from Heilongjiang River validates its practical utility. Overall, this label-free, simple, and highly sensitive LC microdroplet-based biosensor represents a promising approach for environmental pesticide monitoring.

Veterinary antibiotic residues in foods of animal origin (FOAO) are of public health concern because they can contribute to antimicrobial resistance, disruption of gut microbiota, hypersensitivity reactions and developmental effects following chronic exposure. This study investigated the occurrence of six veterinary tetracyclines (oxytetracycline, tetracycline, doxycycline, chlortetracycline, demeclocycline and methacycline) in FOAO from the Ugandan Cattle Corridor districts of Nakaseke and Nakasongola. Raw milk, muscle tissue, liver and kidneys were analyzed for tetracyclines using high performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Districtwise analysis revealed a moderate prevalence of tetracycline residues in milk (5.3-42.1%) and beef (7.7-69.2%), with oxytetracycline being the most detected. Of these, 5.3-69.2% of the samples had oxytetracycline, methacycline and tetracycline concentrations exceeding their maximum residue limits established by the European Union Commission Regulation No. 37/2010. These results provide baseline data on the presence of tetracycline residues in marketed FOAO from the Ugandan Cattle Corridor. It emphasizes the need for strengthened antimicrobial stewardship, enforcement of veterinary drug withdrawal periods, and routine national antimicrobial residues monitoring in FOAO.