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

Antibiotic residues have become serious health concerns due to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The treatment of antibiotic pollutants in wastewater is necessary for reducing the issue of antibiotic resistance. In this work, the metal oxide photocatalyst titanium dioxide (TiO₂) was evaluated for the removal of the tetracycline antibiotic (TC-A) and the deactivation of E. coli bacteria (E-B) from wastewater. Based on the oxidation process, TiO₂ can successfully degrade TC-A in wastewater with an efficiency of up to 96.4%. It is also employed for the deactivation of E. coli, completely inactivating the bacteria within 30 min. Moreover, after five cycles of reuse, TiO₂ demonstrated high removal efficiencies of over 80% and 95% for TC-A and E-B, respectively. Finally, the proposed mechanism for the removal of TC-A and the deactivation of E. coli using the TiO₂ photocatalyst is presented. This work provides a simple method for removing antibiotic pollutants and deactivating bacteria in wastewater.

Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) have been identified as substances with severe adverse effects, including carcinogenicity, endocrine disruption, and reproductive toxicity. The aim of this study was to evaluate pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables from Hopelchén to provide evidence for policy recommendations on pesticide regulation. A total of 25 samples were collected and analyzed using the QuEChERS method with GC-MS/MS and LC-MS techniques. Of the 156 pesticides screened, 25 were detected, with tebuconazole, chlorantraniliprole, imidacloprid and carbendazim among the most frequent. Approximately 20% of the pesticides identified qualified as HHPs based on WHO/FAO criteria, while 60% were categorized as HHPs according to the more comprehensive criteria outlined by Pesticide Action Network International. Many of these pesticides exhibited toxicity to bees and high environmental persistence. Furthermore, 33% of the samples exceeded the European Union's Maximum Residue Limits, particularly for pesticides in papayas and bell peppers. Our findings show the presence of HHPs in the region, which represent critical hazards to ecosystem, pollinator populations, and public health. This work may contribute to the development of specific HHPs classification criteria for Mexico, thus advancing the transition toward safer, with special emphasis on vulnerable regions such as the Mayan zone in southeastern Mexico.

The combination of auxin-mimicking herbicides from different chemical groups offers an alternative for controlling fleabane (Conyza spp.) in soybean pre-sowing, but care is needed to avoid phytotoxicity. This study evaluated the effectiveness of auxinic herbicide mixtures in controlling Conyza spp. and their residual effects on soybean plants. A randomized block field experiment tested 13 combinations of auxinic herbicides with glyphosate, followed by glufosinate 14 days after application (DAA). At 42 DAA, all the treatments provided satisfactory control, with triclopyr + halauxifen + diclosulan achieving 100% effectiveness, while the 2,4-D combinations were controlled at 80-90%. Aminopyralid caused the highest phytotoxicity (50-75%), while dicamba caused less than 25% phytotoxicity. Aminopyralid also significantly reduced yield and thousand-grain weight to nearly zero, whereas the other treatments maintained yields of approximately 2,500 kg ha^-1. These results demonstrate the efficacy of auxinic herbicide combinations for managing Conyza spp., provided that the phytotoxic risks to soybean are carefully managed.

The widespread use of antibiotics has led to significant water pollution. Photocatalysis can effectively degrade antibiotics, but the performance is greatly limited by the photogenerated carrier recombination in the photocatalytic material g-C₃N₅. Constructing heterojunctions can enhance interfacial charge transfer, leading to more stable and efficient photocatalysis. This study synthesized a Fe₂O₃/g-C₃N₅ heterojunction using the solvothermal method. The Z-scheme charge transfer mechanism facilitated efficient separation of photogenerated carriers, preserving photoelectrons and holes with high redox activity. This process generated a substantial amount of highly reactive free radicals such as ·O₂^- and ·OH, enabling the efficient degradation of tetracycline (TC). Under the optimal conditions of initial concentration of TC was 200 mg/L, the quality ratio of Fe₂O₃ and g-C₃N₅ was 1:2, the catalyst dosage was 50 mg and pH = 7.0, the TC degradation rate reached 92.46% within 60 min of visible light irradiation. The photocatalytic activity's enhancement was attributed to broad spectral absorption and effective photogenerated carrier separation. Furthermore, the photocatalytic performance can be affected by the presence of inorganic salt ions such as HCO₃^- and CO₃^2-.

Pesticide dislodgeable foliar residues (DFR) and their dissipation half-time (DT₅₀) after application are important parameters for exposure and risk assessment from intended reentry activities or unintended dermal contact with treated crops. To understand the impact of agronomic factors on residue level a statistical based evaluation was conducted using ten DFR studies, with pyrimethanil applied in Scala^® to strawberries, raspberries, peppers, apples, and grapes, 30 trials in total. Influences on initial DFR (DFR0) and DT₅₀ were investigated by multivariate linear regression analysis. The application rate and the crop itself indicate a potential influence on DFR0 when related to ground area applied which is not notable for three dimensional crops regardless of indoor/outdoor cultivation, when related to leaf wall area (LWA). DFR0 values for pyrimethanil do not depend on the number of applications as the range of DT₅₀ values determined for pyrimethanil is consistently small (0.3-2.3 days). All DT₅₀ are significantly lower than the European default (30 days). The noted difference in DT50 of peppers to strawberries is likely attributable to indoor cultivation. A proposal is made how to refine the exposure assessment of pyrimethanil making use of the available DFR0 and DT₅₀ data for other crop types.

In this work, we fabricated the Fmoc-Pro-Phe-OMe modified carbon paste electrode (FPPO/MCPE) and used it for electrochemical detection of CP and FZ in a 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution (pH = 7). We characterized the Fmoc-Pro-Phe-OMe and applied it for the electrochemical detection of CP and FZ. The Mass spectroscopy, ¹HNMR, and FTIR measurements confirm the Fmoc-Pro-Phe-OMe chemical structure. Studying electrochemical sensor characteristics, variation of scan rate parameters, and electrode surface area is crucial for understanding and optimizing the performance of modified and unmodified carbon paste electrodes. The FPPO/MCPE-modified carbon paste electrode has better sensing capabilities than the unmodified bare carbon paste electrode (BCPE). The FPPO/MCPE sensor has two linear ranges: 50-450 μM (CP) with a detection limit of 0.014 μM and 50-450 μM (FZ) with a detection limit of 0.015 μM. The FPPO/MCPE sensor is highly sensitive, measuring 4.25 µA/µM/cm² for CP and 4.1 µA/µM/cm² for FZ. Scan rate and concentration tests demonstrate that the oxidation of CP and FZ is a diffusion-controlled electrode process. The FPPO/MCPE sensor also demonstrates excellent repeatability, reproducibility, stability, and selectivity for detection of CP and FZ. The use of FPPO/MCPE-sensor is demonstrated for the detection of FZ and CP in milk and honey samples.

Phenanthrene is classified as a priority environmental pollutant because of its impact on the environment and on human health as a mutagenic and carcinogenic agent. The aim of this study was isolated and identified new bacteria with the capability to degrade phenanthrene from Reynosa, Mexico. Achromobacter insolitus, Bacillus cereus, and Microbacterium thalassium had high tolerant to phenanthrene (250 mg L^-1). Biodegradation experiments in liquid culture evidenced that Bacillus cereus strain Sneb1168 degraded 48.58% of phenanthrene at 500 mg L^-1 after 32 days. Remarkably, in the soil system, B. cereus degraded 72.9% of phenanthrene at 250 mg kg^-1 dw. These results highlight the potential of B. cereus strain Sneb1168 to be used as an agent for the remotion of phenanthrene from contaminated soils.

The treatment of effluents from the pharmaceutical industry currently remains a major challenge due to their impact on the environment and public health along with the cost of treatments. Considering these issues, our work focused on the development of materials with effective adsorption properties to treat industrial effluents based on locally available and inexpensive clays and zeolite. Local Algerian kaolin (Djebel Debbagh), palygorskite (Ghoufi) and zeolite (Tinbdar) were treated thermally and chemically prior to synthesis into mesoporous materials of hexagonal structure using pluronic P123 as surfactant. The raw and synthesized materials were tested in the adsorption of pharmaceutical effluents from industries producing antihistamine and diuretic-type drugs. Analyses of physicochemical parameters (chemical and biological oxygen demand) as well as measurement of the concentrations of PO₄³^-, NO₂^-, NH₄⁺ of effluents were done before and after the adsorption process by the raw and mesoporous clays and zeolite. The results showed a reduction of all parameters with greater efficiency of mesoporous DD3 which indicated that it is a promising mesoporous adsorbent for treating pharmaceutical effluents. Reduced rates of these three physical parameters (PO₄³^-, NO₂^-, NH₄⁺) in the case of NEUROVIT^® by mesoporous DD3 are 61%, 98% and 77%. However, PO₄³^-, NO₂^- elimination percentages DIAPHAG^® onto DD3 are 79% and 87%, respectively.

Animal feed significantly influences the content and quality of animal products consumed by humans and plays a crucial role in the food chain. To simultaneously analyze 345 pesticide residues in poultry feed, a modified Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe (QuEChERS) method was developed, utilizing gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). Validation studies were conducted with spiked pesticide standards, and commercial poultry feed samples were analyzed. The linearity of the QuEChERS method was evaluated, showing high coefficients of determination (R² ≥0.995) for all analytes. The method demonstrated excellent linearity (R² ≥0.995), recovery rates (86.8-109.2%), and precision (RSD ≤14.8%), meeting SANTE criteria. Limits of detection (LOD) ranged from 0.5 to 5 ng/kg and limits of quantification (LOQ) from 1 to 10 ng/kg, enhancing the method's reliability. Analysis of the poultry feed revealed that 15 out of the 345 pesticide residues were detected in the samples, with concentrations ranging from 2.1 to 120 µg/kg. The detected pesticide categories included insecticides, fungicides, plant growth regulators, and herbicides, in that order. In conclusion, the QuEChERS method combined with the GC-MS/MS approach provides a reliable technique for the multi-residue analysis of pesticides in complex feed matrices.

Glyphosate is an ingredient widely used in various commercial formulations, including Roundup®. This study focused on tight junctions and the expression of inflammatory genes in the small intestine of chicks. On the sixth day of embryonic development, the eggs were randomly assigned to three groups: the control group (CON, n = 60), the glyphosate group (GLYP, n = 60), which received 10 mg of active glyphosate/kg egg mass, and the Roundup®-based glyphosate group also received 10 mg of glyphosate. The results indicated that the chicks exposed to glyphosate or Roundup® exhibited signs of oxidative stress. Additionally, histopathological alterations in the small intestine tissues included villi fusion, complete fusion of some intestinal villi, a reduced number of goblet cells, and necrosis of some submucosal epithelial cells in chicks. Genes related to the small intestine (ZO-1, ZO-2, Claudin-1, Claudin-3, JAM2, and Occludin), as well as the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFNγ, IL-1β, and IL-6), exhibited significant changes in the groups exposed to glyphosate or Roundup® compared to the control group. In conclusion, the toxicity of pure glyphosate or Roundup® likely disrupts the small intestine of chicks by modulating the expression of genes associated with tight junctions in the small intestine.