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

There is growing evidence that environmental benzene exposure is a risk factor for developing some hematological disorders, leukemia included. The aim of this study was to assess the variation in mRNA expression of a regulatory set of hematopoietic genes in children exposed to benzene and hematological parameters. In this study, 67 healthy children between the ages of 3 and 12 voluntarily participated. Trans,trans-muconic acid was analyzed in urine samples using high-performance liquid chromatography, and gene expression of AhR, BCL2, CD38, PTEN, and RUNX1 was assessed in blood samples by RT-qPCR. We observed elevated benzene exposure levels (GM = 326.3 ± 42.3 µg/g creatinine), with 20% of children exceeding the occupational threshold of 500 µg/g creatinine. Additionally, benzene exposure was significantly associated with RUNX1 mRNA expression (r = 0.27, p < 0.05). Our finding show that benzene could contribute to hematopoietic effects developed in highly exposed children. These results highlight the necessity of implementing environmental policies aim at reducing benzene exposure in children.

The aim of this study was to analyze persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in water, sediment and fish samples from Fierza Lake, Albania. Water, sediment and fish samples were collected in December 2023 and May 2024. The samples were analyzed for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by using GC-MS/MS. Total PCB concentrations in water, sediment and fish ranged from < MDL to 4.372 ± 0.957 μg/L, < MDL to 4.217 ± 0.968 μg/kg and < MDL to 5.849 ± 0.953 μg/kg, respectively. PAHs in water, sediment and fish samples ranged from < MDL to 0.195 ± 0.061 μg/L, < MDL to 0.203 ± 0.067 μg/kg and < MDL to 0.227 ± 0.072 μg/kg, respectively. OCP concentrations in water, sediment and fish ranged from < MDL to 3.626 ± 1.058 μg/L, < MDL to 3.032 ± 0.724 μg/kg and < MDL to 3.558 ± 1.108 μg/kg, respectively. The highest detected concentrations of PCBs and specific OCPs surpassed the Environmental quality standards established by the European Union's Water-Framework Directive for surface water and aquatic biota. These exceedances indicate potential ecological risks and pose concerns regarding bioaccumulation and human health through the consumption of contaminated fish.

In this study, the spraying performance of two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the DJI T10 and the DJI T30, was evaluated for herbicide application in wheat cultivation under different application volumes. The UAVs were tested at application volumes of 10, 20 and 30 L ha^-1, and their performance was evaluated based on spray coverage rate, deposition, and distribution uniformity. Field experiments were conducted in Adana, Türkiye, using Water Sensitive Paper (WSP) to collect data from 15 sampling points per plot. The T30 UAV achieved the highest coverage rate (39.69%) and deposition value (0.194 µL cm^-2) at 30 L ha^-1, demonstrating a more uniform spray distribution across all sampling points, including the edge areas. In contrast, the T10 UAV showed a maximum of 32.22% coverage rate and a deposition of 0.175 µL cm^-2, with a higher concentration at the central points and a lower uniformity at the edges. These findings suggested that the T30 UAV provided superior performance in higher application volumes, while the T10 would be more suitable for targeted or small-scale applications.

Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fol), severely limits tomato productivity, while excessive use of chemical fungicides raises environmental and resistance concerns. This study reports the green synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) using neem (Azadirachta indica L.) leaf extract and evaluates their antifungal and growth-promoting effects. UV-vis, FTIR, and SEM analyses confirmed successful nanoparticle formation; the slightly blue-shifted UV-vis absorption band (250-320 nm), frequently observed in plant-mediated CuO NP synthesis, is attributed to phytochemical capping effects. The absence of XRD, TEM, and Zeta potential analyses due to laboratory limitations is acknowledged and discussed. In vitro assays showed enhanced germination and seedling vigor at 25 ppm, while antifungal activity increased in a dose-dependent manner, reaching 97.6% disease suppression at 100 ppm. Comparative controls-including neem extract alone and CuSO₄ solution-were included to distinguish nanoparticle-specific effects. Greenhouse trials demonstrated reduced wilt incidence, improved plant growth, and increased phenolic and proline accumulation, indicating activation of host defense pathways. Overall, neem-mediated CuO NPs functioned as dual-action agents-potent antifungals and growth stimulants-highlighting their novelty and potential as an eco-friendly, sustainable alternative to chemical fungicides for tomato wilt management.

Bioherbicides, including plant extracts, allelochemicals, and microbial agents, offer sustainable alternatives for weed control in agriculture. In Brazil, the native tree Esenbeckia leiocarpa (guarantã) shows potential phytotoxic effects in weeds species. This study evaluates aqueous extracts from its aerial parts as a substitute for herbicides, focusing on their impact on weed germination and initial growth. The experiment used a completely randomized 7 × 4 factorial design with seven extract concentrations (0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, and 100%) and four weed species (Amaranthus hybridus, Bidens pilosa, Euphorbia heterophylla, and Digitaria insularis), with four replicates per treatment. Germination and germination speed index dropped significantly even at 5%, nearly ceasing at 20% or higher. The results indicate a non-linear dose-response relationship, suggesting that increasing the extract concentration beyond 20% does not result in a proportional reduction in germination. Pre-germinated seeds showed reduced radicle length and fresh mass from 5%, with E. heterophylla least affected and D. insularis most sensitive. Phytotoxic effects increased with concentration, except for D. insularis, where phytotoxicity stabilized (90% phytotoxicity) at concentrations above 20%. When applied to leaves, phytotoxicity was minimal, ranging from 5 to 10%, and had negligible effect on reducing fresh mass. The findings indicate that the response to E. leiocarpa leaf extract varies among the weed species evaluated, primarily affecting germination with minimal impact when applied to leaves. Thus, E. leiocarpa demonstrates potential as a bioherbicide for pre-emergent applications against the species studied.

Weeds significantly reduce rice (Oryza sativa L.) yield and grain quality, highlighting the need for sustainable weed management strategies. This study evaluated the bioherbicidal potential of methanolic extracts from Lantana camara L. (LC) against dominant rice field weeds Echinochloa crus-galli (BY), Leptochloa chinensis (RS), and Fimbristylis miliacea (GF), and examined the recovery responses of rice varieties OM18 and OM5451. At 0.48 g/mL, LC extract markedly suppressed shoot and root growth in RS, and GF, with root inhibition reaching 95.14-100%. BY was less sensitive, especially in shoot growth (24.21% inhibition). Interestingly, low concentrations (0.01-0.06 g/mL) promoted early rice growth, suggesting hormetic stimulation. IC₉₀ values confirmed differential sensitivity: GF was most susceptible (0.129 g/mL), while BY was highly resistant (2.658 g/mL). OM5451 showed greater recovery after 168 h. HPLC analysis identified major phenolic compounds as veratric acid (5.605 µg/mL), p-coumaric acid (1.533 µg/mL), vanillic, salicylic, and gallic acids likely contributing to LC's phytotoxicity. While the findings underscore that LC may be potent as a selective natural herbicide, this laboratory-based study remains exploratory. Field-scale validation, ecological impact assessments, and formulation refinement are essential next steps. Nevertheless, this work highlights LC's dual role, as both an invasive species and a possible bioresource for eco-friendly weed control.

This study evaluated an effective approach for the removal of chlorpyrifos (Chp) and atrazine (Atz) pesticides using graphitic carbon nitride photocatalyst (g-CN). Experimental results showed that under solar light, g-CN was able to remove 82.4% of Chp and 73.6% of Atz at an initial concentration of 10 mg L^-1. It also exhibited that the total organic carbon removal efficiency was 95.3% for Chp and 84.7% for Atz after 150 min. Besides, the removal of Chp and Atz is more effective under solar light, with a degradation efficiency of around 10% higher than that of visible light. The characterization results confirmed the high purity of the g-CN photocatalyst and its strong UV light absorption ability, with some extension into the visible region. In addition, recent methods used for the removal of Chp and Atz were discussed and evaluated. It showed that the photocatalytic process is the most widely used method for removing Chp and Atz compared to other techniques. However, the development of suitable photocatalytic materials based on g-CN should be further explored to enhance their efficiency under visible light.

This study investigates sustainable agricultural practices through the integration of multifunctional microorganisms and crop diversification in soybean cultivation. The experiment was conducted at Embrapa Arroz e Feijão, using a 2 × 2 × 4 factorial design with randomized blocks and four replications. The treatments involved the combination of four multifunctional microorganisms (Burkholderia sp. (BRM 32111), Serratia sp. (BRM 63523), Bacillus sp. (BRM 63524), and the control, without microorganisms), two phosphorus levels (50% and 100% of the recommended P₂O₅ dose), and two cropping systems (soybean/rice/common beans or soybean/corn/common beans). Soybeans were cultivated in the summer (November-January), rice or corn during the off-season (January-May), and common beans in winter (June-September). The results showed that the use of rhizobacteria BRM 32111 and BRM 63523 resulted in the highest soybean yields, offering the greatest economic returns among the treatments. Additionally, cultivating rice in the off-season, combined with the use of phosphorus-solubilizing rhizobacteria, demonstrated significant potential as a sustainable agricultural practice by reducing chemical fertilizer use and improving crop nutritional efficiency, promoting agroecological sustainability.

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.

The objective of this study was to assess the performance of indaziflam under different soil cover materials in coffee cultivation, focusing on its agronomic efficacy, residual effects, and influence on the weed community. The studies were carried out at two farms: IPACER (sandy clay Oxisol - OXI_sc) and Glória (clay Oxisol - OXI_cl). Evaluation factors included the application of indaziflam (75 g a.i. ha^-1), different soil cover materials (crop debris, organic compost, and bare soil), and the evaluation period was from 30 to 180 d after application (DAA). The agronomic efficacy and residual effect were assessed by injury level, and the indaziflam's residual lifetime (RL₅₀) was estimated using a first-order model. Phytosociological parameters, including absolute and relative frequency, density, abundance, and the importance value index, were evaluated. The results indicated that agronomic efficacy remained above 90% until 120 DAA in all treatments with indaziflam application, with RL₅₀ exceeding 180 days. Weed indices were higher in areas without indaziflam, but treatment similarity analysis revealed that the weed community was primarily influenced by soil type, with a lesser impact from soil cover. Neither crop residues nor organic compost compromised indaziflam efficacy, indicating their suitability for coffee cultivation without the need to increase herbicide doses.