Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health最新文献

As synthetic pesticides contribute to the global decline of pollinators, biopesticides have gained attention as more sustainable pest management alternatives in agriculture. Despite their perceived safety, there is increasing evidence that bioinsecticides can harm honey bees, which are crucial pollinators of many commercial crops and key ecotoxicological models. This short review aims to summarize key studies on exposure pathways and sublethal effects of bioinsecticides on honey bees, highlighting outdated risk assessment paradigms and critical evaluation issues. We discuss the need for novel approaches, such as molecular techniques and AI technologies, to better understand and mitigate the effects of bioinsecticides on honey bees. We also highlight the importance of long-term field studies and ethical considerations in ecotoxicology to protect honey bees and promote sustainable agricultural practices.

The onset of bioinsecticide use largely precedes that of conventional insecticides, although not as controversial. Regardless, both are management tools aimed at insect pest species that share varied misconceptions and misperceptions. Foremost is the fact that although used against a pest species, bioinsecticides reach not only the targeted insect pest species, but also its associated community, including non-targeted pest species. Such exposure can cause diverse consequences potentially leading to secondary pest outbreaks. Even when exposure of non-targeted pest species does not take place, these organisms may still be indirectly affected by the bioinsecticidal effect on the target species or other associated community members, including parasites, predators, and particularly heterospecific competitors. These potential effects are often overlooked in studies with bioinsecticides – a neglect hardly justifiable.

In line with the European Green Deal's objective of reducing reliance on pesticides and their associated risks, the use of bioinsecticides has grown considerably. They exhibit a variety of modes of action against all classes of insects and are available in a range of formulations. In recent years, significant advancements have been made in the development of more stable and efficacious bioinsecticides, including nanobioinsecticides. These formulations must be safe for the environment and human health. Effective marketing strategies are also essential to reach a broader target market, whether for agricultural use or as a natural mosquito control alternative. However, further improvements in the formulation are still necessary to minimize the use of toxic surfactants and to better comply with European regulations, thereby expanding their applicability.

Mosquitoes are among the most dangerous animals, spreading pathogens that cause millions human deaths annually. Massive mosquito control relies on chemical methods due to their high lethality. The continuous use of synthetic insecticides has led to various problems, including mosquito resistance. There is renewed interest in bioinsecticides and natural product-based agents particularly plant derivatives. These products are crucial for integrated mosquito management, offering a promising solution to mitigate the environmental impact of synthetic analogs. Recent investments focus on enhancing their effectiveness and persistence while maintaining non-toxic characteristics for non-target organisms and the environment. This work explores the current understanding of the effects of commonly tested mosquiticidal products derived from living organisms, examines their potential non-target impacts, and discusses future directions for developing sustainable control.

The applications of essential oils (EOs) as insect repellents mainly focus on the protection against mosquito bites and food ravages by stored product pests. EOs are praised for their reduced environmental impact and assortment, but such assets often become liabilities. In this review, are underlined the most critical aspects related to the use of EOs as insect repellents, including their instability, composition variability, hormetic effect, olfactory impact, health risks, and economic challenges. Furthermore, we explored some possible solutions implemented in the last ten years to overcome the different limitations and provided an overview of the future challenges we must face to ensure the desirable diffusion of such products of vegetal origin in effective insect pests’ control.

In the current need of optimizing agricultural production, endophytic fungi are increasingly seen as part of the solution. Trichoderma, subject of this review, colonizes the most external layers of the root, improving plant growth. This colonization also induces plant defenses, helping the plant to minimize pest damage. However, if the fungi enter vascular tissues, necrosis and nutrient competition occurs. Easily dispersed in the environment, the fungi may affect other targets, such as insects, if the spores manage to penetrate the insect cuticle. Mostly seen as a race for resources, space, and with a possible interplay of toxins, Trichoderma may act as a powerful bioinsecticide. Unforeseen effects on other organisms of the ecosystem and trophic chain that might get exposed are also reviewed.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a long-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acid with endocrine-disrupting properties. Data gaps exist on the presence of such carcinogenic emerging contaminants in water resources and their safe removal, particularly in developing countries. Furthermore, the lack of treatment facilities typically designed for contaminants present at trace levels is a growing concern. This study provides an overview of the production, use, and current data on PFOA ending in wastewater treatment plants and highlight the importance of adsorbent-based removal of PFOA from wastewater. Research studies highlight that traditional wastewater treatment methods, including using low-pressure membranes, struggle to eliminate PFOA effectively. In contrast, biochar-based nanomaterials and composites used as adsorbents have emerged as a promising removal technique. However, the adsorption of PFOA is governed by multiple mechanisms, including electrostatic interactions, hydrophobic interactions, ligand exchange processes, and hydrogen bonding. We recommend that using adsorbent-based filter beds can be a cost-effective and sustainable solution for managing PFOA in wastewater, particularly in developing economies.

The health effects of arsenic (As) exposure are a major global environmental issue affecting millions of people around the globe. Although adult epidemiological studies on As-induced health consequences have been extensively reviewed, but not much comprehensive review has been done targeting children. In this epidemiological review, 64 human subject studies on children were identified after applying exclusion criteria, which addressed an array of health effects of As exposure in early life stages in South and Southeast (S–SE) Asian countries, where a great variability in As exposures has been reported. The present review identified neurocognitive impairment linked to As exposure in early life stages. In utero and childhood As exposures were also associated with genetic and metabolic alteration, elevated pneumonia risk, and skin lesions in several populations in S–SE Asia. Significant associations of As with epigenetic changes, DNA damages, abnormal birth outcomes, and elevated mortality were also reported in epidemiological studies. The findings of this review article may help public health policymakers and clinicians develop early-life intervention strategies to reduce the burden of diseases in As-exposed populations.

Currently, nanoplastic (1–1000 nm) environmental prevalence is poorly understood, and only recently has their potential impact become apparent. Over the last fifteen years, research has identified, quantified, and analyzed the toxicity and interactions of these emerging contaminants, especially for polystyrene. This review focused on non-polystyrene nanoplastics behavior within wastewater plants, interactions within terrestrial and aquatic environments, in vitro and in vivo toxicity, and the future of human exposure. From the literature, polystyrene studies from 2012 to 2020 made up 97% of studies, while only accounting for 6.2% of global plastic production. Significant literature gaps identified included looking at the fate, transport, and effects of non-polystyrene plastics in terrestrial and microbial systems. Within the last five years more studies with relevant and environmentally prominent plastics of concern and their impacts have been conducted; this innovative research was discussed within this review and used to identify significant gaps in the literature.