Assessment of imidacloprid toxicity on reproductive organ system of adult male rats

In the current study it was aimed to investigate the toxicity of low doses of imidacloprid (IMI) on the reproductive organ systems of adult male rats. The treatment groups received 0.5 (IMI-0.5), 2 (IMI-2) or 8 mg IMI/kg body weight by oral gavage (IMI-8) for three months. The deterioration in sperm motility in IMI-8 group and epidydimal sperm concentration in IMI-2 and IMI-8 groups and abnormality in sperm morphology in IMI-8 were significant. The levels of testosterone (T) and GSH decreased significantly in group IMI-8 compared to the control group. Upon treatment with IMI, apoptotic index increased significantly only in germ cells of the seminiferous tubules of IMI-8 group when compared to control. Fragmentation was striking in the seminal DNA from the IMI-8 group, but it was much less obvious in the IMI-2 one. IMI exposure resulted in elevation of all fatty acids analyzed, but the increases were significant only in stearic, oleic, linoleic and arachidonic acids. The ratios of 20:4/20:3 and 20:4/18:2 were decreased and 16:1n-9/16:0 ratio was increased. In conclusion, the present animal experiments revealed that the treatment with IMI at NOAEL dose-levels caused deterioration in sperm parameters, decreased T level, increased apoptosis of germ cells, seminal DNA fragmentation, the depletion of antioxidants and change in disturbance of fatty acid composition. All these changes indicate the suppression of testicular function.     

Comparative acute toxicity of two phytosanitary molecules,lambda-cyhalothrin and acetamiprid,on Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus) juveniles

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the toxicity for fish of two active ingredients (lambda-cyhalothrin-20?g L^?1, a pyrethroid, and acetamiprid-15?g L^?1, a neonicotinoid) which are components of a commercial insecticide (Acer 35 EC) used in cotton crop in many West African countries. The juveniles of Oreochromis niloticus (4.01?±?0.34?g, mean body weight) were exposed for 96?h to increasing concentrations of active ingredients (lambda-cyhalothrin and acetamiprid) or a mixture similar to Acer 35 EC (composed by 20?g of chemical compound lambda-cyhalothrin and 15?g of acetamiprid dissolved in 1?L of acetone). The experiments were carried out under controlled conditions in aquaria according to OECD Guidelines. During the experiments, the behavioral responses (loss of balance, color change, hyperactivity, etc.) that usually precede death were observed in exposed fish. Mortalities were recorded in each aquarium and the LC₅₀-96h of each chemical was determined. The LC₅₀-96h obtained were respectively 0.1268, 0.0029, 182.9 and 0.5685?ppm for Acer 35 EC, lambda-cyhalothrin, acetamiprid and mixture. All insecticides used in this study had profound impact on Nile tilapia behavior which may confirm the neurotoxicity of each single active compound as well as of their mixture.     

Leaching and sorption of neonicotinoid insecticides and fungicides from seed coatings

Seed coatings are a treatment used on a variety of crops to improve production and offer protection against pests and fungal outbreaks. The leaching of the active ingredients associated with the seed coatings and the sorption to soil was evaluated under laboratory conditions using commercially available corn and soybean seeds to study the fate and transport of these pesticides under controlled conditions. The active ingredients (AI) included one neonicotinoid insecticide (thiamethoxam) and five fungicides (azoxystrobin, fludioxonil, metalaxyl, sedaxane thiabendazole). An aqueous leaching experiment was conducted with treated corn and soybean seeds. Leaching potential was a function of solubility and seed type. The leaching of fludioxonil, was dependent on seed type with a shorter time to equilibrium on the corn compared to the soybean seeds. Sorption experiments with the treated seeds and a solution of the AIs were conducted using three different soil types. Sorption behavior was a function of soil organic matter as well as seed type. For most AIs, a negative relationship was observed between the aqueous concentration and the log K_oc. Sorption to all soils tested was limited for the hydrophilic pesticides thiamethoxam and metalaxyl. However, partitioning for the more hydrophobic fungicides was dependent on both seed type and soil properties. The mobility of fludioxonil in the sorption experiment varied by seed type indicating that the adjuvants associated with the seed coating could potentially play a role in the environmental fate of fludioxonil. This is the first study to assess, under laboratory conditions, the fate of pesticides associated with seed coatings using commercially available treated seeds. This information can be used to understand how alterations in agricultural practices (e.g., increasing use of seed treatments) can impact the exposure (concentration and duration) and potential effects of these chemicals to aquatic and terrestrial organisms.     

Time dependent sorption behavior of dinotefuran,imidacloprid and thiamethoxam

Dinetofuran (DNT), imidacloprid (IMD) and thiamethoxam (THM) are among the neonicotinoid insecticides widely used for managing insect pests of agricultural and veterinary importance. Environmental occurrence of neonicotinoid in post-application scenario poses unknown issues to human health and ecology. A sorption kinetic study provides much needed information on physico-chemical interaction of neonicotinoid with soil material. In this research study, time-dependent sorption behavior of DNT, IMD and THM in vineyard soil was studied. Sorption kinetics studies were conducted over a period of 96 hours with sampling duration varying from 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 60 and 96 hours. All three neonicotinoids exhibited very low sorption potential for the soil investigated. Overall percent sorption for all three neonicotinoids was below 20.04 ± 2.03% with highest percent sorption being observed for IMD followed by DNT and THM. All three neonicotinoids are highly soluble with solubility increasing with IMD < THM < DNT. Although, DNT has the highest solubility among all three neonicotinoids investigated, it exhibited higher percent sorption compared to THM, indicating factors other than solubility influenced the sorption kinetics. Low sorption potential of neonicotinoids indicates greater leaching potential with regard to groundwater and surface water contamination.     

Sub-chronic oral toxicity of acetamiprid in Wistar rats

Acetamiprid is a neoncotinoid insecticide that acts as an agonist to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor used as insecticide in crops and to control fleas on dogs and cats. The objectives of this study are (1) to evaluate the sub-chronic toxicity of orally administered acetamiprid, (2) to estimate the tissue residue levels and (3) to assess the reactive oxygen species induction in Wistar rats. Clinical signs of toxicity and changes in the haematological parameters were not observed in the acetamiprid-treated groups. Biochemically, increases in the levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, cholesterol and decreases in body weight, feed consumption, reduced glutathione, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and AchE were observed. Lipid peroxidation was increased in liver and kidney. Acetamiprid residues persisted in liver, kidney, spleen, muscles, brain, fat and histopathology revealed lesions in the liver. The no observable adverse effect level of acetamiprid was found to be ≤55 mg/kg body weight.     

新烟碱类农药在土壤中环境行为的研究进展

目前新烟碱类农药已占据了世界最大的杀虫剂市场份额,同时土壤是该类农药进入环境系统的源头,厘清其在土壤中的环境行为对探索新烟碱类农药的环境归趋和生态评价均具有重要的意义.本文总结并梳理了新烟碱类农药在土壤中主要环境行为的研究现状,包括吸附、解吸及降解行为;分析了农药本身性质、土壤成分及类型、pH值、温度、含水量等因子对该类农药吸附和解吸的影响机制;同时探讨了降解土壤新烟碱类农药的微生物菌群、光解和水解机理,并对新烟碱类农药未来的研究重点和方向提出了展望.     

细胞色素P450酶代谢新烟碱类农药N-脱烷基反应的机制研究：以噻虫嗪为例

生物转化是影响有机污染物毒性的重要过程,细胞色素P450酶在其中起着关键作用.新烟碱类农药对于哺乳动物毒性较低,但是经过P450酶的转化后,可能会产生毒性增强的代谢产物,提高环境和健康风险.本研究以噻虫嗪（TMX）为例,采用计算模拟的方法研究P450酶催化下TMX的代谢路径和产物,探讨该类污染物N-脱烷基的反应机制.计算结果表明,P450酶代谢TMX有两条不同路径：一条是经过两次O-亚甲基羟基化后通过水桥开环生成毒性减小的噻虫胺（CLO）;另一条是通过氢提取/羟基反弹羟基化甲基的过程,然后经水桥转移氢质子发生N-脱甲基反应,生成去甲基噻虫嗪（dm-TMX）,据前人实验报道该产物会导致肝肿瘤发生率的增加,具有明显的健康风险.鉴于其他烷基胺类化合物具有类似的代谢机理,进一步通过C—H键解离能(BDE_C-H)与氢提取反应的活化能（ΔE^*）建立了N-脱烷基化反应活性的预测模型,R²=0.932,平均绝对误差MAE=1.75 kcal·mol^-1,模型的稳健性良好,可以快速有效地为该类污染物的代谢活性研究提供...     

2种新烟碱类杀虫剂对秀丽隐杆线虫神经毒性研究

新烟碱类(neonicotinoids)是一种类似于烟碱的内吸性杀虫剂,选择性作用于昆虫的中枢神经系统。目前,有关新烟碱类杀虫剂对非靶标生物的生态风险引发了全球的广泛关注。本文采用土壤生物秀丽隐杆线虫(Caenorhabditis elegans)作为受试生物,探究2种新烟碱类杀虫剂吡虫啉(imidacloprid)和呋虫胺(dinotefuran) 24 h暴露(1μg·L~(-1)～10 mg·L~(-1))后,对秀丽线虫运动行为、摄食行为以及乙酰胆碱酶(ACh E)活性和相关基因(ace,mtl)转录水平的影响。结果表明,2种新烟碱类杀虫剂均对秀丽线虫的生理指标具有随着浓度增加而抑制的效应,其中头部摆动是最为敏感的生理指标,10μg·L~(-1)吡虫啉暴露水平和100μg·L~(-1)呋虫胺暴露水平时,线虫头摆频率相较于对照组有显著减少(P 0.01),其次是身体弯曲摄食AChE活性(吡虫啉)和摄食AChE活性身体弯曲(呋虫胺),相关基因转录水平没有发现与浓度具有相关的效应,但在环境浓度下的暴露有明显的变化。新烟碱类杀虫剂对秀丽线虫的神经毒性作用表明了其对土壤中非靶标生物具有一定的生态风险。