Characterization of distribution of pesticide residues in crop units

The characteristic features of distribution of pesticide residues in crop units and single sample increments were studied based on more than 19,000 residue concentrations measured in root vegetables, leafy vegetables, small-, medium- and large-size fruits representing 20 different crops and 46 pesticides. Log-normal, gamma and Weibull distributions were found to provide the best fit for the relative frequency distributions of individual residue data sets. The overall best fit was provided by lognormal distribution. The relative standard deviation of residues (CV) in various crops ranged from 15–170%. The 100–120 residue values being in one data set was too small to identify potential effects of various factors such as the chemical and physical properties of pesticides and the nature of crops. Therefore, the average of CV values, obtained from individual data sets, were calculated and considered to be the best estimate for the likely variability of unit crop residues for treated field (CV = 0.8) and market samples (CV = 1.1), respectively. The larger variation of residues in market samples was attributed to the potential mixing of lots and varying proportion of non-detects. The expectable average variability of residues in composited samples can be calculated from the typical values taking into account the sample size.     

Enhanced biodegradation of endosulfan and its major metabolite endosulfate by a biosurfactant producing bacterium

The present study was carried out to isolate bacteria capable of producing biosurfactant that solublize endosulfan (6,7,8,9,10,10-Hexachloro-1,5,5a,6,9,9a-hexahydro- 6,9-methano-2,4,3-benzodioxathiepine-3-oxide) and for enhanced degradation of endosulfan and its major metabolite endosulfate. The significance of the study is to enhance the bioavailability of soil-bound endosulfan residues as its degradation is limited due to its low solubility. A mixed bacterial culture capable of degrading endosulfan was enriched from pesticide-contaminated soil and was able to degrade about 80% of α-endosulfan and 75% of β-endosulfan in five days. Bacterial isolates were screened for biosurfactant production and endosulfan degradation. Among the isolates screened, four strains produced biosurfactant on endosulfan. ES-47 showed better emulsification of endosulfan and degraded 99% of endosulfan and 94% of endosulfate formed during endosulfan degradation. The strain reduced the surface tension up to 37 dynes/cm. The study reveals that the strain was capable of degrading endosulfan and endosulfate with simultaneous biosurfactant production.     

Oxidative stress,hematological and biochemical alterations in farmers exposed to pesticides

In this study, a cohort of farmers from the Mateur region in the North of Tunisia, were interviewed and examined for the biochemical effects of pesticides. We studied their haematological profile, lipid parameters, serum markers of nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity. We also evaluated the activities of Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and thiolactonase-paroxonase (PON). Moreover, lipid peroxidation and activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were determined. The duration of pesticide use and the farmers’ age were considered in the analysis. Our results revealed significant differences in some haematological parameters, in liver and kidney functions, in the lipidic status of the pesticide-exposed group. We also reported an increase in the index of incidence of cardiovascular risk in farmer populations. A significant decrease in AChE, BChE and PON levels was found among farmers. Lipid peroxidation, however, increased. The activities of SOD and CAT were remarkably elevated in farmer populations. There was a significant relation between changes in biological markers, the duration of pesticide use and the farmers’ age. This study indicates that a long-term exposure to pesticides may play an important role in the development of vascular diseases via metabolic disorders of lipoproteins, lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress, inhibition of BChE and decrease in thiolactonase-PON levels.     

Use of Composted Animal Manures to Reduce 1,3-Dichloropropene Emissions

Atmospheric emission of the soil fumigant 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D) has been associated with the deterioration of air quality in certain fumigation areas. To minimize the environmental impacts of 1,3-D, feasible and cost-effective control strategies are in need of investigation. One approach to reduce emissions is to enhance the surface layer of a soil to degrade 1,3-D. A field study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of composted steer manure (SM) and composted chicken manure (CKM) to reduce 1,3-D emissions. SM or CKM were applied to the top 5-cm soil layer at a rate of 3.3 or 6.5 kg m^?2. An emulsified formulation of 1,3-D was applied through drip tape at 130.6 kg ha^?1 into raised beds. The drip tape was placed in the center of each bed (102 cm wide) and 15 cm below the surface. Passive flux chambers were used to measure the loss of 1,3-D for 170 h after fumigant application. Results indicated that the cumulative loss of 1,3-D was about 48% and 28% lower in SM- and CKM-amended beds, respectively, than in the unamended beds. Overall, both isomers of 1,3-D behaved similarly in all treatments. The cumulative loss of 1,3-D, however, was not significantly different between the two manure application rates for either SM or CKM. The results of this study demonstrate the feasibility of using composted animal manures to control 1,3-D emissions.     

Agricultural Chemicals in the Alluvial Aquifer of a Typical County of the Arkansas Delta

Statistical methods and a Geographic Information System (GIS) were used to investigate potential indicators of ground water vulnerability to agricultural chemical contamination in a representative area of the Mississippi River alluvial aquifer. A total of 47 wells were sampled for analysis of nitrate, phosphorus, potassium, and 13 pesticides commonly-used in the area. Ten soil and hydrogeologic variables and five ground water vulnerability indices were examined to explain the variations of chemical concentrations. The results showed that no individual soil or hydrogeologic variables or their linear combinations could explain more than 25% of the variation of the chemical concentrations. A quadratic response surface model with the values of confining unit thickness, slope, soil permeability, depth to ground water, and recharge rate accounted for 62% of the variation of nitrate, 43% of P, and 83% of K, suggesting that the interactions among soil and hydrogeologic variables were significant. Observed trends of decreasing nitrate and P concentrations with increasing well depth and/or depth to ground water seemed to correlate with carbonate equilibrium in the aquifer and more reduced environment with depth. In view of uncertainties involved, it was recognized that the limitations associated with input data resolution used in GIS and the formulation of leaching indices limited their use for predicting ground water vulnerability. Misuse of pesticides could be another factor that would complicate the relationships between pesticide concentrations and the vulnerability indices.     

江汉平原农村食品中农药残留研究

研究了湖北省潜江市农村６类食品中农药的残留情况,采样测定结果表明,在被检食品中有机氯农药污染普遍存在,但残留量均低于最大残留限量（ＭＲＬ）,以植物油残留量为最大;有机磷农药残留只在蔬菜中检出,检出率以根菜类为最大,叶菜类次之,果菜类和花菜类最小;菊酯类农药残留较少;杀菌剂多菌灵残留未检出。     

单甲脒饱和蒸气压的测定和估算

用气体的法测单甲脒在１５,２５,３５和４５℃时的饱和蒸气分别为０．２０２,０．５５４６,１．９５,６．２９Ｐａ;亨利常数计算值分别为６．３０×１０＾－４,１．６７×１０＾－３,５．６８×１０＾０－３和１．７８×１０＆－２,根据Ｃｌａｕｓｉｕｓ Ｃｌａｐｅｙｒｏｎ方程求出单甲脒在常温下气化热为８９．２ｋＪ．ｍｏｌ＾－１。     

大体积进样-气相色谱法测定水中多种痕量有机磷农药

建立了大体积进样气相色谱-火焰光度法检测水中多种痕量有机磷农药的方法.重点研究了程序升温汽化(PTV)进样条件的选择,通过对分流排空量、吹扫时间、PIV起始温度等PTV参数的选择,优化了测试条件,提高了检测灵敏度.水中9种有机磷农药的线性良好,10ml水样中三乙基偶磷硫酯的检出限为0.01μg/L,硫磷嗪、致螟磷、甲拌磷、乐果、乙拌磷、甲基对硫磷、对硫磷和氨磺磷的检出限可达0.001μg/L.水中添加多种有机磷农药准确度精密度试验,平均回收率为85.8%～108%,相对标准差在3.3%～11.4%之间.与常规方法相比,该方法前处理简单快速、分析成本低.灵敏度、准确度和精密度均符合地表水检测质量的要求,适用于水环境中多种农药残留的快速检测.     

溶剂效应对有机氯农药测定的影响研究

采用气相色谱-质谱法(GC-MS)研究了不同溶剂对有机氯农药测定的影响。结果表明,有机氯农药在不同溶剂中的GC-MS响应值是有差异的,但保留时间不变,且随着有机氯农药质量浓度的增加,这种溶剂效应对大部分有机氯农药的作用减弱。经分析溶剂的极性对有机氯农药测定有显著的影响。     

Assessing the toxicity of organophosphorous pesticides to indigenous algae with implication for their ecotoxicological impact to aquatic ecosystems

This study aimed to determine the toxicity of three organophosphorous pesticides, chlorpyrifos, terbufos and methamidophos, to three indigenous algal species isolated from local rivers and algal mixtures. The diatom Nitzschia sp. (0.30–1.68 mg L^?1 of EC₅₀ -the estimated concentration related to a 50% growth reduction) and the cyanobacteria Oscillatoria sp. (EC₅₀ of 0.33–7.99 mg L^?1) were sensitive to single pesticide treatment and the chlorophyta Chlorella sp. was the most tolerant (EC₅₀ of 1.29–41.16 mg L^?1). In treatment with the mixture of three pesticides, Chlorella sp. became the most sensitive alga. The antagonistic joint toxic effects on three indigenous algae and algal mixtures were found for most of the two pesticide mixtures. The results suggested that mixture of pesticides might induce the detoxification mechanisms more easily than the single pesticide. The synergistic interactions between terbufos and methamidophos to algal mixtures and between methamidophos and chlorpyrifos to Nitzschia sp. indicated methamidophos might act as a potential synergist. Differential sensitivity of three families of algae to these pesticides might result in changes in the algal community structures after river water has been contaminated with different pesticides, posing great ecological risk on the structure and functioning of the aquatic ecosystem.