The effects of pesticides on greenhouse workers and their produced products

Pesticides are chemicals used in agriculture but are known to produce adverse effects on humans. In this study, blood activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and levels of malondialdhyde (MDA) were determined in 44 greenhouse workers (24 tomato workers, 20 clove workers) and in tomato (24 samples) and clove (20 samples) products. At the end of this study, blood MDA levels and activities of ALT, AST, and LDH levels in greenhouse workers were significantly increased while SOD and CAT activity levels fell significantly. Pesticide residues were not found in agricultural worker blood. Malathion residues (average 0.8?ppm) were detected in tomatoes (8 samples) in these greenhouses. Data suggest that the health of the greenhouse workers may be adversely affected by pesticides.     

Bacillus thuringiensis pesticide exposures reported to Texas poison centers

One of the most common types of microbial pesticides used is Bacillus thuringiensis. Although generally considered safe, exposures to B. thuringiensis pesticide do occur where management by healthcare providers is sought. The objective of this investigation was to describe B. thuringiensis pesticide exposures reported to Texas poison centers. Cases were all B. thuringiensis pesticide exposures reported to Texas poison centers during 2000–2010. The distribution of cases was determined for various demographic and clinical factors. Of 115 total cases, 64% occurred during May–July. The rate per 1,000,000 population was 14.3 in central Texas and 4.4 in the rest of the state. Of the patients, 56% were of an age 20 years or older and 55% were male. The exposure routes were 57% by ingestion, 30% by dermal contact, and 11% by inhalation. The patient was managed on site in 93% of the exposures and only one exposure was judged to be potentially serious. B. thuringiensis pesticide exposures reported to Texas poison centers were more frequently reported from the central region of the state. The majority of exposures occurred during April–July, involved adults and males, occurred by ingestion or dermal route, were managed on site and did not result in serious outcomes.     

Residues and dissipation of the pesticide emamectin benzoate under Egyptian field condition: a case study

A simple, rapid analytical procedure for the quantification of emamectin benzoate in tomato was developed using high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detector (HPLC-FLD). Emamectin benzoate residues were extracted from tomato samples with n-hexane:ethyl acetate (1:1, v/v). The method involved derivatization using trifluoroacetic anhydride and 1-methylimidazole, prior to analysis by HPLC-FLD. Limit of quantification of this method was found to be 0.01 mg/kg, while limit of detection was 0.005 mg/kg. The dissipation of emamectin benzoate on tomato was studied, and half-life (t_1/2) was estimated in a field study carried out at three different locations. Emamectin benzoate was sprayed on tomato at recommended dosage. Samples of tomato were collected at 0, 1, 3, 7, 10, and 15 days after treatment. The t_1/2 of emamectin benzoate when applied at the recommended doses in tomato was approximately 2.5 days. The residue of emamectin benzoate reached below the maximal residue limit (MRL) 10 days after spraying at the tested dosage. Hence, a safe pre-harvest interval of 10 days is suggested before harvesting of tomato. This study would also be helpful for the Egypt government to establish the MRL of emamectin benzoate in tomatoes and provide guidance on the proper and safe use of this insecticide.     

Pesticide in the Mississippi River floodplain and its possible linkage to colon cancer risk in the US

Result of this study shows that elevated colorectal cancer risk in Mississippi River floodplain of the United States is likely linked to historically high pesticide application. Mississippi River basin produces about 80% of major US crops and has about two-thirds of US pesticides used for agriculture. Historically, heavy pesticide application and agricultural irrigation were reported to result in high pesticide residues in surface water, fish and wells of Mississippi embayment. Risk ratio of colorectal cancer incidence in 86 counties of Mississippi River floodplain was about 29% higher than that of other counties in the 48 contiguous states. Risk ratio of colon cancer mortality in 63 counties of Mississippi embayment was 33% higher than that of other counties in the 48 states between 1999 and 2016. Risk ratios of colorectal cancer incidence and colon cancer mortality in Mississippi River floodplain are higher after smoking and diabetes factors were filtered off. Previous studies have linked exposure to pesticide with type-II diabetes and the latter was linked to increasing colon cancer risk by about 27%. Result here suggests that pesticide may be an independent risk factor directly associated with elevated colon cancer risk in Mississippi River floodplain.     

Sublethal concentrations of azinphos-methyl induce biochemical and morphological alterations in Rhinella arenarum embryos

Considering that amphibians are good sentinels of environmental conditions, Rhinella arenarum embryos were used to investigate the effects of sublethal concentrations of the organophosphorus insecticide azinphos-methyl, focusing on its anticholinesterasic or pro-oxidant actions and its possible connection with the appearance of morphological alterations. Early amphibian embryos exposed to azinphos-methyl displayed a protective response through glutathione S-transferase induction, along with superoxide dismutase inhibition. At intermediate embryonic stages, embryos exposed to azinphos-methyl displayed superoxide dismutase inhibition and morphological alterations, although cholinesterase activity was not altered, suggesting that molecular targets other than cholinesterase were involved in the development of morphological alterations. At the end of embryonic development, decreases in reduced glutathione and cholinesterase inhibition were observed, along with a significant increase in the number of malformed embryos. The connection between biochemical alterations and the appearance of malformations was not evident in R. arenarum embryos. However, increased glutathione S-transferase and decreased superoxide dismutase activities could be considered as early markers of exposure to azinphos-methyl. The results obtained demonstrate that sublethal concentrations of azinphos-methyl are a serious threat to toad embryos in their natural habitats because biochemical and morphological alterations could impair their ability to deal with environmental stresses.     

太湖水体中5种有机磷农药混合物生态风险评价

有机磷农药是一类广泛分布于我国水环境中的污染物,即使在水体中的污染水平处于规定“安全标准”之下,其联合暴露产生的风险仍有可能威胁水生生态安全。采用基于浓度加和模型与生物敏感度分布曲线的混合物风险商法,评价了太湖水体中敌敌畏、对硫磷、甲基对硫磷、马拉硫磷和乐果5种有机磷农药混合物产生的生态风险。结果表明：2003～2004年期间3个不同时期太湖水体中5种有机磷农药的混合物生态风险商(RQ_m )均大于1,有机磷农药混合物在2003～2004年期间对太湖水生生物构成了一定威胁。     

农药含钾废渣的热解动力学

通过XRF和XRD两种测试方法对农药含钾废渣的成分进行测定,结果显示,该废渣中含有大量的氯化钾,具有很大的资源化价值.采用热重分析法,在5、10、15、20 K.min-1线性升温速率下,研究了农药含钾废渣在空气气氛下的热解特性及热解动力学.以期为农药含钾废渣的资源化处理提供理论依据.结果表明,该废渣热解过程分为3个阶段,失重率分别为4.62%、7.69%和2.55%;且3个阶段的活化能E分别为83.53、128.48和138.17 kJ.mol-1,指前因子A分别为4.79×107、2.34×1010和6.46×107s-1.     

滴滴涕农药高温热残留特性

为探明滴滴涕农药的热处理特性,利用高温管式炉,对600～1 200 ℃7个温度段下的滴滴涕农药在残渣和尾气中的残留进行了研究.结果表明:在800 ℃时,DDT去除率(η_DDT)≥99%,在1 100 ℃时,η_DDT≥99.9%.在残渣中,DDT是主要的农药残留物,其中p,p′-DDD占残渣中DDTs总量的比例在温度≤1 000 ℃时随温度升高而增加,但在温度＞1 000 ℃后却随温度升高而递减.在尾气中,p,p′-DDE随温度升高逐渐成为尾气中的主要残留物.除DDTs之外,在温度≤600 ℃的尾气中,有机物残留物多为脂肪烃;在700～900 ℃的尾气中,兼有芳烃衍生物和脂肪烃;而在1 000～1 200 ℃的尾气中,残留物则多为芳烃衍生物.      

8种常见农药对海胆胚胎各发育期的急性毒性

为初步探讨农药对海胆胚胎的急性毒性效应,以虾夷马粪海胆(Strongylocentyotus internedius)为实验材料,研究了8种常见农药--草甘膦(Glyphosate)、百草枯(Paraquat)、异菌脲(Iprodione)、代森锰锌(Mancozeb)、三唑醇(Triadimenol)、霜霉威(Propamocarb)、百菌清(Chlorothalonil)和速克灵(Procymidone)对海胆胚胎各发育期(二细胞期、四细胞期、上浮囊胚期、原肠期、棱柱幼体期、四腕幼虫期)的半数效应浓度(EC50),并分析了正辛醇/水分配系数(LogP)与EC50的关系.结果显示:1)8种农药对海胆胚胎各发育期均具有一定的急性毒性,以四腕幼虫期为例,8种农药的EC50值分别为草甘膦(3.99mg·L-1)>百草枯(10.38mg·L-1)>代森锰锌(20.77mg·L-1)>速克灵(55.42mg·L-1)>霜霉威(56.09mg·L-1)>异菌脲(86.29mg·L-1)>三唑醇(273.20mg·L-1)>百菌清(647.38mg·L-1).2)LogP与EC50呈现一定的正相关性,即随着LogP的增加,各农药对海胆胚胎的抑制率逐渐降低.     

"双高"产品名录的制定与农药行业环境保护

论述了<"高污染、高环境风险"产品名录>(以下简称"双高"产品名录)制定的背景、依据与原则,以及演化过程,重点介绍了农药行业"双高"产品名录制定的意义、进展,以及对农药行业发展的影响等.