Residues of organochlorine pesticides and PCBs in some Brazilian municipal solid waste compost

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), listed as per the Stockholm Convention (α -HCH, β -HCH, γ -HCH, p,p′-DDT, o,p′-DDT, p,p′-DDD, p,p′-DDE, aldrin, endrin, dieldrin, PCBs 28, 52, 118, 138, 153, and 180), were analyzed in municipal solid waste (MSW) compost samples from three different Brazilian composting plants located in three São Paulo State cities: Araras, Araraquara and São Paulo (Vila Leopoldinha). Quantitative and qualitative analyses were carried out using gas chromatography electron capture detection (GC-ECD) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) (Ion Trap, electron impact ionization), respectively. The samples were analyzed in triplicate and the target POPs were not detected by GC-ECD. Twelve pollutants were identified in two samples when qualitative analysis (GC-MS) was used (β -HCH, γ -HCH, p,p′-DDT, o,p′-DDT, p,p′-DDD, and p,p′-DDE, PCBs 28, 118, 138, 153 and 180). The composting process has advantages such as urban solid waste reduction and landfill life-span increase, however the MSW compost quality, which can be utilized for agricultural purposes, should be evaluated and be controlled. This kind of study is the first step in making available information to answer questions regarding MSW compost for sustainable agricultural use, such as the pollutants accumulation in soil and in groundwater, and plants uptake.     

Pesticide residues in Italian Ready-Meals and dietary intake estimation

The investigations carried out during 2005 by state-run Italian laboratories within the framework of controls seeking pesticide residues monitoring in foodstuffs involve quantifying the levels of such residues in fruit and vegetable produce and their processed products: oil, wine and fruit juices. The Italian Ready-Meal Residue Project, promoted by the pesticides working group of Italian Environmental Agencies, seeks to asses the quantity of pesticides in pre-prepared (ready-to-eat) lunches (comprising a first course, side dish, fruit, bread and wine), and to quantify the amounts consumed and compare with the acceptable daily intake ADIs.The data provided by 16 laboratories which analyzed 50 complete meals in 2005 (samples taken on 8 February, 26 May, 24 October, 21 December 2005) showed residues in 39 lunches, with an average number of 2.4 pesticides in each meal and a maximum of 10 pesticides. The most frequently found substances were: pirimiphos-methyl (20 times), procymidone (17), pyrimethanil (7), iprodione (7), cyprodinil (7), fenitrothion (6), diphenylamine (6), chlorpyrifos (6), metalaxyl (5) and chlorpyrifos-methyl (5).The distribution of residues among each dish of the meal was also examined, and the results showed that: 77.3% of the residues were present in the fruit, 14.9% in the wine, 3.0% in the main course, 2.8% in the bread and 2.1% in the side dish. Assuming that two meals are consumed per day, the daily intake of pesticide residues was calculated on a daily basis, in relation to normal body weight (60 kg for an adult, 40 kg for a teenager, 20 kg for a child) and compared with the ADI values established by the European Union. In the case of adults, the average daily intake of pesticides in relation to ADI was 2.6% with a maximum of 73.3%; for teenagers it was 4.9% with a maximum of 109% and for children it was 9.8% with a peak of 219%.     

Solid-phase extraction for multi-residue analysis of pesticides in honey

A fast and simple multi-residue method for the analysis of 15 organophosphorus (OP), 17 organochlorine (OC), 8 pyrethroids (PYR), 12 N-methyl-carbamate (NMC) pesticide residues and bromopropylate in honey is presented. Ready–to–use EXtrelut®NT 20 column, eluted with dichloromethane, was used to extract the pesticide residues from the aqueous-acetone honey sample, obtaining a clean extract directly analyzable. Determination was carried out by gas chromatography (GC) coupled with flame photometric detector (FPD) for OP compounds and by GC coupled with mass spectrometry detector (MSD) for OC and PYR pesticides and bromopropylate. The NMC pesticides were analysed by liquid chromatography-double derivatization coupled with spectrofluorimetric detector (LC/DD/Fl). This method allows the determination of the 53 pesticide residues at low concentrations (0.0005–0.074 mg/kg) and can be used to assess the compliance with the Maximum Residues Levels (MRLs) set by the European Union. The performance of the method was evaluated and specificity, linearity, recovery, repeatability, reproducibility, limit of quantification (LOQ) and limit of detection (LOD) were determined. A good linearity (r²? 0.99) was found in the range 0.0005–0.074 mg/kg for the majority of the compounds studied. Most of the pesticides had recoveries in the range 70–103 % and values of relative standard deviation (RSD) < 20 for repeatability and reproducibility, showing good accuracy and precision of the method. Aldicarb partially degraded in aldicarb sulphoxide during the analytical procedure, giving anomalous values. The LOQ for all pesticides investigated was from 0.0005 to 0.025 mg/kg while the LOD ranged from 0.0002 to 0.008 mg/kg.     

Persistence of seven pesticides as influenced by soil moisture1

Abstract

Pesticides are often applied in combination, but less‐often is soil persistence measured this way. The present field and laboratory study determined relative persistence of five herbicides and two insecticides, co‐applied, as a function of three soil water contents. Losses were modeled adequately by first‐order dissipation, with no significant improvement by using a two‐compartment model. The order of persistence in a silt loam, at 25% moisture, was carbofuran < cyanazine < metribuzin = alachlor < atrazine < ethoprop < metolachlor (t_½ ranged from 7–91 days). Carbofuran degradation increased greatly from 12–25% soil moisture; atrazine was unaffected by 12–35%, whereas the remaining compounds showed limited increasing loss in wetter soil. Field‐based persistence was more variable, but generally similar to lab rankings.     

Comparative acute toxicities of selected pesticides to Anguilla anguilla

Abstract

The acute toxicities (24, 48, 72 and 96 hr) of eight pesticides to Anguilla anguilla were determined. The organochlorine pesticide, endosulfan was the most toxic, with LC50 values in the range of 0.042 to 0.041 mg/L Endosulfan was followed in order of decreasing toxicity by diazinon, fenitrothion, chlorpyrifos, lmdane, methidathion, trichlorfon and methylparathion. When fishes were exposed to the pesticides tested they exhibited signs of restlessness, erratic swimming, convulsions and difficulty in respiration. This response was more persistent in fishes exposed to organophosphorus pesticides.     

Organochlorine pesticide in fresh and pasteurized cow's milk from Kampala markets

Fresh and pasteurized milk samples from Kampala markets were analyzed for organochlorine pesticides using a gas chromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector. Five organochlorine pesticides, namely; aldrin, dieldrin, endosulfan, lindane, DDT and its metabolites were detected in the milk samples and confirmed with a gas chromatograph equipped with a mass spectrometer [GC-MS]. The mean values are expressed in mg kg⁻¹ milk fat (mf) basis. The mean concentration in the fresh milk (n = 54) were: 0.026 ± 0.003 mg kg⁻¹ mf; 0.002 ± 0.0003 mg kg⁻¹, below the detection limit; 0.007 ± 0.003 mg kg⁻¹, 0.009 ± 0.002 mg kg⁻¹ milk fat for lindane, endosulfan dieldrin and aldrin, respectively. The mean concentrations of p,p′-DDE; p,p′-DDT and o,p′-DDT were 0.009 ± 0.002 mg kg⁻¹; 0.033 ± 0.007 mg kg⁻¹ and 0.008 ± 0.001 mg kg⁻¹ mf, respectively in the fresh milk samples.In the pasteurized milk samples (n = 47), the mean concentrations recorded were: 0.008 ± 0.003 mg kg⁻¹, 0.025 ± 0.004 mg kg⁻¹, and 0.007 ± 0.001 mg kg⁻¹, respectively for p,p′-DDE; p,p′-DDT and o,p′-DDT.Alpha and beta-endosulfan recorded the concentration below the detection limit and the mean of 0.022 ± 0.001 mg kg⁻¹ mf, 0.005 ± 0.002 mg kg⁻¹ mf, and 0.006 ± 0.0002 mg kg⁻¹ mf, respectively for lindane, dieldrin and aldrin. Although, most of the residues detected were above the residue limits set by the FAO/WHO (2008), bioaccumulation of these residues is likely to pose health risks to the consumers of milk in Uganda.     

National survey of the levels of persistent organochlorine pesticides in the breast milk of mothers in China

The occurrence of persistent organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in breast milk samples collected from mothers from twelve provinces in mainland China was investigated. Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) were the most prevalent agent, followed by HCHs and HCB, whereas levels of chlordane compounds, drins and mirex were lower. The relatively lower DDE/DDT ratio in the Fujian rural area suggested more recent exposure to DDT than in other areas. The mean level of DDTs in breast milk from the southern China was higher than those from northern China (p < 0.05). A positive correlation was observed between concentration of DDTs in human milk and consumption of animal-origin food, suggesting that this parameter could play an important part in influencing OCPs burdens in lactating women. The mean estimated daily intakes of different OCPs for breastfed infants were lower than the tolerable daily intake.     

光催化降解有机磷农药的研究

研究以ＴｉＯ２粉末作为光催化剂,光降解３种不同结构的有机磷农药的可行性。结果表明,有机磷农药结构不同其光降解率不同;浓度１．０×１０－４ｍｏｌ／Ｌ的４种有机磷农药,３７５Ｗ中压汞灯照射４０ｍｉｎ有机磷将完全转变为无机磷,并检测出人效磷农药催化降解的部分中间产物。研究光催化剂ＴｉＯ２的用量、空气流量、外加Ｆｅ３＋浓度对光催化降解的影响,并初步探讨了机理。     

有机磷农药生产废水处理技术研究

对含环链结构的甲基异柳磷等有机磷农药生产废水的处理技术进行了试验研究.结果表明,采用湿式氧化法,若工作压力为0.5～0.6MPa(150一160℃),pH值为2,停留时间1h,COD_(cr)和有机磷去除率分别为59.8％和91.3％,BOD_5/COD_(cr)由0.12提高到0.46.采用活性污泥法与生物活性炭法,若混合废水稀释后直接处理,在选定的条件下,COD_(cr)去除率分别为76.0％和82.1％;经湿式氧化后稀释再进行生物处理,COD_(cr)去除率可增加约10％.     

新疆哈密地区有机氯农药大气、土壤残留特征、气-土交换及潜在生态风险

应用大气被动采样技术对新疆哈密地区城市、农村及林场点位大气和土壤中主要有机氯农药:HCHs和DDTs进行了1a的观测分析,对其大气、土壤残留现状和气-土交换进行了分析研究,并对其潜在生态风险进行了初步评估,结果表明,哈密地区大气中HCHs和DDTs在1a观测期的平均浓度分别为107.1 pg·m-3和43.9 pg·m-3;大气中HCHs和DDTs浓度呈现季节性变化:夏、秋两季HCHs和DDTs的浓度普遍高于冬、春两季,推测为夏、秋季较高的温度造成更多的HCHs和DDTs挥发到空气中;大气中两类OCPs污染以HCHs为主,HCHs各类异构体残留以α-HCH为主,DDTs残留以p,p’-DDE为主.研究区大气中α-HCH/γ-HCH的值普遍在3～7之间,推测工业HCHs的使用或HCHs的大气长距离传输对该地区大气中HCHs含量有较为明显的影响;大气中(DDD+DDE)/DDTs的值在0.4～0.9之间,有71.4%的比值大于0.5,表明大气中DDTs主要来自于环境中的残留,近期没有新源输入.土壤中HCHs和DDTs含量范围分别为0.344～6.954 ng·g-1和0.104～26.397ng·g-1,均未超过国家土壤环境质量标准规定的一级自然背景值;土壤中两类OCPs污染以DDTs为主,HCHs各异构体残留以β-HCH为主,DDTs残留以o,p’-DDT为主,根据(DDD+DDE)/DDTs<0.5,近期土壤中有新的HCHs和DDTs输入.土壤和大气中HCHs和DDTs的来源不一致,主要是由土壤和大气本身的不同特性以及哈密地区复杂的地理和气候条件导致的.气-土交换研究表明:哈密地区HCHs各异构体和p,p’-DDE的气-土交换主要以土壤向大气挥发为主;而o,p’-DDE、o,p’-DDD、p,p’-DDD、o,p’-DDT、p,p’-DDT的气-土交换则主要是由大气向土壤沉降.大部分DDTs的汇是土壤,源是大气;而HCHs和p,p’-DDE的汇则是大气,源是土壤.哈密地区土壤中HCHs的生态风险较低,哈密城市和林场土壤中DDTs可能对该地区鸟类和土壤生物具有一定的潜在生态风险.