Use Of Pesticides In Agriculture Research Articles

The impact of pesticides: Assessing residue persistence, environmental contamination, and human health risks

The intensification of agricultural practices to meet global food demand has led to extensive pesticide use, which poses significant challenges for food safety, environmental health, and human well-being. This narrative review provides a comprehensive analysis of the global use of pesticides in agriculture, focusing on the persistence of pesticide residues in food crops, their environmental impacts, and the associated health risks. Historically, pesticides have been integral to agricultural productivity, but their adverse effects have become increasingly clear. Notably, pesticide residues in food can pose serious health risks, particularly to vulnerable populations such as children and pregnant women. This review also discusses regional disparities in pesticide-related health outcomes, with a focus on Brazil. The findings underscore the urgent need for sustainable pest management practices, including organic farming and improved regulatory measures, to mitigate the adverse effects of pesticide use. By integrating these strategies, a more balanced and sustainable agricultural system can be achieved, safeguarding both human health and environmental quality.

ENVIRONMENTAL RISK INDEX OF THE MAIN HERBICIDES USED IN THE STATE OF MATO GROSSO

Given the concern about environmental contamination due to the intensive use of pesticides in Brazilian agriculture, such as in the state of Mato Grosso, it is necessary to analyze the particularities that active ingredients (AI) exert on the environment to help reduce their impacts. The Environmental Risk Index (IRA) is a means of identifying these damages. Thus, the objective of this study was to perform the IRA of the herbicides most commonly used in Mato Grosso to control weeds in soybean, corn and cotton crops. The survey was carried out by AI, based on data from the Mato Grosso Institute of Agricultural Defense, while the physicochemical characteristics of the herbicides, necessary for the IRA equations, were obtained from three databases (PPDB, PPD and IBAMA). The parameters used to construct the IRA were: persistence in the soil, leaching, volatility, dose and toxicological profile of the herbicides. The survey indicated 42 herbicides were used, but 11 compounds accounted for 98.2% of the total volume sold, with glyphosate being the first in the ranking, with a total mass of 134,138,025 kg ai sold in the last three years in Mato Grosso. The IRA results for the largest mass sold in decreasing order were: atrazine, diuron, trifluralin, glyphosate, 2,4-D, clomazone, S-metolachlor, diquat, haloxifop-methyl, clethodim and glufosinate-ammonium. The herbicides atrazine, MSMA, diuron, trifluralin and pendimethalin were the ai that presented the highest IRA. In general, all herbicides presented medium to very high toxicity levels, resulting in a worrying factor for ecosystems when they reach non-target organisms.

First evidence of age-dependent decreases in non-persistent pesticide mixtures in nestlings of a farmland raptor

Intensive use of synthetic pesticides in conventional agriculture may harm non-target organisms through sublethal effects on life-history traits. Farmland birds are exposed throughout their life cycle, but the fate of non-persistent pesticide mixtures in wild birds remains unknown. In this study, we investigated changes in pesticide contamination levels in Montagu’s harrier (Circus pygargus) nestlings during their growth. In total, 35 chicks were sampled twice during the rearing period, and blood was tested for 116 pesticides to assess pesticide load through two proxies; the number of pesticides detected and the sum of pesticide concentrations. Body mass and tarsus length were also measured to estimate body condition. Across the two sampling times, nine herbicides, five insecticides and four fungicides were detected. Contamination levels decreased significantly with nestling age irrespective of sampling date, and there was no relationship between pesticide load and body condition. Moreover, concentrations of chlorpyrifos-methyl, fenpropidin, metamitron, picloram and S-metolachlor, all detected throughout the rearing period, were unrelated to any of the explanatory variables. However, ethofumesate concentrations decreased significantly with chick age. This study provides the first evidence that non-persistent pesticide mixtures can decrease with age in wild nestlings. This has implications for understanding how chicks are contaminated and provides new insights on pesticide fate within organisms.

Influence of Cooperatives' Socialized Services on Agricultural Households' Chemical Fertilizer and Pesticide Use Intensity —Based on the Evidence from Two Counties, Hubei, China

Influence of Cooperatives' Socialized Services on Agricultural Households' Chemical Fertilizer and Pesticide Use Intensity —Based on the Evidence from Two Counties, Hubei, China

Mitigating pesticide pollution: A comprehensive study on the biological treatment of clodinafop-propargyl and organic load in agricultural wastewater using a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR)

The widespread use of pesticides in modern agriculture poses significant threats to public health and the environment. Addressing the growing environmental and economic concerns requires effective strategies for removing and mitigating agricultural toxins. This study evaluates the efficiency of a Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) in degrading clodinafop-propargyl (CF) and reducing organic matter in a controlled laboratory setting. The research focuses on initial CF concentration and hydraulic retention time (HRT) as key factors influencing removal efficiency. The biodegradation of CF was systematically carried out using the MBBR bioreactor. Results demonstrated maximum removal efficiencies of 82.51 % for CF, 88.78 % for Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), 89.58 % for Total Phosphorus (TP), and 86.31 % for Total Nitrogen (TN). These findings highlight the MBBR's strong capability in eliminating CF and reducing nitrogen in wastewater, positioning it as a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable solution for pesticide pollution. The novelty of this study lies in its detailed examination of the MBBR's performance under varying operational conditions, providing critical insights into its efficiency and optimization. Overall, this research offers valuable contributions to environmental engineering, presenting a promising method for treating pesticide-laden agricultural wastewater and supporting sustainable farming practices.

Sensing at Your Fingertip: On-Glove Electrochemical Sensor for Copper Detection on Vine Leaves

Intensive use of copper-based pesticides in agriculture can impact human health and biodiversity: the accumulation of this metal in soil negatively affects crop yields. There is growing interest in developing new tools that are capable of monitoring copper occurrence in agricultural contexts through the use of quick and user-friendly approaches for non-specialists, e.g., farmers. This work focuses on the development of a glove-based electrochemical sensor, enhanced with gold nanoparticles, for the detection of copper ions on leaves. The developed device proved was capable of detecting copper ions contained in a copper-based pesticide commonly used in agriculture (Cupravit Bio Advanced). The on-glove analytical device was characterized using garden leaf as the model system and subsequently applied to on-site detection of copper ions on vine leaf treated with Cupravit Bio Advanced. The procedure was very facile: sampling was carried out by touching the leaf with the strip and the stripping-voltammetric measurement was performed by adding a few microliters of an acidic solution to the strip. The on-glove approach allowed evaluation of the level of copper-based pesticide used, avoiding complex and time-consuming tasks. Such operation opens up a wide range of possibilities for improving precision agriculture and sustainable development at the point-of-need for the use of non-specialists.

Pesticide contamination patterns in Montagu's harrier (Circus pygargus) chicks.

Biomonitoring of persistent pesticides in birds of prey has been carried out for decades, but few studies have investigated their relevance for the monitoring of non-persistent pesticides. Herein, we determined the contamination patterns of multiple pesticides in Montagu's harrier (Circus pygargus) chicks in an intensive farming area of southwestern France. Blood samples from 55 chicks belonging to 22 nests in 2021 were assessed for 104 compounds (herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, safeners and synergists). All chicks had at least one herbicide in their blood, and half had at least two compounds. The 28 compounds detected comprised 10 herbicides, 12 fungicides, 5 insecticides and 1 synergist. Mixtures in blood were predominantly composed of herbicides, and six chicks presented a mixture of the three pesticide classes. The most prevalent compounds were sulcotrione (96% of chicks), tebutam (44%) and chloridazon (31%), of which the latter two had been banned in France for 19 and 3years, respectively, at the time of sampling. Most compounds are considered non-acutely toxic, but sulcotrione is potentially carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic, raising questions about the effects on the health of nestlings. Biomonitoring of multiple pesticides through Montagu's harrier chicks in agroecosystems is clearly relevant because it reflects the general pattern of agricultural pesticide use in the study area. It also raises questions about exposure pathways in chicks, and further investigations are needed to disentangle the roles of dietary routes and maternal transfer for the established pesticide contamination patterns.

Pesticide Use, Regulation, and Policies in Indian Agriculture

This research paper presents a comprehensive analysis of pesticide use in global and Indian agriculture, focusing on the mounting food security challenges due to population growth and the increased demand for food and fiber crops. While pesticides are crucial in mitigating losses due to pests, diseases, and weeds, increasing apprehension regarding their adverse effects on human and environment health necessitates a critical examination of their usage patterns. Despite India’s relatively low per-hectare pesticide usage of 0.4 kg compared to China’s 1.83 kg, issues with pesticide residue contamination in the food chain require urgent attention. Additionally, significant regional disparities in pesticide application highlight the need for more uniform and sustainable agricultural practices. Therefore, this study examines the evolving trends in global and Indian pesticide application, providing a comprehensive analysis of the shifting dynamics across various Indian states and crop varieties. Furthermore, it analyzes various pesticide categories and their respective market shares, providing insights into production and export patterns. Our research also explores regulatory frameworks aimed at optimizing pesticide use while minimizing detrimental effects on human health and the environment.

Efecto antrópico en propiedades del suelo en sistemas de producción agrícola en la granja Santa Inés

Soil is the main element for the health of agroecosystems; however, agricultural activities have altered the properties of the soil, affecting the quality of the non-renewable natural resource. The objective of the work was to determine the anthropogenic effect of agricultural management on the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil in production systems of the Santa Inés farm. For this, permanent sampling points were randomly selected in five agroecosystems (cocoa, banana, corn, pastures, and forest) belonging to the Santa Inés farm. The anthropogenic effect in agriculture has significantly transformed the properties of the soil, caused by the intensive use of agricultural tillage, fertilizers, and pesticides which have caused notable changes in apparent density, porosity, sand content, clay, and nutrients. The modifications that occurred in the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the Inceptisol soil reflect the direct influence of agricultural practices on soil degradation and its ability to maintain sustainable crops.

How does pesticide reduction affect labour time and profitability? A crop production case study

CONTEXTNational and international agendas are focusing on reducing pesticides due to their detrimental effects on flora, fauna, and human health, which has led to the introduction of agri-environmental programmes aimed at reducing the risk of pesticides. Pesticide reduction in agriculture can have an impact on labour time requirements and profitability. OBJECTIVEWe used winter wheat, sugar beet, and potatoes as examples to analyse the changes in profitability and working time requirements, including management tasks. METHODSFor the calculations, we used five different production schemes for each crop: reference; (A) reduction of herbicides; (B) reduction of growth regulators, fungicides, and insecticides; combination of schemes (A) and (B); and organic production. The working time requirements for fieldwork and farm management work were modelled for each scheme and crop. The respective partial costs and benefits of the schemes were calculated for each crop. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSBased on the model assumptions, scheme (B) appears favourable in terms of working time requirements, and profitability of winter wheat and sugar beet. Scheme (A) offers synergies between the same parameters for potato production. Economic analysis shows that crop production with reduced pesticide use may even experience an increase in financial viability if the yield is not severely jeopardised, and farmers can be compensated through premiums and direct payments. SIGNIFICANCEOur results can support policy-making, since the labour time requirement and profitability of pesticide-reduced crop production can affect the success of voluntary agri-environmental programmes for the reduction of the risks from pesticide use in agriculture.

Dual fluorescence-colorimetric sensing platform based on the peroxidase-mimetic performance of the Fe2AlB2 MAX phase for the quantification of acetamiprid and imidacloprid pesticides

The extensive use of pesticides in modern agriculture has raised concerns about environmental contamination and adverse human health effects. Therefore, developing highly sensitive detection methods to identify pesticide residues is crucial for food safety and ecosystem protection. In this study, the Fe2AlB2 MAX phase was synthesized and characterized. After evaluating its peroxidase-mimetic performance using a colorimetric method, a new, sensitive, and simple dual fluorescence-colorimetric sensor was developed for the quantification of two common pesticides, acetamiprid (ACP) and imidacloprid (IMP), using fluorescein (FL). The developed method is based on the inhibitory impact of ACP and IMP on the enzymatic performance of the Fe2AlB2 MAX phase, specifically the inhibition of hydroxyl radical (OH) generation, which enhances the absorption and emission intensities of FL. The results confirmed that OH generated through the breakdown of H2O2 via the catalytic activity of the MAX phase can decrease the intrinsic absorption and emission intensities of FL. However, ACP and IMP inhibit the peroxidase-like activity of the MAX phase, leading to increased absorption and emission intensities of FL. The limit of detection values calculated for spectrophotometric and spectrofluorimetric quantifications were 2.8 μM and 0.051 μM for ACP and 1.72 μM and 0.013 μM for IMP, respectively. Furthermore, the proposed method was successfully utilized to accurately and reliably determine ACP and IMP in spiked real samples with satisfactory accuracy and precision. These developed methods offer several advantages, making them promising candidates for the direct, rapid screening of pesticide residues.

Quantitative measures of recent and lifetime agricultural pesticide use are associated with increased pesticide concentrations in house dust

Quantitative measures of recent and lifetime agricultural pesticide use are associated with increased pesticide concentrations in house dust

Production of phosphate biofertilizers as a booster for the techno-economic and environmental performance of a first-generation sugarcane ethanol and sugar biorefinery

The intensive use of fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture has a significant economic and environmental impact worldwide. Biofertilizers (aka microbial inoculants) could be a potential alternative to decrease costs and the environmental footprint linked to the use of fertilizers while boosting productivity through biological processes. This work aimed to perform a techno-economic-environmental assessment of an industrial biofertilizer production facility integrated with a sugarcane ethanol biorefinery. To this end, systems engineering tools were employed concurrently with techno-economic-environmental analyses to assess the integration of the different processes and their feasibility. Three processes for biofertilizer production are proposed varying in terms of downstream processing and the use of single or double microorganisms. Our findings indicate that the integration of biofertilizer production can enhance the biorefinery's NPV by as much as 137% in the most favorable scenario and by a minimum of 69% in the most unfavorable scenario. Regarding environmental consequences, in general, all scenarios demonstrate an improvement over the base scenario. Global sensitivity analysis showed that the solid-state fermentation and composite formulation steps of the biofertilizer process have the most substantial influence on both economic and environmental outcomes. The uncertainty analysis further unveils that the scenarios without fungus separation exhibited greater resilience in the face of market volatility. The retro-techno-economic study defined the economically viable region. Ultimately, this study demonstrates that the integration of biofertilizers into an ethanol and sugar biorefinery is a more sustainable alternative than the isolated biorefinery regarding the environmental and techno-economic aspects of sustainability.

Facile and rapid colorimetric detection of carbaryl using nitrite-conjugated gold nanoparticles to ensure environmental and consumer safety

From the use of pesticides in agriculture, carbaryl, the main component of pesticides, has permeated the ecosystem, causing various side effects such as weakness and neurodegenerative diseases in organisms. For this reason, a convenient sensor that can be used for facile carbaryl detection is necessary. Herein, we design a facile, simple, and rapid synthesis method using nitrite receptor-conjugated gold nanoparticles (AuNPs@NO2) as a probe for colorimetric detection. This sensor provided a limit of 2 μM of carbaryl detection when observed with the naked eye, which is lower than those obtained with conventional sensors. Selective tests demonstrated that the nitrite receptor specifically interacted with carbaryl compared with other chemical compounds. Importantly, by introducing the stabilizing agent polyvinylpyrrolidone on the surface of the AuNPs@NO2, selective detection of carbaryl was also feasible in various real-world soil, crop, water, and cosmetic product samples. Recovery rates within the range of 83.33 ± 3.86–107.0 ± 3.24 % showed the operability of this sensor for diverse real samples. Using an easily synthesized colorimetric sensor, this study provides valuable insights into the simple and rapid detection of carbaryl in various areas, including ecosystems and human daily life.

Temporal distribution and ecological risk assessment for pesticides in water from the north-central coastal zone of Sinaloa, Mexico

Water contamination with pesticides is one of the major pollution problems in northwestern Mexico, and this is due to the extensive use of pesticides in agriculture. In this research, water samples of ten sampling sites (fishing grounds, beaches, and both) were analyzed in the search for 28 pesticides (organochlorines, organophosphates, pyrethroids, carbamates, among other chemical classes), supplemented with a calculation of the resulting potential environmental risk. Pesticides were separated from the matrix by liquid-liquid extraction and quantified by gas chromatography coupled to electron micro-capture (organohalogenated) and pulsed flame photometric detectors (organophosphates). In addition, the ecotoxicological risk of pesticides in algae, invertebrates, and fish was assessed, based on seawater pesticide concentrations using the Risk Quotient (RQ) and Toxic Units (TU) approach. The results showed 18 pesticides identified in the analyzed samples, where cypermethrin and chlorpyrifos were identified with the maximum concentrations of 1.223 and 0.994 μg L-1, respectively. In addition, these two pesticides have been associated with acute toxic effects on algae, invertebrates, and fish. It is important to pay particular attention to the search for long-term alternatives to the use of chlorpyrifos and cypermethrin due to their high detection rates and the risks associated with their toxic properties. However, the adoption of alternative measures to synthetic pesticide control should be a priority, moving towards sustainable practices such as the use of biopesticides, crop rotation and polycultures.

Is the Biopesticide from Tea Tree Oil an Effective and Low-Risk Alternative to Chemical Pesticides? A Critical Review.

The use of chemical pesticides in agriculture contributes to soil, water and air pollution, biodiversity loss, and injury to non-target species. The European Commission has already established a Harmonized Risk Indicator to quantify the progress in reducing the risks linked to pesticides. Therefore, there is an increasing need to promote biopesticides, or so-called low-risk pesticides (LRP). Tea tree oil (TTO) is known for its antiseptic, antimicrobial, antiviral, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. TTO has been extensively studied in pest management as well as in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry; there are already products based on its active substances on the market. This review focuses on the overall evaluation of TTO in terms of effectiveness and safety as a biopesticide for the first time. The collected data can be an added value for further evaluation of TTO in terms of the authorization extension as a fungicide in 2026.

Impacts Assessment of Farmers’ Knowledge in Using Pesticides on Agricultural Productivity in Bugesera District, Rwanda

Nowadays, the use of pesticides in modern agriculture has increased due to the heightened strain from insects and weeds on animal and crop health. This study aimed to assess the impacts of farmers' knowledge in using pesticides on agricultural productivity in the Bugesera district, the Eastern Province of Rwanda. Data were collected from the fifteen sectors of the study area using questionnaires, with 399 respondents selected through random and purposive sampling techniques. SPSS software was used for data analysis, which was summarized using contingency tables and graphs. Correlation analysis was done to assess the link between farmers' knowledge of pesticide use and agricultural productivity in across sub-locations. The study revealed that the level of pesticide use in the Bugesera district was very low, at just 17%, and only 22% of farmers had good level of knowledge about pesticide use. Vegetables were the first crops sprayed by farmers, accounting for 82% of the total crop types to which pesticides were applied in the Bugesera district. Moreover, vegetable yields increased from 9t/ha to 9.475 t/ha following pesticide application. The study found a significant positive correlation between farmers’ knowledge of pesticide use and agricultural productivity at the 0.01 level (r=0.509,p<0.01). Enhanced farmers’ knowledge of pesticide use and the proper application of pesticides can reduce yield loss and boost agricultural productivity. It is recommended that the Bugesera district can provide the incentive scheme to the innovative farmers and encourage them to serve as role models for others. This would promote the adoption of appropriate pesticide use practices and adherence to sound agricultural principles in chemical pesticide application.

A One Health approach to assess pesticide exposure levels in communities, domestic animals and wildlife in a rural landscape of Nan Province, Thailand

The use of pesticides in agriculture has raised concerns due to their potential impact on human, animal and ecosystem health. Within a collaborative research framework, a study was co-constructed between researchers and local stakeholders in rural communities of Nan province (Thailand) to assess pesticide exposure levels. A total of 1,023 human serum samples were collected from volunteer participants. The level of exposure to organophosphate compounds showed that 12 (1.1%) and 134 (13%) individuals had hazardous or risky conditions, respectively. Generalized linear modeling revealed that age (older participants), chemical usage (spraying pesticide), habitat landscape characteristics (i.e., villages surrounded by orchard, forest, teak, rubber and rain-fed rice) and soil erosion appeared significant factors to explain the level of exposure. In addition, domestic animals (dogs and cattle) and wildlife (rodents and fishes) living in the vicinity were also assessed for their level of exposure. Applying the One Health principle helps understand pesticide exposure in people, domestic animals and wildlife by linking environmental characteristics at the local scale and thereby developing appropriate policies and regulations to be implemented.

Residential proximity to agricultural pesticide use and cardiovascular disease risk factors among adult Latina women in California's Salinas Valley.

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death worldwide. There is limited evidence that exposure to current-use pesticides may contribute to cardiovascular disease risk. We examined the association between residential proximity to the application of agricultural pesticides and cardiovascular risk factors among 484 adult women in the Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas (CHAMACOS) study, a cohort based in an agricultural region of California. Outcome assessment was completed between 2010 and 2013. Using participant residential addresses and California's Pesticide Use Reporting database, we estimated agricultural pesticide use within one km of residences during the 2-year period preceding outcome assessment. We used Bayesian Hierarchical Modeling to evaluate associations between exposure to 14 agricultural pesticides and continuous measures of waist circumference, body mass index, and blood pressure. Each 10-fold increase in paraquat application around homes was associated with increased diastolic blood pressure (β=2.60 mm Hg, 95% Credible Interval (CrI): 0.27-4.89) and each 10-fold increase in glyphosate application was associated with increased pulse pressure (β=2.26 mm Hg, 95% CrI: 0.09-4.41). No meaningful associations were observed for the other pesticides examined. Our results suggest that paraquat and glyphosate pesticides may affect cardiovascular disease development in women with chronic environmental exposure.

Eicosapentaenoic acid: New insights into an oomycete-driven elicitor to enhance grapevine immunity

The widespread use of pesticides in agriculture remains a matter of major concern, prompting a critical need for alternative and sustainable practices. To address this, the use of lipid-derived molecules as elicitors to induce defence responses in grapevine plants was accessed. A Plasmopara viticola fatty acid (FA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) naturally present in oomycetes, but absent in plants, was applied by foliar spraying to the leaves of the susceptible grapevine cultivar (Vitis vinifera cv. Trincadeira), while a host lipid derived phytohormone, jasmonic acid (JA) was used as a molecule known to trigger host defence. Their potential as defence triggers was assessed by analysing the expression of a set of genes related to grapevine defence and evaluating the FA modulation upon elicitation. JA prompted grapevine immunity, altering lipid metabolism and up-regulating the expression of several defence genes. EPA also induced a myriad of responses to the levels typically observed in tolerant plants. Its application activated the transcription of defence gene's regulators, pathogen-related genes and genes involved in phytoalexins biosynthesis. Moreover, EPA application resulted in the alteration of the leaf FA profile, likely by impacting biosynthetic, unsaturation and turnover processes. Although both molecules were able to trigger grapevine defence mechanisms, EPA induced a more robust and prolonged response. This finding establishes EPA as a promising elicitor for an effectively managing grapevine downy mildew diseases.