Availability Of Pesticides Research Articles

Monitoring of Non-Maximum-Residue-Level Pesticides in Animal Feed: A Study from 2019 to 2023.

Pesticides play a critical role in modern agriculture by protecting crops and ensuring higher yields, but their widespread use raises concerns about human health and environmental impact. Regulatory agencies impose Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) to ensure safety, and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) assesses pesticide risks. This study monitored pesticide residues in 169 feed samples from Piedmont (Italy) collected between 2019 and 2023. Using GC-MS/MS, residues were found in 92% of animal-based and 70% of cereal-based feedstuffs. The most common pesticides in cereal-based feeds were pyrimiphos-methyl, deltamethrin, cypermethrin, azoxystrobin, and tetramethrin, and the pesticide synergist piperonyl-butoxide demonstrated a significant increase in contaminated samples in 2023. The lower concentrations in 2021 were likely due to COVID-19 impacts on pesticide availability. In animal-based feeds, common pesticides included deltamethrin, cypermethrin, and the pesticide synergist piperonyl-butoxide. The results highlight the pervasive presence of low-dose pesticide mixtures in feed and food chains, which could impact health, although do not pose acute risks. The study emphasizes the need for ongoing pesticide monitoring and awareness of the long-term effects of chronic pesticide exposure on animal, human, and environmental health.

Biological factors and production challenges drive significant UK fruit and vegetable loss.

Food loss and waste estimates are highly inconsistent as a result of methodological and systemic differences. Additionally, the absence of in-depth evidence surrounding the biological drivers of food loss and waste precludes targeted mitigation action. To address this challenge, we undertook a metanalysis utilising a systematic literature review combined with industry stakeholder surveys to examine the incidence of food loss and waste in the UK fruit and vegetable supply chain between primary production and retail. We estimated that 37% of fruit and vegetables, equivalent to 2.4 Mt of produce, is lost between production and sale. In the UK, primary production is the main stage responsible for these losses (58%), and is dominated by four crops (apple, onion, carrot and potato), which contribute 71% of total food loss and waste. Quality and supply/demand mismatch are the core drivers, combined with limited ability to control postharvest quality decline as a result of technical or economic barriers. Innate biological mechanisms contribute to, and detract from, marketable quality generating food loss risks where these cannot be adequately modified or controlled. Through climate change effects, reduced pesticide availability, changing consumer behaviour and increased pressure to reduce resource/energy inputs during pre- and postharvest handling, food loss and waste risk is likely to increase in the short term unless targeted, coordinated action is taken to actively promote its mitigation. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Adoption status of integrated pest management (IPM) practices among vegetable growers of Lamjung district of Nepal

The widespread use of highly toxic pesticides for agricultural purposes has raised concerns about their hazardous impact on both human health and the environment. Integrated pest management (IPM) is a strategy designed to tackle pest problems and reduce pesticide use, with the aim of protecting both human health and the environment. This study was conducted in Besishahar, Sundarbazar, Rainas, and Madhyenepal municipalities of the Lamjung district of Nepal in the year 2023 with a sample of 100 vegetable-growing farmers to assess the adoption of IPM practices in vegetable cultivation. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data, and the logit model was used to identify the factors affecting the adoption of IPM practices in vegetable cultivation among farmers. Respondents were grouped into two categories, adopter and non-adopter, based on the extent of adoption of IPM practices. The findings revealed that only 37 % of the total respondents adopted IPM practices for vegetable cultivation. The easy availability of chemical pesticides and lack of bio-pesticides were the major constraints for the adoption of IPM practices in the study area. The output of the binary logit model indicated that greater participation in training, higher education levels, and increased contact with extension agents significantly influence the adoption of IPM practices in vegetable cultivation. The findings could be used to formulate better policies towards increasing the adoption of sustainable approaches in agriculture and regulation.

Choice of poisoning agent and self-reported reasons for attempted suicide - A retrospective study

Suicide, a tragic loss of life, is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon, presenting a significant challenge to public health efforts globally. The prevalence of suicide, particularly due to pesticide self-poisoning in rural areas of low and middle-income countries, underscores its significant impact. Despite efforts to understand suicide, little is known about the diverse range of poisoning agents used and the socioenvironmental factors surrounding their selection. To study sociodemographic profile, choice of poisoning agent, and self-reported reasons for attempted suicide.This was a retrospective observational study. All the case records of patients admitted for attempted suicide by oral poisoning in a tertiary care hospital were accessed and assessed in detail regarding sociodemographic profile, choice of oral poisoning agent, and self-reported reasons for attempted suicide. The present study, comprising 146 cases of attempted suicide, revealed a predominant age group of 18-27 years, with a male majority and a high illiteracy rate. The agricultural sector, low socioeconomic status, and unmarried status were prevalent among the participants. Herbicides were the most commonly used poisoning agents, followed by insecticides. Immediate precipitants for suicide attempts were family quarrels.The findings of the current study align with previous research, indicating a vulnerable demographic of young, unmarried males from low socioeconomic backgrounds. The predominance of agricultural sector involvement underscores the accessibility of pesticides as suicide agents. Family conflict was cited to be the immediate precipitant for suicide attempt. Thus, addressing underlying sociodemographic stressors and regulating pesticide availability could mitigate suicide risk. Moreover, interventions targeting psychosocial support and coping strategies are crucial for preventing suicide attempts.This study presents insights into the choice of poisoning agents and self-reported motives in suicide attempts, shedding light on the underlying sociodemographic factors and immediate precipitants driving these behaviours.

Emerging vegetable crop diseases and their management options

Abstract Vegetable crops are economically important throughout the world and they all share some common features, such as high value, globalisation of the seed market, continuous intensification and innovation of their production systems, the presence of a high number of crops and varieties, and a limited availability of chemical pesticides for their disease management. In this review, we focus on fungal plant pathogens, although several diseases caused by bacteria are becoming important. Many diseases caused by soilborne pathogens, such as Fusarium oxysporum (different formae speciales ), Sclerotinia sclerotiorum , Rhizoctonia solani, Pythium spp. and Phytophthora spp., become more severe over the last few years. Many of these diseases can be considered the consequence of the profound changes that soil disinfestation has undergone since the use of methyl bromide was prohibited in 2005. In the meantime, new hosts have been detected for diseases caused by foliar pathogens ( Alternaria spp., Stemphylium spp. Fusarium equiseti , Albifimbria verrucaria , Paramyrothecium roridum ), often as a consequence of climate change. The phytopathological situations of vegetable crops is discussed hereafter, with special emphasis on Italy, which is one of the most important vegetable production countries in Europe (not worldwide). The evolution of some diseases as a possible consequence of the current limitations in the use of chemicals, of the globalisation of the markets and/or of climate change is critically discussed. The disease management options that are currently available (e.g. the use of healthy planting material, host resistance, soil health, soilless systems, biological control, and integrated pest management) are discussed.

Land use and occupation and pesticide contamination assessment in honey from Africanized honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

We examined pesticide contamination in honey from Africanized honey bees in two different seasons, and evaluated the concentration and incidence of these compounds in georeferenced apiaries to provide relevant information for food safety and environmental quality. The land use and occupation of the region were evaluated by selecting 15 apiaries and georeferencing three randomly selected colonies of Africanized honey bees within each apiary. Honey samples were collected during two seasons, and three organochlorine pesticides (p.p`-DDE, Mitotane and Bicyclo[2.2.1]) and four organophosphate pesticides (Ethoprophos, Methyl Parathion, Chlorpyrifos and Fenchlorphos) were analyzed in the honey using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. 80% of the apiaries showed a predominance of agricultural land use in the foraging areas of the bees. There was a higher concentration of pesticides in samples collected during Season I compared to Season II. There were differences in the proportion of samples contaminated with pesticides between seasons. Some honey samples showed concentrations of the chlorpyrifos pesticide above the levels recommended by Brazilian legislation. Pesticide contamination of honey is not limited to specific application season, indicating the persistent presence and easy availability of pesticides, including banned pesticides not sold or prescribed by agronomists, potentially smuggled from neighboring countries.

Value chain analysis of potato in Bajhang district, Nepal

The study was conducted in the Bajhang district from February to July 2022. Its goals were to find the key actors in the potato value chain, assess their linkage, analyse marketing margins, determine the share of value-addition among each actor, evaluate the production cost, productivity, and profitability of producers, examine the producer’s share in consumer rupees, and conduct a SWOT analysis. The data collection process involved the random purposive sampling technique to select a total of 80 potato producers, 5 aggregators, 5 wholesalers, 10 retailers, 50 consumers, and 3 extension service providers. Findings revealed that, on average, potato cultivation covered 0.215 hectares (4.23 Ropani) with a productivity of 13.46 Mt/ha, which is lower than the national average. The production cost of the producer was NRs. 301,756.60/Ha (NRs. 15,356.57/Ropani) with a benefit-cost ratio of 1.37, and the producer’s share was 51.68%. The primary value chain actors included input suppliers, producers, aggregators, wholesalers, retailers, and consumers. Marketing margins for producers, aggregators, wholesalers, and retailers were NRs. 359.25/quintal, NRs. 965/quintal, NRs. 945/quintal, and NRs. 1170/quintal, respectively. Value addition by potato producers accounted for 10.45%, while aggregators, wholesalers, and retailers contributed 28.05%, 27.48%, and 34.02%, respectively. The SWOT analysis highlighted opportunities like favourable policies, subsidies, processing options, rising potato demand, and potential production area expansion. To boost the profitability of the potato industry, it is imperative to address challenges such as poor seed quality, diseases-pests, drought, short shelf life, soil degradation, and fertilizer and pesticide availability while strengthening the linkage of value chain actors.

Recommendation System to Precision Agriculture Using Machine Learning Algorithm

The Indian economy heavily relies on agriculture, a vital source of livelihood for millions of farmers and a significant contributor to the GDP. However, farmers often face challenges in selecting the most suitable crops for their specific soil and environmental conditions. This decision profoundly influences crop productivity and the overall agricultural industry. Addressing this issue is crucial, and crop prediction plays a pivotal role in the emerging concept of precision agriculture. Precision agriculture seeks to streamline the crop selection process by leveraging machine learning techniques. The model takes into account various factors such as soil type, rainfall patterns, temperature, groundwater levels, availability of pesticides and fertilizers, and the current season. These elements are intricately analyzed to create a robust recommender system. The ultimate objective is to expedite and enhance the crop selection procedure for farmers. By incorporating data-driven insights, this precision agriculture approach aims to empower farmers with informed decisions tailored to their unique agricultural landscapes. The recommender system acts as a valuable tool, offering guidance on the most suitable crops for optimal yield and sustainability. This initiative not only addresses the challenges faced by Indian farmers but also contributes to the overall efficiency and resilience of the agricultural sector. In summary, the integration of machine learning and data analytics in crop prediction for precision agriculture holds the potential to revolutionize decision-making processes and positively impact crop productivity in the Indian agricultural landscape.

Pesticides and the Microbiome-Gut-Brain Axis: Convergent Pathways in the Pathogenesis of Parkinson's Disease.

The increasing global burden of Parkinson's disease (PD), termed the PD pandemic, is exceeding expectations related purely to population aging and is likely driven in part by lifestyle changes and environmental factors. Pesticides are well recognized risk factors for PD, supported by both epidemiological and experimental evidence, with multiple detrimental effects beyond dopaminergic neuron damage alone. The microbiome-gut-brain axis has gained much attention in recent years and is considered to be a significant contributor and driver of PD pathogenesis. In this narrative review, we first focus on how both pesticides and the microbiome may influence PD initiation and progression independently, describing pesticide-related central and peripheral neurotoxicity and microbiome-related local and systemic effects due to dysbiosis and microbial metabolites. We then depict the bidirectional interplay between pesticides and the microbiome in the context of PD, synthesizing current knowledge about pesticide-induced dysbiosis, microbiome-mediated alterations in pesticide availability, metabolism and toxicity, and complex systemic pesticide-microbiome-host interactions related to inflammatory and metabolic pathways, insulin resistance and other mechanisms. An overview of the unknowns follows, and the role of pesticide-microbiome interactions in the proposed body-/brain-first phenotypes of PD, the complexity of environmental exposures and gene-environment interactions is discussed. The final part deals with possible further steps for translation, consisting of recommendations on future pesticide use and research as well as an outline of promising preventive/therapeutic approaches targeted on strengthening or restoring a healthy gut microbiome, closing with a summary of current gaps and future perspectives in the field.

A Study on the Adaptation Strategies Followed by the Dryland Farmers during Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract: The inadequate planning and preparation by governments before the sudden imposition of lockdowns to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic have inflicted a severe blow to India's economy, causing immense hardships, particularly to the working people and the informal rural economy. The peak of the Rabi crop harvesting season in March 2020 coincided with the nationwide lockdown, leading to significant losses for farmers in the north-western regions. The rural areas, heavily reliant on agriculture and allied sectors, faced disruptions in input availability, labor movement, and supply chains, impacting the livelihoods of nearly 50% of the workforce. This study focuses on the adaptation strategies employed by dryland farmers in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka during the pandemic. The research explores various dimensions, including health and psychological adaptations, farming practices, financial adjustments, and marketing strategies. The findings reveal that farmers, facing dual challenges of health and economic crises, resorted to diverse adaptation measures to mitigate the impact. At the individual level, farmers prioritized precautionary measures, government regulations, and engaging in productive work to cope with anxiety. Families emphasized maintaining hygiene, avoiding discussions about the pandemic at home, and sharing financial difficulties equally. At the village level, preventive measures, social distancing in markets and agricultural operations, and making masks compulsory were widely adopted. In terms of farming adaptations, farmers faced disruptions in the availability of quality seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, leading to increased expenditures. Financial adaptations included increased borrowing from financial institutions and private money lenders, utilization of long-term savings, and involving family members in agricultural activities to reduce costs. Marketing strategies saw a shift towards selling to retailers and exploring mobile agricultural marketing, while some farmers faced challenges due to low prices and transportation issues. Despite the immense challenges, farmers exhibited resilience by implementing various adaptation strategies to protect themselves and their farming activities. The study underscores the need for a comprehensive understanding of the impact of the pandemic on Indian farmers, addressing research questions related to adaptation strategies at different levels.

Causes of farmers’ aversion to organic vegetable production in Shyamnagar and Kaligonj Upazilla of Bangladesh

Agriculture is an ongoing changing field where farmers constantly change production technology by adopting different updated modern practices. The study explores the motivating factors influencing farmers to switch to synthetic pesticides dependent on farming from organic farming methods. The main factors are the lower price of organic vegetables, pesticide availability, social responsibility and economic considerations. The most challenging AEZ -13 coastal Satkhira has been taken for this study. The result shows that farmers who choose to switch give high importance to the production cost, price of organic vegetables, supply of bio-product, and availability of organic products than the moral, economic and social concerns. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 13(1): 25-30, June 2023

Economic importance and structural robustness of the international pesticide trade networks

Pesticides are agricultural inputs that can significantly reduce yield losses, regulate plant growth, effectively liberate agricultural productivity, and improve food security. The availability of pesticides in economies worldwide is ensured by redistribution through international trade, with different economies playing different roles in this process. In this study, we measured and ranked the importance of economies using nine node metrics. We found that the clustering coefficient was negatively correlated with the other eight node metrics, whereas the other eight node metrics were positively correlated with each other and could be grouped into three communities (betweenness; in-degree, PageRank, authority, and in-closeness; out-degree, hub, and out-closeness). We further investigated the structural robustness of international pesticide trade networks proxied by large component size under three types of shocks to economies (node removal in descending, random, and ascending orders). The results showed that, except for the clustering coefficient, international pesticide trade networks are relatively robust under shocks to economies in ascending order but fragile under shocks to economies in descending order. By contrast, removing nodes with a clustering coefficient in ascending and descending order yielded similar robustness curves. Moreover, the structural robustness related to large component size evolved over time and exhibited an inverse U-shaped pattern.

Exploiting volatile organic compounds in crop protection: A systematic review of 1‐octen‐3‐ol and 3‐octanone

AbstractThe 21st century has brought new challenges to the agri‐food industry due to population growth, global warming, and greater public awareness of environmental issues. Ensuring global food security for future generations is crucial. However, pests, weeds, and diseases still significantly contribute to crop losses, and the availability of effective conventional synthetic pesticides is decreasing. To address this, new and diverse pest management tools are needed. One pest management tool showing potential for invertebrate pest management is the exploitation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—in particular, the compounds 1‐octen‐3‐ol and 3‐octanone. This review aims to explore the extent to which 1‐octen‐3‐ol and 3‐octanone show potential in the future management of invertebrate crop and animal pests. A significant increase in the rate of publication of literature on the use of 1‐octen‐3‐ol and 3‐octanone in crop protection since 2018 is identified by this review, therefore, showing the potential importance of these compounds for use in future pest management. This review also identifies key interactions between naturally occurring biosynthesised 1‐octen‐3‐ol and 3‐octanone, and a range of invertebrate targets. Many of these interactions with key crop pests are sourced from the taxonomic families Lamiaceae, Fabaceae, and Trichomaceae. However, analysis of the practical application of these sources in an integrated pest management programme identifies clear limitations with the use of naturally occurring biosynthesised 1‐octen‐3‐ol and 3‐octanone. Rather, future focus should be placed on the development and exploitation of synthesised nature identical 1‐octen‐3‐ol and 3‐octanone for use as a biopesticide product. Overall, 1‐octen‐3‐ol and 3‐octanone show potential for exploitation in future crop protection, being abundant in source and diversity of invertebrate interactions. However, their use as a naturally occurring biosynthesised chemical is likely not practical for direct implementation in crop protection. Rather, focus should be placed on the development and exploitation of synthesised nature identical variants of these compounds for use as a biopesticide.

Child and adolescent mortality associated with pesticide toxicity in Cape Town, South Africa, 2010–2019: a retrospective case review

BackgroundPoisoning of children after exposure to pesticides is a major public health concern, particularly in countries with poorer urban populations, such as South Africa. This may stem from the illegal distribution and domestic use of street pesticides, which are highly hazardous agricultural pesticides. The aim of this study was to profile paediatric deaths due to acute pesticide poisoning in the west-metropole of Cape Town, South Africa; to identify whether the active ingredients were highly hazardous pesticides according to the FAO and WHO; and to inform policy and public health interventions to prevent future exposures and mortality.MethodsA retrospective and descriptive analysis of forensic post-mortem records (2010 to 2019) was conducted to identify cases of paediatric deaths (< 18 years old) in the west metropole of Cape Town, involving pesticide poisoning admitted to the Salt River mortuary (one out of 16 mortuaries in the Western Cape province). Demographic, circumstantial, autopsy, and toxicological information was captured. Descriptive statistics, together with chi-square tests, Fisher’s probability tests, and Mann–Whitney U tests were used to analyse the data.ResultsIn total, 54 paediatric pesticide deaths were identified, including 22 (40.7%) males and 32 (59.3%) females, out of 5,181 paediatric unnatural deaths admitted over the 10-year period. The median age of the decedents was 8.3 years (range: 1 day to 17.9 years), with the majority under five years (42.6%) or between 15 and 18 years old (40.7%). All incidents occurred in peri-urban areas of Cape Town, with most individuals being admitted to hospital (88.9%) for a median survival time of 4.8 h. Toxicological analysis was requested in 50 cases (92.6%) with the organophosphate pesticides terbufos (n = 29), methamidophos (n = 2) and diazinon (n = 2) detected most frequently. Adolescent (15–18 years) suicides (29.6%) and accidental child deaths (< 4 years) (18.5%) were common.ConclusionsTerbufos and methamidophos are highly hazardous pesticide (HHP) active ingredients registered in South Africa for agricultural uses, yet commonly sold as street pesticides for domestic use in lower socioeconomic areas. Reducing access and availability of toxic pesticides, especially through the illegal selling of street pesticides, and providing low toxic alternatives to poorer communities, may support mortality reduction initiatives. Mortality and toxicology data provide important, often overlooked, surveillance tools for informing policy and public health interventions to reduce toxic pesticide harm in local communities.

Development of a cypovirus protein microcrystal-encapsulated Bacillus thuringiensis UV-tolerant and mosquitocidal δ-endotoxin.

The δ-endotoxin Cry4Aa from Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) has insecticidal characteristics specific to insects of the order Diptera. Although Cry4Aa has shown potential as an effective proteinaceous pesticide against mosquitoes, it has an ultraviolet (UV)-intolerant property that limits its outdoor use. Our previous research showed that protein microcrystal polyhedra from Bombyx mori cypovirus can encapsulate diverse foreign proteins and maintain long-term protein activity under hostile environmental conditions, including UV irradiation. In this study, we report the development of polyhedra encapsulating the Cry4Aa insecticidal activity domain by using a modified baculovirus expression system. We confirmed the oral intake of recombinant polyhedra introduced into the experimental environment by the larvae of a mosquito, Aedes albopictus, and delivery of encapsulated proteins into the digestive tract. The polyhedra encapsulating partial Cry4Aa showed mosquito larvicidal activity during incubation of larvae with 50% lethal-dose value of 23.717×104 cubes for 10 Aedes albopictus larvae in 1 ml water. In addition, polyhedra showed a specific property to reduce the impact of UV-C irradiation on the activity of encapsulated partial Cry4Aa, thus demonstrating the effectiveness of encapsulating Bti δ-endotoxins inside polyhedra to increase the availability of proteinaceous pesticides for outdoor use for mosquito control.

EKOENZIMM FOR AGRICULTURAL WASTE TREATMENT IN SELODUWUR HAMLET, BATUR VILLAGE, GETASAN DISTRICT

Organic farming is one of the proponents of food resistance, economic resilience and human health especially during the COVID 19 pandemic. The sustainability of organic farming must be supported by the availability of fertilizer, pesticides and sufficient financial capital. Ecoenzym is one of the easy and inexpensive agricultural waste fermentation products. Ecoenzyme can be one of the solutions to increase the availability of fertilizer, pesticides and can be used to reduce the economic burden due to financial spending on soap, shampoo and household hygiene. In addition, ecoenzymes are also beneficial in restoring fertility and repairing the quality of soil damaged by conventional agriculture using chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Batur Village is one of the villages with an organic farming community that is affiliated in the Minang Bangkit Merbabu farming group. Currently, the organic fertilizer used is the fertilizer and compost that comes from agricultural waste only. Its availability is highly dependent on the limited number of livestock, and not all farmers have livestock. Ecoenzyme training is one of the activities that is expected to be a solution for farmers to jointly produce fertilizer and pesticides, thus increasing the economic level of agricultural waste that is processed into ecoenzymes.&#x0D;

Factors Affecting Tomato Productivity in Western Oromia, Ethiopia: Evidence from Smallholder Farmers

Tomato is one of the most important fruit vegetable crops in Ethiopia supporting the livelihood and improving the economic life of many farmers. However, the productivity of the crop is low due to poor production management practices, limitations in the availability of pesticides and fungicides, limitations to access information, market fluctuation, and shelf life of the crop. The study was undertaken in western Oromia to understand major factors affecting the tomato productivity of smallholder farmers. It was based on the cross-sectional data collected from 135 randomly selected farmers during the 2019/20 cropping season. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and an econometric model. The result depicted that the productivity of tomatoes was significantly affected by inputs like labor, oxen power, fertilizer, and pesticides. From the OLS result, gender, education, family size, off/non-farm activities, farm experience, livestock holding, extension access, credit access, and market/traders information positively affected tomato productivity, while age and field distance was affected negatively. The variety and biotic factors affected the tomato productivity of smallholder farmers positively and negatively, respectively. The findings will be helpful for tomato producers, private companies, and other sectors that participated in crop production by solving the above important variables.

Fabrication of Janus silica nanocarriers for enhancing foliage retention

The deposition performance of drug droplets on plant foliage has played a key role in determining pesticide availability. Herein, we designed and prepared hollow mesoporous silica (HMS) carriers using the etching method. The HMS carriers are uniform hollow spheres with a diameter of 400 nm and shell thickness of 50 nm. The as-prepared HMS carriers show high specific surface area (1148.9 m2/g) and pore volume (0.89 cm3/g) and are suitable for loading pesticides. The HMS carriers were further modified with amino and alkyl groups to form Janus structure (J-HMS) carriers with the amphipathic surface. Abamectin (Aba) is used as a model pesticide to assess the release and adhesive property of J-HMS carriers. The Aba-J-HMS system displayed pH-responsive release behavior and improved wetting and adhesive performance on both hydrophilic and hydrophobic foliar surfaces. In addition, the J-HMS had a good ultraviolet (UV) shielding performance.

Clinco-epidemologial Profile of Organophosphorus Poisoning at Provincial Hospital, Janakpurdham, Nepal

INTRODUCTION: Organophosphorus is one of the most common causes of poisoning worldwide. Organophosphorus (OP) poisoning is a major public health problem in Nepal. This study was conducted to observe the epidemiological pattern and mortality in patients with OP poisoning admitted to provincial hospital Janakpurdham, Nepal.&#x0D; MATERIALS AND METHODS: It was a retrospective study. All the consecutive poisoning cases due to op compound admitted through emergency either in the ward or ICU of the provincial hospital from 15 May 2020 to 15 November 2020 included in the study.&#x0D; RESULTS: A total of 160 cases of poisoning were admitted through emergency either in the medical ward or ICU of the provincial hospital. Out Of these 81 (51.63 %) was OP poisoning. Among 81 cases 51.85 % were male.70.37 % of cases were from the young adult group i.e., 15 to 30 years. 38.37 % were housewives. Among all included cases 43.20 % had consumed Methyl parathion (Metacid) followed by Phorate 24.69 %. 55 % of total cases were from Dhanusha district followed by Mahottari and Sarlahi. The mortality rate was 14.81 % of total admitted cases, with an average of 5.7 days of hospital stay in the recovered case.&#x0D; CONCLUSIONS: OP poisoning is a major public health problem in province 2. It affects mostly the young age population. Housewives are at more risk of poisoning. The mortality in patients with OP poisoning is high even if antidotes are available. Considering the common occurrence and full curability of the condition early arrival to the hospital, timely monitoring, and prompt management may help to reduce mortality. With strict laws on the provision of pesticide availability, the poisoning incidence can be decreased and by proper development of infrastructure and ICU facility mortality can be decreased.

Study on Environmental Impact Risk Assessment of Punjab Tunnel Construction

Vegetables have a great importance in agriculture sector. These crops share a great contribution to agriculture in national economy. There are many vegetables which can be grown in Pakistani climate and soil. Tunnel farming is a new technology for growing vegetables due to increase in population and small land for agricultural use. Government of Punjab is doing its effort to disseminate this technology among the farmers to enhance their vegetable production. Fruit and Vegetable Development Project (F&amp;VDP) was also started by the Punjab government in 20 districts of the Punjab. The study was done in Faisalabad district of Punjab, Pakistan. In Faisalabad, there were 12 Farmer Field Schools (FFSs) under F&amp;VDP, out of which six FFSs were randomly selected for the collection of data through interview schedule. From each selected FFS, 20 respondents were selected randomly making sample of 120 respondents. The data were analyzed through the computer software Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Based on the findings of the present study, it was assessed that respondents got benefits from the project in term of increase in their income and their area under vegetable cultivation also increases. Similarly, farmers knowledge about plants growth also enhanced, quality of produce increased. It is suggested that the time period of the project should be extended and there should be facility of small credit schemes for poor farmers to ensure the timely availability of quality seeds, pesticides and fertilizers. It is proven that project has enhanced livelihood assets to sustain the family lives of farming community.