Effects Of Volatile Organic Compounds Research Articles

Effect of Volatile Organic Compounds on Pulmonary Functions Among Paint Industry Workers of Unorganized Sectors.

Background Paint industry workers are constantly exposed to paints and organic solvents that contain a substantial quantity of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Exposure to VOC emissions could result in pulmonary, neurobehavioral, and hematological consequences. Limited studies have been undertaken in India to assess the health consequences of VOCs among paint industry workers in unorganized sectors. Aim To assess the effects of VOCs on pulmonary function in paint industry workers of unorganized sectors. Methodology A hundred and twenty full-time male construction painters and small-scale paint manufacturing workers aged 25-60 were assessed for respiratory symptoms using a questionnaire, and pulmonary functions using Wright's Peak Expiratory Flow Meter (PEFR). Participants were randomly selected forVOC assessment andthe cumulative solvent exposure index was calculated. A pulmonary function test (PFT) was performed on a subset of construction painters (n=30) using a Koko spirometer. Results The concentration of VOCs such as benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, and xylene (BETX) and dichloromethane levels exceeded American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)threshold limit values (TLVs) among the paint manufacturing workers. About 52% of paint workers reported respiratory symptoms. Around 22% of the participants showedreduced pulmonary function (PEFR<400 L/min). There was a significant weaknegativecorrelationbetween PEFR andwork experience (r = -0.2, p=0.03). PFT parameters among a subset of construction painters revealed a significant moderate negative correlation with work experience [forced expiratory volume at the onset of the first second (FEV1) (r = -0.6, p=0.001) and forced vital capacity (FVC) (r = -0.53, p=0.005)] and cumulative VOC exposure index [FEV1 (r = -0.53, p = 0.004) and FVC (r = -0.5, p = 0.008)]. Conclusion The concentration of VOCs was higher among paint industry workers of unorganized sectors and they reported respiratory symptoms and diminished pulmonary function. To reduce morbidity, it is critical to enhance awareness about occupational safety and services in these unorganized sectors.

Effects of volatile organic compounds and new particle formation on real-time hygroscopicity of PM2.5 particles in Seosan, Republic of Korea

The hygroscopicity of PM2.5 particles plays an important role in PM2.5 haze in Northeast Asian countries by influencing particle growth and chemical composition. New particle formation (NPF) and atmospheric volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are factors that influence particle hygroscopicity. However, the lack of real-time hygroscopicity measurements has deterred the understanding of their effects on particle hygroscopicity. In this study, two intensive monitoring campaigns were conducted during the summer of 2021 and spring of 2022 using real-time aerosol instruments, including a humidified tandem differential mobility analyzer (HTDMA), in Seosan, Republic of Korea. The hygroscopicity parameter κ was calculated from the real-time HTDMA measurement data (κGf). The diurnal variations in κGf exhibited strong inverse linear correlations with the total concentration of VOCs (CTVOC) during the two campaigns. The higher atmospheric CTVOC in summer increased the growth rate of the particle diameter from 10 to 40 nm (6 nm/h) compared with that in spring (2.7 nm/h), resulting in a faster change in κGf for 40-nm particles in summer than in spring because of the increase in organic matter in the chemical compositions of particles. In addition, NPF events introduced additional tiny fresh particles into the atmosphere, which reduced the κGf of 40-nm particles and increased the intensity of the less hygroscopic peaks (κGf < 0.1) of κ-probability density functions (κ-PDF) in NPF days. However, 100-nm particles exhibited fewer changes in κGf than 40-nm particles, resulting in additional dominant hygroscopic peaks (κ ∼ 0.2) of κ-PDFs in both NPF and non-NPF days. When κGf values measured in Seosan were compared with those in other Northeast Asian countries in the literature, the κ values for 40-nm particles were lower than those (κ > 0.2) measured in Beijing and Guangzhou, but those for 100-nm particles were close to those measured in the two cities.

Health risk assessment of exposure to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes in a vehicle manufacturing industry in Iran

IntroductionConsidering the adverse carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health effects of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and specially Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylenes (BTEX) which are widely used in vehicle manufacturing industry, it is clear that monitoring and control of occupational exposure to these substances is of utmost significance. More often than not the studies on occupational exposure to VOCs in vehicle manufacturing industry—specifically BTEX—have been carried out exclusively in paint shop units. The purpose of this study was to assess occupational BTEX exposure & health risk in different units of a vehicle manufacturing industry.Material and methodsFoam injection unit (FIU), gluing unit (GU), repair shop unit (RSU), molding unit (MU) as well as paint shop units (PSU) were selected for this study. Sampling and analysis were conducted based on National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 1501 guidelines by utilizing MSA personal sampling pumps set to 0.2 l/m and Gas Chromatography equipped with Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID). Risk characterization and assessment was performed using Environmental Protection Agency Risk Assessment Information System (EPA RAIS).Results and conclusionThe results revealed that the concentration of benzene in gluing and paint shop units was above occupational exposure limits. Carcinogenic risk levels in 8 out of 10 units registered in the 1E-2 to 1E-4 range, and only two units registered a risk level below EPA’s acceptable risk level (10–6). The highest risk levels were measured in gluing, paint shop and repair shop units. Furthermore, the total non-carcinogenic hazard quotient was measured higher than 1 in 8 out of 10 studied units. Considering the abundance and wide use of VOCs -most notably BTEX- and the adverse carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health effects of these compounds, it is advised to: change the type of paint used in paint shops, improve the existing ventilation systems, develop new and more efficient ventilation systems and conduct consistent training.

Multifaceted effects of volatile organic compounds released by Fusarium oxysporum on Trichoderma biocontrol agents

We investigated how volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by Fusarium oxysporum, a soilborne fungal species complex that infects diverse plants, affect the growth of four Trichoderma spp. and their secretion of antifungal molecules and gene expression to evaluate the involvement of VOC-mediated recognition of pathogens in biocontrol. Five VOCs commonly produced by all F. oxysporum strains analyzed, including 4-ethylanisole, 1-hexanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol, isopentyl acetate, and 2-phenylethanol, were tested. All compounds inhibited Trichoderma growth in a concentration-dependent manner, with 4-ethylanisole being the most effective. Although the degree of growth inhibition by each compound was similar among the four species, their secretion of antifungal molecules varied widely, with the degree of induction in T. virens and T. viride being higher than that in T. harzianum and T. asperellum in most treatments. Transcriptome analyses via RNA-seq after exposure to 4-ethylasniole, 3-methyl-1-butanol, isopentyl acetate, and VOCs released by three F. oxysporum strains were performed. Analysis of gene ontology (GO) terms enriched among the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) revealed that diverse processes, such as synthesizing/metabolizing various types of organic compounds, ion/carbohydrate transport, proteolysis, response to stimulus, signal transduction, chromosome organization, RNA processing, and DNA metabolism, were significantly affected. Some genes likely involved in biocontrol, such as those that perform fungal cell wall degradation, protein hydrolysis, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis, were also differentially regulated. However, the DEGs in the four species did not overlap significantly, suggesting that individual species respond distinctly to each VOC treatment. Collectively, our data suggest that Trichoderma BCAs recognize other fungi through multiple specific volatile cues and prepare for subsequent encounters. We discuss future studies needed to test this hypothesis and to uncover the mechanism underlying the VOC-mediated recognition of pathogens and the resulting modulation of diverse cellular responses.

High-resolution emission inventory of biogenic volatile organic compounds for rapidly urbanizing areas: A case of Shenzhen megacity, China

The effects of volatile organic compounds on urban air quality and the ozone have been widely acknowledged, and the contributions of relevant biogenic sources are currently receiving rising attentions. However, inventories of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) are in fact limited for the environmental management of megacities. In this study, we provided an estimation of BVOC emissions and their spatial characteristics in a typical urbanized area, Shenzhen megacity, China, based on an in-depth vegetation investigation and using remote sensing data. The total BVOC emission in Shenzhen in 2019 was estimated to be 3.84 × 109 g C, of which isoprene contributed to about 24.4%, monoterpenes about 44.4%, sesquiterpenes about 1.9%, and other VOCs (OVOCs) about 29.3%. Metropolitan BVOC emissions exhibited a seasonal pattern with a peak in July and a decline in January. They were mainly derived from the less built-up areas (88.9% of BVOC emissions). Estimated BVOCs comprised around 5.2% of the total municipal VOC emissions in 2019. This percentage may increase as more green spaces emerge and anthropogenic emissions decrease in built-up areas. Furthermore, synergistic effects existed between BVOC emissions and relevant vegetation-based ecosystem services (e.g., air purification, carbon fixation). Greening during urban sprawl should be based on a trade-off between BVOC emissions and ecosystem benefits of urban green spaces. The results suggested that urban greening in Shenzhen, and like other cities as well, need to account for BVOC contributions to ozone. Meanwhile, greening cites should adopt proactive environmental management by using plant species with low BVOC emissions to maintain urban ecosystem services while avoid further degradation to ozone pollution.

Air quality in the car: How CO2 and body odor affect drivers' cognition and driving performance?

Elevated indoor levels of CO2 and the presence of body odor have been shown to have adverse effects on the cognitive function of building occupants. These factors may also contribute to impaired in-car driving performance, potentially posing a threat to transportation and public safety. To investigate the effects of CO2 and body odor on driving performance, we enrolled 25 participants in highway driving tasks under three indoor CO2 levels (800, 1800, and 3500 ppm) and two body odor conditions (presence and absence). CO2 was injected in the cabin to increase CO2 levels. In addition, we assessed working memory and reaction time using N-back tasks during driving. We found that driving speed, acceleration, and lateral control were not significantly affected by either CO2 or body odor. We observed no significant differences in sleepiness or emotion under varying CO2 or body odor conditions, except for a lower level of emotion valence with exposure to body odor. Task load was also not significantly impacted by CO2 or body odor levels, except for a higher reported effort at 1800 ppm compared to 800 ppm CO2. However, participants did demonstrate significantly higher accuracy with increased body odor exposure, suggesting a complex effect of volatile organic compounds on driver cognition. Our findings also revealed moderating effects of task difficulty of N-back tests and exposure duration on cognition and driving performance. This is one of the first few in-depth studies regarding environmental factors and their effect on drivers' cognition and driving performance, and these results provide valuable insights for car-cabin environmental design for air quality and driving safety.

Pleoardoris graminearum, gen. et sp. nov., a new member of Pleosporales from North American Plains, its biogeography and effects on a foundation grass species

ABSTRACT Diverse fungi colonize plant roots worldwide and include species from many orders of the phylum Ascomycota. These fungi include taxa with dark septate hyphae that colonize grass roots and may modulate plant responses to stress. We describe a novel group of fungal isolates and evaluate their effects on the grass Bouteloua gracilis in vitro. We isolated fungi from roots of six native grasses from 24 sites spanning replicated latitudinal gradients in the south-central US grasslands and characterized isolates phylogenetically using a genome analysis. We analyzed 14 isolates representing a novel clade within the family Montagnulaceae (order Pleosporales), here typified as Pleoardoris graminearum, closely related to the genera Didymocrea and Bimuria. This novel species produces asexual, light brown pycnidium-like conidioma, hyaline hyphae, and chlamydospores when cultured on quinoa and kiwicha agar. To evaluate its effects on B. gracilis, seeds were inoculated with one of three isolates (DS304, DS334, and DS1613) and incubated at 25 C for 20 d. We also tested the effect of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by the same isolates on B. gracilis root and stem lengths. Isolates had variable effects on plant growth. One isolate increased B. gracilis root length up to 34% compared with uninoculated controls. VOCs produced by two isolates increased root and stem lengths (P < 0.05) compared with controls. Internal transcribed spacer ITS2 metabarcode data revealed that P. graminearum is distributed across a wide range of sites in North America (22 of 24 sites sampled), and its relative abundance is influenced by host species identity and latitude. Host species identity and site were the most important factors determining P. graminearum relative abundance in drought experiments at the Extreme Drought in the Grasslands Experiment (EDGE) sites. Variable responses of B. gracilis to inoculation highlight the potential importance of nonmycorrhizal root-associated fungi on plant survival in arid ecosystems.

Different volatile organic compounds in local point source air pollution pose distinctive elevated risks for respiratory disease-associated emergency room visits

Air pollution increases risk of respiratory disease but prior research has focused on particulate matter and criteria air pollutants, and there are few studies on respiratory effects of volatile organic compounds (VOC). We examined zip code level relationships between emergency room (ER) visits for respiratory illness and VOC pollution in New York State from 2010 to 2018. Detailed information on VOC pollution was derived from the National Emissions Inventory, which provides point source information on VOC emissions at the zip code level. We considered four respiratory diseases: asthma, acute upper respiratory infections, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lower respiratory disease, using mixed effects regression with a random intercept to account for county level variability in single pollutant models, and Random Forest Regression (RFR) to assess relative importance of VOC exposures when considered together in multipollutant models.Single pollutant models show associations between respiratory-related ER visits with all pollutants of interest across all study years, even after adjusting for poverty and smoking by zip code. The largest relative single pollutant effect sizes considered included benzene, ethylbenzene, and total (summed) VOCs. Results from RFR including all VOC exposures indicate that ethylbenzene has the greatest variable importance for asthma, acute upper respiratory infections, and COPD, with toluene and benzene most important for lower respiratory ailments. RFR results also demonstrate presence of pairwise interactive effects between VOC pollutants. Our findings show that local VOC pollution may offer a significant contribution to the risk of respiratory disease-related ER visits, and that effects vary by illness and by VOC compound. ER visit rates for respiratory illness were elevated in high poverty zip codes, although this may be attributable to the fact that the poor lack basic access to health care and use ERs more frequently for routine care.

Effect of Volatile Organic Compounds on the Neurobehavioral Functions of Painters in Chennai, Tamilnadu: A Cross Sectional Study

Background: Paints are a major source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) among painters. Limited information is available on neurobehavioral effect of long-term exposure to VOCs among painters working in unorganised industrial sectors such as construction site. Hence, this study was conducted to evaluate the neurobehavioral impact of long-term exposure to VOCs among construction painters. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among male painters in Chennai. VOC exposure index was calculated using questionnaire as well as personal exposure monitors. Neurobehavioral tests including hand dexterity, auditory (ART) and visual reaction time (VRT) were used to assess motor coordination, fine motor activity, focused attention, and psychomotor speed. Results: Prevalence of prolonged ART and VRT in painters was 69% and 73%, respectively and 65% exhibited reduced hand dexterity. Hand dexterity had mild negative correlation (r = -0.3, p = 0.01) with VOC exposure index and work experience (r = -0.3, p = 0.02), whereas VRT had mild positive correlation (r = 0.3, p = 0.01) with VOC exposure index. Independent t-test showed a significant decrease in motor coordination with higher VOC exposure index (≤ 18.5*103 ppm-hrs = 60.1 ±10.1, &gt;18.5*103 ppm-hrs = 53.3 ±12.3, p=0.03) and increase in work experience (≤ 10 years = 58.8 ±11.6, &gt;10years = 52.5 ±11.5, p=0.05). Conclusion: Neurobehavioral functions gradually decline with VOC exposure in painters working in unorganized sectors indicating a need to create awareness among the public and workers in unorganized sectors about the organic solvent-induced neurobehavioral changes.

Volatile Organic Compounds of Scheffersomyces spartinae W9 Have Antifungal Effect against Botrytis cinerea on Strawberry Fruit.

This study aims to evaluate the antifungal effects of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by a marine biocontrol yeast, Scheffersomyces spartinae W9. The results showed that the VOCs from the yeast inhibited the growth of Botrytis cinerea mycelium and spore germination by 77.8% and 58.3%, respectively. Additionally, it reduced the disease incidence and lesion diameter of gray mold on the strawberry fruit surface by 20.7% and 67.4%, respectively. Electronic micrographs showed that VOCs caused damage to the morphology and ultrastructure of the hyphae. Based on headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC-MS), S. spartinae W9 emitted 18 main VOCs, and the pure substance of VOCs, such as 3-methyl-1-butanol, 2-methyl-1-butanol, 2-phenylethanol, and isoamyl acetate, showed antifungal effects against B. cinerea mycelium growth. Among them, 2-phenylethanol exhibited the strongest antifungal activity. It has been concluded that VOCs are the key antifungal mechanism of S. spartinae W9, and a promising strategy for controlling gray mold on strawberry fruit.

Antifungal effect of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) release from Antarctic bacteria under postharvest conditions

The generation of biological control agents for postharvest fungal control has prompted the search for different natural sources due to studies indicating adverse effects that may be related to the use of conventional fungicides (e.g., SO2). Some bacteria that have the ability to generate volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with antifungal activity stand out in this regard. Thus, the Antarctic bacterium Pseudomonas sp. AN3A02, which can grow in very cold environments with low nutrient availability, has shown a fungistatic effect on Botrytis cinerea in dual culture. In this study, in vitro assays were performed to evaluate its effect and activity on strains of B. cinerea isolated from blueberries using dual-plate assays. An antifungal assay (in vivo) was performed by artificial wounding on blueberries inoculated with B. cinerea (1 ×106 conidia/mL) and stored at 0 °C for 20 d plus 3 d at 20 °C. The results obtained showed that in the presence of the bacteria, the severity of gray mold on blueberries was reduced by 71.38 %. In addition, this bacterium released a diversity of VOCs, including alcohols (1-octanol, 10.3 %), aldehydes (paraldehyde, 2.1 %), esters (ethyl butyrate, 4 %; isoamyl acetate, 2 %), ketones (2-nonanone, 1.4 %), terpenes (linalool, 1.9 %; D-limonene, 0.7 %), phenolic derivatives (2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, 2.5 %) and other groups, which were identified by GC–MS. The release of VOCs affects and modifies the hyphae and germ tube of B. cinerea, influencing its growth. Therefore, a new and environmentally friendly alternative for postharvest pathogen control could be generated based on this Antarctic microorganism.

Association between volatile organic compounds and mortality risk of stroke

Objective: To investigate the effect of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) exposure in the atmosphere on the risk of daily death from stroke in Guangzhou. Methods: Daily average concentrations of twelve atmospheric VOCs, meteorological factors, and daily deaths for stroke and its subtypes (including ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke) in Guangzhou from 2020 to 2021 were collected. The time-series Poisson generalized additive model was established to analyze the relationship between daily average concentrations of atmospheric VOCs and daily mortality from a stroke on different lag days. The season, gender, and age group further performed stratification analysis. Results: Toluene and n-pentane were associated with a higher mortality risk from stroke and its subtypes. For each interquartile range (IQR) increment in toluene concentration at lag0- 1 days, the RRs for mortality from stroke and hemorrhagic stroke were 1.060 (95%CI: 1.036-1.085) and 1.071 (95%CI: 1.030-1.113), respectively. For each IQR increment in n-pentane concentration, the RR for mortality from ischemic stroke was 1.064 (95%CI: 1.030-1.099). The effect estimates of VOCs may be higher during the cold season and among women and people aged ≥75 years. For each IQR increment in toluene concentration, the RRs for mortality risk of stroke in the cold season and women were 1.099 (95%CI: 1.056-1.143) and 1.085 (95%CI: 1.050-1.120), respectively. For n-pentane, the RR for death risk of stroke in people aged ≥75 years old was 1.072 (95%CI: 1.036-1.109). Results of sensitivity analysis showed that the effect estimates fluctuated less when PM2.5 and O3 were separately introduced for the two-pollutant model, as well as changing the degrees of freedom for covariates. Conclusions: This study suggests that VOCs may be an independent risk factor for daily mortality from stroke. Moreover, Toluene presented the most significant health impact.

Effects of volatile organic compounds of smoke from different woods on the heterocyclic amine formation and quality changes in pork patty

This study investigated the effects of smoke derived from cypress (CY), mulberry (MU), metasequoia (ME), pine (PI), and camphor (CA) on the heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAs), flavor, and sensory attributes of smoked pork patty. The results showed that the smoke derived from the five kinds of wood and the flavor of the corresponding smoked meat were classified into three types. Moreover, the smoke of CY and PI, and the smoke of MU and ME can be classified into one category respectively, which significantly improved the flavor of the smoked meat. Both free and protein-bound HAs were detected in smoked meat, while the smoking process significantly increased the HAs content, especially free Norharman (3.26 ng/g in control meat, and 82.24 ng/g in meat smoked with CY). Correlation analysis showed that various volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and HAs were closely associated. Future research should pay attention to the VOCs in smoked meat including vanillin, Close attention should be paid to tridecane and crotonic acid, as well as tetradecane and α-Dehydro-ar-himachalene in smoke, which were consistently correlated with various HAs and may participate in HAs formation. These results may reveal how the smoking process influences the formation of HAs and which factors should be targeted to inhibit HAs in smoked meat products.

Exposure to volatile organic compounds is a risk factor for diabetes: A cross-sectional study

Currently, more studies showed that environmental chemicals were associated with the development of diabetes. However, the effect of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on diabetes remained uncertain and needed to be studied. This cross-sectional study examined whether exposure to low levels of VOCs was associated with diabetes, insulin resistance (TyG index) and glucose-related indicators (FPG,HbA1c, insulin) in the general population by using the NHANES dataset (2013–2014 and 2015–2016). We analyzed the association between urinary VOC metabolism (mVOCs) and these indicators in 1409 adults by multiple linear regression models or logistic regression models, further Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models were performed for mixture exposure analysis. The results showed positive associations between multiple mVOCs and diabetes, TyG index, FPG, HbA1c and insulin, respectively. Among them, HPMMA concentration in urine was significantly positively correlated with diabetes and related indicators (TyG index, FPG and HbA1c), and the concentration of CEMA was significantly positively correlated with insulin. The positive association of mVOCs with diabetes and its related indicators was more significant in the female group and in the 40–59 years group. Thus, our study suggested that exposure to VOCs affected insulin resistance and glucose homeostasis, further affecting diabetes levels, which had important public health implications.

Suppressive Effects of Volatile Compounds from Bacillus spp. on Magnaporthe oryzae Triticum (MoT) Pathotype, Causal Agent of Wheat Blast.

The Magnaporthe oryzae Triticum (MoT) pathotype is the causal agent of wheat blast, which has caused significant economic losses and threatens wheat production in South America, Asia, and Africa. Three bacterial strains from rice and wheat seeds (B. subtilis BTS-3, B. velezensis BTS-4, and B. velezensis BTLK6A) were used to explore the antifungal effects of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of Bacillus spp. as a potential biocontrol mechanism against MoT. All bacterial treatments significantly inhibited both the mycelial growth and sporulation of MoT in vitro. We found that this inhibition was caused by Bacillus VOCs in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, biocontrol assays using detached wheat leaves infected with MoT showed reduced leaf lesions and sporulation compared to the untreated control. VOCs from B. velezensis BTS-4 alone or a consortium (mixture of B. subtilis BTS-3, B. velezensis BTS-4, and B. velezensis BTLK6A) of treatments consistently suppressed MoT in vitro and in vivo. Compared to the untreated control, VOCs from BTS-4 and the Bacillus consortium reduced MoT lesions in vivo by 85% and 81.25%, respectively. A total of thirty-nine VOCs (from nine different VOC groups) from four Bacillus treatments were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), of which 11 were produced in all Bacillus treatments. Alcohols, fatty acids, ketones, aldehydes, and S-containing compounds were detected in all four bacterial treatments. In vitro assays using pure VOCs revealed that hexanoic acid, 2-methylbutanoic acid, and phenylethyl alcohol are potential VOCs emitted by Bacillus spp. that are suppressive for MoT. The minimum inhibitory concentrations for MoT sporulation were 250 mM for phenylethyl alcohol and 500 mM for 2-methylbutanoic acid and hexanoic acid. Therefore, our results indicate that VOCs from Bacillus spp. are effective compounds to suppress the growth and sporulation of MoT. Understanding the MoT sporulation reduction mechanisms exerted by Bacillus VOCs may provide novel options to manage the further spread of wheat blast by spores.

Volatile organic compounds mediated non-preference for oviposition and feeding of hairy caterpillar, Spilosoma obliqua Walker (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) in jute

Aim: To identify the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from wild and cultivated jute species imparting varying degree of non-preference for oviposition and feeding to jute hairy caterpillar, S. obliqua Walker. Methodology: Different host species of S. obliqua viz., Corchorus olitorius, C. aestuans, C. pseudo-olitorius, C. fascicularis, C. tridens and C. trilocularis were used to find out the feeding and oviposition preference of S. obliqua. Headspace volatiles were collected from different genotypes of jute and the chemical analysis was done with Gas chromatography - Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Results: The chemical compounds of VOCs responsible for causing non-preference mechanism of host plant selection to S. obliqua. The chemical complexity and chemistry of volatiles from cultivated and wild jute species indicated significant variation. The VOCs identified in C. aestuans was comparatively more than cultivated species and were different from other cultivated and wild species of jute. Very low preference index for larval feeding and oviposition preference of S. obliqua was due to the possible deterrent effect of volatile organic compounds. Interpretation: The GC-MS analysis of VOCs from C. aestuans (WCIN-179) indicated strong repellent action on S. obliqua that makes it resistant due to non-preference mechanism resulting in less preference for egg laying and feeding. The uniqueness and novelty of C. aestuans confirmed on the basis of very unique VOCs profile which makes it resistant against S. obliqua through multiple mechanisms, i.e., antibiosis and non-preference recording least suitable for egg laying, biology and growth of insects. Key words: GC-MS, Hairy caterpillar, Jute, Oviposition, Volatile Organic Compounds

Effect of Volatile Organic Compounds of Entomopathogenic Fungi of the Genus Lecanicillium and Their Component, Acetic Acid, on Female Behavior in the Western Flower Thrips Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera, Thripidae)

Effect of Volatile Organic Compounds of Entomopathogenic Fungi of the Genus Lecanicillium and Their Component, Acetic Acid, on Female Behavior in the Western Flower Thrips Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera, Thripidae)

Effects of Volatile Flavour Compound Variations on the Varying Aroma of Mangoes 'Tainong' and 'Hongyu' during Storage.

The aroma, taste, and flavour profiles of mango cultivars vary, directly influencing their marketability and consumer acceptance. In this study, we explored the effects of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on the distinct aromas of two mango cultivars during storage using GC-IMS and HS-SPME-GC-MS combined with OPLS-DA analysis. Our findings revealed that the terpene and aldehyde contents were higher in the 'Tainong' mango cultivar, compared to the 'Hongyu' mango, while the ester content was lower. The aroma was attributed to the presence of terpinolene, 2-nonenal, delta-carene, and alpha-phellandrene in the early stages of storage, and later-between 5 and 11 days-to ethyl acetate, ethyl butyrate, and ethyl propanoate. Further analysis of characteristic VOCs using OPLS-DA demonstrated and explained the strong grassy aroma of the 'Tainong' mango, and the strong fruity and sweet aromas of the 'Hongyu' mango. Additionally, esters mainly accumulated during the later periods of storage, especially propyl butyrate, which was produced and accumulated when fruit quality deteriorated in the later storage period. Our study provides a theoretical basis for detecting mango VOCs during storage to determine the appropriate marketing time for the two mango cultivars and enables informed consumer choice.

Variation Characteristics and Ozone Formation Potential of Ambient VOCs in Urban Beijing in Summer

To further understand the effect of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on ozone (O3) formation in seasons when ozone (O3) pollution occurs frequently, the variation in VOCs, chemical composition characteristics, and ozone formation potential (OFP) were studied, using high-resolution online monitoring data obtained in an urban site of Beijing in the summer of 2019. The results showed that the averaged total mixing ratio of VOCs was (25.12±10.11)×10-9, with alkanes as the most abundant group (40.41%), followed by oxygenated volatile organic compounds (OVOCs) (25.28%) and alkenes/alkynes (12.90%). The diurnal variation in VOCs concentration showed a bimodal pattern with the morning peak appearing from 06:00 to 08:00, when the proportion of alkenes/alkynes increased significantly,indicating that the vehicle exhaust contributed more to VOCs. The VOCs concentration decreased in the afternoon when the proportion of OVOCs showed an upward trend, and the photochemical reaction and meteorological factors had great influences on VOCs concentration and composition.The OFP in urban Beijing in summer was 154.64 μg·m-3; aromatics, OVOCs, and alkenes/alkynes played dominant roles in OFP; and hexanal, ethylene, and m/p-xylene were the key species. The results suggested the need for the control of vehicle and solvent use and restaurants emissions to reduce the high level of O3in urban Beijing in summer. The diurnal variations in ethane/acetylene (E/E) and m/p-xylene/ethylbenzene (X/E) showed that the photochemical-aging of the air masses was obvious, which was jointly affected by photochemical reactions and regional transport. The back-trajectory results indicated a high contribution of southeastern and southwestern air masses to atmospheric alkanes and OVOCs concentration; moreover, aromatics and alkenes were mainly from local sources.

Effects of volatile sesquiterpenes from Japanese cedarwood on visual processing in the human brain: an event-related potential study

Odor environments in living spaces can influence human physiological and psychological states. To elucidate the effect of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of wood in living spaces on the modulations of cognitive processing, we built two experimental huts to simulate wooden construction living spaces. One hut was made of cedarwood (Cryptomeria japonica), and the other was made of resin. We used cedarwood and resin, because they are often used as construction materials in Japan. In both huts, we measured the participants’ first positivity in the early visual cortex (P1), the third positivity elicited by voluntary attention (P3b), and the automatic occipital negativity to infrequent visual stimuli in event-related potentials (ERPs), while they performed a visual discrimination task. The VOCs in both huts were measured by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The concentration of volatile sesquiterpenes was significantly increased in the cedarwood hut. Neither P1 nor P3b was affected by the cedarwood hut. Compared to the resin hut, we observed significantly larger occipital negativities to the infrequent stimuli in the cedarwood hut in the time windows of 280–300 ms at the mid-occipital region. These findings suggest that the increased concentration of volatile sesquiterpenes emitted from cedarwood facilitates the human brain’s response to changes in visual stimuli.