Low Levels Of Pesticides Research Articles

Association between oxidative stress biomarkers and PON and GST polymorphisms as a predictor for susceptibility to the effects of pesticides.

Low levels of pesticides persist in the environment and can affect the health of exposed subjects. Oxidative stress is considered as one of the mechanisms responsible for the adverse effects on human health and some molecules may represent useful biomarkers for the evaluation of this physiological balance. This study investigated the role of these biomarkers, such as advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), advanced glycation end‑products (AGE) and reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs) in relation to genetic polymorphisms of paraoxonase (PON)1, PON2, glutathione S‑transferase pi1 (GSTP1), glutathione S‑transferase theta1 (GSTT1) and glutathione S‑transferase mu1 (GSTM1). An increase in the levels of these biomarkers is usually inversely associated with the depletion of the biological antioxidant potential (BAP). The results revealed a statistically significant difference in the sex‑dependent variation of AGE, BAP, AOPP and ROM protein levels. Furthermore, an association between the PON2 S331C gene polymorphism and the serum levels of AOPP, ROMs and BAP was found. Thus, compared with AGE, the levels of AOPP and ROMs provided a more sensitive biomarker, with an improved association with the PON2 genotype. Such an association strengthen the importance of PON in the occurrence of oxidative stress. According to these results, an individual's genetic background may be taken into account for the health surveillance of individuals occupationally exposed to pesticides, in order to define a cluster of highly susceptible workers so as to guarantee greater protection.

Organochlorine Pesticide Residues Among Colonial Nesting Birds in Tamil Nadu, India: A Maiden Assessment from Their Breeding Grounds.

Use of pesticides continues to be indiscriminate, and birds are one of the worst affected non-targeted organisms. Information on the ill effects of pesticides on birds far from desired in India. Despite the presence of a wide variety and number of birds, there is exceedingly little data on organochlorine pesticide (OCP) residues in colonial nesting birds in sanctuaries of India. A total of 76 individuals belonging to 14 species of birds found dead between March 2008 and March 2010 were analyzed for pesticide residues in various tissues. Of all the OCPs analyzed, concentration of HCH was found to be the highest. Magnitude of contamination varied widely among species. Accumulation pattern of OCPs in colonial nesting birds was in the order ∑HCH > ∑endosulfan > ∑DDT > heptachlor epoxide > dieldrin. Pesticides, namely p,p-DDE and β-HCH contributed most towards the total OCPs. Concentrations of DDT and its metabolites, HCH and isomers, dieldrin, and heptachlor epoxide were lower than the concentrations reported for various species of birds elsewhere in India. Although the sanctuaries presently studied have official boundaries, physical demarcations are missing and there are no proper earthen dykes particularly in Vedanthangal and Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuaries. During monsoon, runoff not only floods the Sanctuaries but also the cultivated areas nearby. Run off brings in residues of pesticides and fertilizers from the agricultural lands into the sanctuaries. Although OCP results in this study were below threshold limits, it may be noted that the long duration exposure even to low levels of pesticides could create a significant impact at population level. Hence, earthen dykes need to be built to avoid agricultural runoff entering the Sanctuary and also help to hold sufficient amount of water for breeding birds.

Considerations for cholinesterase biomonitoring in flower and ornamental plant greenhouse workers

Flower cultivation in greenhouses enhances productivity and ensures high-quality product supply throughout the year. However, under such protected environments, climate conditions are designed to favor flower growth and can intensify occupational exposure to pesticides. In this study, flower greenhouse workers were tested for cholinesterase inhibition, a valuable indicator of occupational exposure to organophosphate and carbamate pesticides. The quantified inhibition was also associated with working practices using these outcomes to explore ways in which provisions of regulatory Occupational Health Control Programs can be met considering the peculiarities of this working environment. Despite their preliminary nature, and considering that workers had not been previously tested, the obtained results suggested that the designed pre- and post-screening process, enabled biomonitoring of the exposed population. The pre-exposure sample was collected after 11 days from pesticide spraying and the post-exposure sample was collected no later than 10 days after pesticide spraying. AChE activity was significantly depressed in flower greenhouse workers, comparing pre- and post-exposure intervals. Nursery workers, often overlooked, presented greater inhibition of AChE activity. Such finding is consistent with effects believed to be associated with the described job and the way activities are conducted, once nursery workers are regularly exposed to low levels of pesticides owing to their continuous contact with sprayed crops. As predicted by Occupational Safety and Health Standards, establishing biomonitoring programs is achievable, despite the intensive use of pesticides. Quantification is important to target the exposed population but is not sufficient to assure good working conditions and avoid exposure. Administrative and working practices, such as job misclassification, non-compliance with national regulations for occupational health control, pesticide handling, lack of REI protocols, and unsuitable delivery of PPE, must be addressed. Anything less will contribute to worsening an already bleak picture in terms of occupational safety and health in flower and ornamental plant greenhouses.

Children's low-level pesticide exposure and associations with autism and ADHD: a review.

Pesticides are chemicals that are designed specifically for the purpose of killing or suppressing another living organism. Human toxicity is possible with any pesticide, and a growing body of literature has investigated possible associations with neurodevelopmental disorders. Attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are two of these specific disorders that have garnered particular interest. Exposure to toxic chemicals during critical windows of brain development is a biologically plausible mechanism. This review describes the basic laboratory science including controlled pesticide dosing experiments in animals that supports a mechanistic relationship in the development of ADHD and/or ASD. Epidemiological relationships are also described for low-level pesticide exposure and ADHD and/or ASD. The available evidence supports the hypothesis that pesticide exposure at levels that do not cause acute toxicity may be among the multifactorial causes of ADHD and ASD, though further study is needed, especially for some of the newer pesticides.

Pesticide Urinary Metabolite Levels in Asthmatic Children Residing in Subsidized Housing

We examined urinary pesticide (UP) metabolite levels in asthmatic children residing in subsidized housing in New Orleans, Louisiana and compared these levels between children residing in green and non-green housing.Morning void samples were collected from 68 children (aged 7-12 years) at three time points between 2014 and 2016. Ninety-seven percent of children provided three urine samples. Urine samples were analyzed for seven pesticide metabolites (3 organophosphates: TCPY, IMPY, PNP; 3 pyrethroids: 4-F-3-PBA, 3-PBA, trans-DCCA; and 1 herbicide: 2,4-D). Metabolites were creatinine-adjusted and natural log transformed. Children were classified as residing in green housing if the home was constructed with low VOC materials and utilized integrated pest management. Differences in metabolite levels were analyzed using generalized estimating equations.Four metabolites (2,4-D, TCPY, 3-PBA, PNP) were detected in >90% of samples. IMPY was detected in 52% of samples, and 4-F-3-PBA and trans-DCCA were not frequently detected (<9%, <13%, respectively). There were no statistically significant differences in UP level at any time point. There were lower levels of 4-F-3-PBA (β=-1.23, p=0.11), TCPY (β=-0.05, p=0.63), and PNP (β=-0.01, p=0.93) for children living in green housing. 2,4-D (β=0.09, p=0.43), 3-PBA (β=0.08, p=0.63), IMPY (β=0.02, p=0.90), and trans-DCCA (β=0.37, p=0.07) levels were higher for those in green housing. None of the differences in housing type reached statistical significance. In models examining the interaction between housing type and time, there were no statistically significant differences between green and non-green housing at any time point.These results suggest that asthmatic children residing in subsidized housing in New Orleans are chronically exposed to low levels of pesticides resulting in limited variability of UP metabolite. We found no significant differences in UP levels between children residing in green housing compared to non-green housing.

Insecticide-induced changes in amphibian brains: How sublethal concentrations of chlorpyrifos directly affect neurodevelopment.

Widespread use of pesticides often contaminates natural habitats, exposing nontarget organisms to pesticides that were designed to control pest populations. Even low levels of pesticides can affect aquatic communities both directly and indirectly. Previous work has shown that trace amounts of the pesticide chlorpyrifos altered tadpole morphology and neurodevelopment in artificial ponds (mesocosms). To determine whether effects resulted from direct chlorpyrifos exposure or from disruption of the food web due to a pesticide-induced decline in zooplankton, we examined the impacts of chlorpyrifos on amphibian development in the presence of chlorpyrifos-resistant zooplankton, a key component of the aquatic trophic community. Northern leopard frog (Lithobates pipiens) tadpoles were reared through metamorphosis in mesocosms containing either 0 or 1 µg/L chlorpyrifos and either chlorpyrifos-resistant or chlorpyrifos-sensitive Daphnia pulex zooplankton. Developmental exposure to chlorpyrifos resulted in metamorphs with a relatively wider optic tectum, medulla, and diencephalon compared with controls, and this result was found regardless of the zooplankton population within the mesocosm. Thus, chlorpyrifos directly impacted brain development, independent of the effects on the trophic community. With respect to body shape, chlorpyrifos had no effect on body shape of metamorphs reared in mesocosms with chlorpyrifos-sensitive zooplankton, but body shape was sensitive to zooplankton population in the absence of chlorpyrifos. To conclude, low, ecologically relevant doses of organophosphorous pesticides can directly impact neurodevelopment in a vertebrate model. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:2692-2698. © 2018 SETAC.

Selective and context-dependent effects of chemical stress across trophic levels at the basis of marine food webs.

Human activities increasingly impact the functioning of marine food webs, but anthropogenic stressors are seldom included in ecological study designs. Diet quality, as distinct from just diet quantity, has moreover rarely been highlighted in food web studies in a stress context. We measured the effects of metal and pesticide stress (copper and atrazine) on the contribution of a benthic intertidal diatom community to two processes that are key to the functioning of intertidal systems: biomass (diet quantity) and lipid (diet quality) production. We then examined if stressors affected diatom functioning by selectively targeting the species contributing most to functioning (selective stress effects) or by changing the species' functional contribution (context-dependent effects). Finally, we tested if stress-induced changes in diet quality altered the energy flow to the diatoms' main grazers (harpacticoid copepods). Diatom diet quantity was reduced by metal stress but not by low pesticide levels due to the presence of an atrazine-tolerant, mixotrophic species. Selective effects of the pesticide reduced diatom diet quality by 60% and 75% at low and high pesticide levels respectively, by shifting diatom community structure from dominance by lipid-rich species toward dominance by an atrazine-tolerant, but lipid-poor, species. Context-dependent effects did not affect individual diatom lipid content at low levels of both stressors, but caused diatoms to lose 40% of their lipids at high copper stress. Stress-induced changes in diet quality predicted the energy flow from the diatoms to their copepod consumers, which lost half of their lipids when feeding on diatoms grown under low and high pesticide and high metal stress. Selective pesticide effects were a more important threat for trophic energy transfer than context-dependent effects of both stressors, with shifts in diatom community structure affecting the energy flow to their copepod grazers at stress levels where no changes in diatom lipid content were detected.

Fate and Impact of Pesticides

Fate and Impact of Pesticides

Sequential exposure to low levels of pesticides and temperature stress increase toxicological sensitivity of crustaceans

Frequent pesticide-related impacts on ecosystems at concentrations considered environmentally safe indicate that the current risk assessment framework for registration of pesticides is not protective enough. Causes may include difficulties in assessing the effects of sequential pesticide pulses and their interaction with environmental stressors. By contrast to such realistic scenarios, risk assessment for registration of pesticides is typically based on tests of a single exposure period under benign laboratory conditions. Here, we investigated the toxicological sensitivity of Gammarus pulex, an ecologically relevant crustacean, from uncontaminated control streams and pesticide-contaminated agricultural streams by exposing them to pesticide contamination in the laboratory. Individuals from contaminated streams were 2.7-fold more sensitive to pesticide exposure than individuals from the reference streams. We revealed that this increase in sensitivity was the result of a synergistic interaction of sequential pesticide exposure and temperature stress. Such multiple stressor scenarios are typical for agricultural streams. We conclude that the interactive effects of sequential toxicant exposure and additional environmental stressors need to be considered in a realistic risk assessment framework.

Pesticide consumption in India: A spatiotemporal analysis

The paper has described the consumption trends of pesticides over two decade period, 1991–2012 across the states in India. The pesticide economy of India is more export-oriented in nature. The growth rate of domestic consumption of pesticides, however, over different decades has shown wide fluctuations, though the overall trend is negative (−2.48%). While analysing the trend of pesticide consumption in 29 states and Union Territories (UTs) of India for the period 2000 to 2013, a positive growth trend has been observed in 17 states/UTs. The positive growth has been observed highest in Jammu & Kashmir, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Tripura. Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana are the states that accounted for 70 per cent of total pesticide consumption. The use-intensity has been found highest in Jammu and Kashmir, followed by Punjab and Haryana. However, Punjab and Haryana have exhibited a declining trend in pesticide consumption. On the contrary, Meghalaya where the intensity of application is comparatively low, has registered an increasing trend in pesticide consumption. The majority areas in NE region in general apply low levels of pesticides and are in a declining mode of consumption, except the states like Sikkim, Meghalaya, Tripura, Manipur and Nagaland (positive growth rate). The paper has also discussed the retail sale pattern of pesticides. The paper has highlighted the need for critical review of mismatch in policy and governance in the pesticide sector.

Measuring IPM Impacts in California and Arizona.

Integrated pest management (IPM) is a method of reducing economic, human health, and environmental risks from pests and pest management strategies. There are questions about the long-term success of IPM programs in relation to continued use of pesticides in agriculture. Total pounds of pesticides applied is a mis-measure of the impact of IPM in agriculture. A more complete measurement of the long-term impact of IPM includes consideration of changes in agricultural production practices and productivity, toxicity of the pesticides used, risks from human exposure to pesticides, and environmental sampling for pesticides in air and water resources. In recent decades, agricultural IPM programs have evolved to address invasive pests, shifts in endemic pest pressures, reductions in pest damage tolerance in markets, and increases in crop yields. Additionally, pesticide use data from Arizona and California revealed reduced use of pesticides in some toxicity categories but increased use of pesticides in a couple of categories. Data from federal and California programs that monitored pesticide residue on food have documented low pesticide risk to consumers. Environmental monitoring programs documented decreased pesticide levels in surface water resources in agricultural watersheds in the western United States and low levels of pesticides in air resources in agricultural areas in California. The focus of IPM assessment should be on reducing economic, human health, and environmental risks, not on pounds of pesticides applied. More broadly, IPM programs have evolved to address changes in pests and agricultural production systems while continuing to reduce human health and environmental risk from pesticides.

Pesticide and trace metals in surface waters and sediments of rivers entering the Corner Inlet Marine National Park, Victoria, Australia

Water and sediment samples were collected from up to 17 sites in waterways entering the Corner Inlet Marine National Park monthly between November 2009 and April 2010, with the Chemcatcher passive sampler system deployed at these sites in November 2009 and March 2010. Trace metal concentrations were low, with none occurring at concentrations with the potential for adverse ecological effects. The agrochemical residues data showed the presence of a small number of pesticides at very low concentration (ng/L) in the surface waters of streams entering the Corner Inlet, and as widespread, but still limited contamination of sediments. Concentrations of pesticides detected were relatively low and several orders of magnitude below reported ecotoxicological effect and hazardous concentration values. The low levels of pesticides detected in this study indicate that agricultural industries were responsible agrochemical users. This research project is a rarity in aligning both agrochemical usage data obtained from chemical resellers in the target catchment with residue analysis of environmental samples. Based on frequency of detection and concentrations, prometryn is the priority chemical of concern for both the water and sediments studied, but this chemical was not listed in reseller data. Consequently, the risks may be greater than the field data would suggest, and priorities for monitoring different since some commonly used herbicides (such as glyphosate, phenoxy acid herbicides, and sulfonyl urea herbicides) were not screened. Therefore, researchers, academia, industry, and government need to identify ways to achieve a more coordinated land use approach for obtaining information on the use of chemicals in a catchment, their presence in waterways, and the longer term performance of chemicals, particularly where they are used multiple times in a year.

Pesticide exposure and end-stage renal disease risk among wives of pesticide applicators in the Agricultural Health Study

BackgroundPesticide exposure has been found to cause renal damage and dysfunction in experimental studies, but epidemiological research on the renal effects of chronic low-level pesticide exposure is limited. We investigated the relationships between end-stage renal disease (ESRD) among wives of licensed pesticide applicators (N=31,142) in the Agricultural Health Study (AHS) and (1) personal pesticide use, (2) exposure to the husband's pesticide use, and (3) other pesticide-associated farming and household activities. MethodsAHS participants reported pesticide exposure via self-administered questionnaires at enrollment (1993–1997). ESRD cases were identified via linkage to the United States Renal Data System. Associations between ESRD and pesticide exposures were estimated with Cox proportional hazard regression models controlling for age at enrollment. Models of associations with farming and household factors were additionally adjusted for personal use of pesticides. ResultsWe identified 98 ESRD cases diagnosed between enrollment and 31 December 2011. Although women who ever applied pesticides (56% of cohort) were less likely than those who did not apply to develop ESRD (Hazard Ratio (HR): 0.42; 95% CI: 0.28, 0.64), among women who did apply pesticides, the rate of ESRD was significantly elevated among those who reported the highest (vs. lowest) cumulative general pesticide use (HR: 4.22; 95% CI: 1.26, 14.20). Among wives who never applied pesticides, ESRD was associated with husbands' ever use of paraquat (HR=1.99; 95% CI: 1.14, 3.47) and butylate (HR=1.71; 95% CI: 1.00, 2.95), with a positive exposure–response pattern for husband’s cumulative use of these pesticides. ConclusionsESRD may be associated with direct and/or indirect exposure to pesticides among farm women. Future studies should evaluate indirect exposure risk among other rural populations.

In Memoriam: Louis J. Guillette, Jr.

In Memoriam: Louis J. Guillette, Jr.

Residential Exposure to Pesticide During Childhood and Childhood Cancers: A Meta-Analysis.

There is an increasing concern about chronic low-level pesticide exposure during childhood and its influence on childhood cancers. In this meta-analysis, we aimed to examine associations between residential childhood pesticide exposures and childhood cancers. We searched all observational studies published in PubMed before February 2014 and reviewed reference sections of articles derived from searches. The literature search yielded 277 studies that met inclusion criteria. Sixteen studies were included in the meta-analysis. We calculated effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) by using a random effect model with inverse variance weights. We found that childhood exposure to indoor but not outdoor residential insecticides was associated with a significant increase in risk of childhood leukemia (odds ratio [OR] = 1.47; 95% CI, 1.26-1.72; I(2) = 30%) and childhood lymphomas (OR = 1.43; 95% CI, 1.15-1.78; I(2) = 0%). A significant increase in risk of leukemia was also associated with herbicide exposure (OR = 1.26; 95% CI, 1.10-1.44; I(2) = 0%). Also observed was a positive but not statistically significant association between childhood home pesticide or herbicide exposure and childhood brain tumors. The small number of studies included in the analysis represents a major limitation of the current analysis. Results from this meta-analysis indicated that children exposed to indoor insecticides would have a higher risk of childhood hematopoietic cancers. Additional research is needed to confirm the association between residential indoor pesticide exposures and childhood cancers. Meanwhile, preventive measures should be considered to reduce children's exposure to pesticides at home.

Exploring cost dominance in crop farming systems between high and low pesticide use

The purpose of this paper is to assess cost dominance in direct inputs between arable crop-based systems using low or high pesticide levels per hectare. Our investigation departs from a traditional efficiency analysis and aims at comparing two minimal direct cost functions excluding pesticide expenses. This means that we evaluate the gap between two efficient frontiers instead of focusing on individual farm inefficiency scores. Our only objective is to compare two optimal cost benchmarks for systems respectively defined with high or low pesticide levels per hectare by varying their scale and output mix. A robust approach frontier is introduced to control the influence of potential outliers and unobserved heterogeneity. Based on 707 French crop farms observed in 2008, our simulations show that agricultural practices using less pesticide per hectare are unambiguously more cost-competitive in terms of direct inputs while inducing no other substitution costs. This cost dominance is a robust phenomenon regardless of the size and scope of crop activities, which supports more ecofriendly practices.

Pesticide Residues in the Danube River Basin in Serbia – a Survey during 2009–2011

AbstractIn this work, a total of 38 pesticides was monitored in the Danube River Basin in Serbia during ten sampling campaigns in 2009, 2010, and 2011. The quantification of analytes was performed using procedures based on solid‐phase extraction (SPE) followed by LC–MS/MS or GC–MS. In general, low pesticide levels were found, except for the samples collected during May–June of 2010 and June of 2011. During this period, pesticide application is high and rainfall was described as extremely above normal or above normal, leading to very pronounced runoff and very high detected pesticide levels. At the sampling site Smederevo (the Danube River), high concentrations of terbuthylazine (200 ng L−1) and metolachlor (150 ng L−1) were found. In the Danube tributary Morava, high concentrations of carbendazim (269 ng L−1), atrazine (188 ng L−1), terbuthylazine (180 ng L−1), and acetochlor (110 ng L−1) were detected, while in the tributary Tisa only terbuthylazine was present at high levels (130 ng L−1). In other sampling campaigns, pesticides were present at low concentrations. The most frequently found pesticide was carbendazim, probably due to slow degradation rate in environment.

Production and Robustness of a Cacao Agroecosystem: Effects of Two Contrasting Types of Management Strategies

Ecological intensification, i.e. relying on ecological processes to replace chemical inputs, is often presented as the ideal alternative to conventional farming based on an intensive use of chemicals. It is said to both maintain high yield and provide more robustness to the agroecosystem. However few studies compared the two types of management with respect to their consequences for production and robustness toward perturbation.In this study our aim is to assess productive performance and robustness toward diverse perturbations of a Cacao agroecosystem managed with two contrasting groups of strategies: one group of strategies relying on a high level of pesticides and a second relying on low levels of pesticides. We conducted this study using a dynamical model of a Cacao agroecosystem that includes Cacao production dynamics, and dynamics of three insects: a pest (the Cacao Pod Borer, Conopomorpha cramerella) and two characteristic but unspecified beneficial insects (a pollinator of Cacao and a parasitoid of the Cacao Pod Borer). Our results showed two opposite behaviors of the Cacao agroecosystem depending on its management, i.e. an agroecosystem relying on a high input of pesticides and showing low ecosystem functioning and an agroecosystem with low inputs, relying on a high functioning of the ecosystem. From the production point of view, no type of management clearly outclassed the other and their ranking depended on the type of pesticide used. From the robustness point of view, the two types of managements performed differently when subjected to different types of perturbations. Ecologically intensive systems were more robust to pest outbreaks and perturbations related to pesticide characteristics while chemically intensive systems were more robust to Cacao production and management-related perturbation.

Passive sampling in the study of dynamic and environmental impact of pesticides in water

Pesticides are the most applied substances in agricultural activities which can contaminate water bodies by direct or indirect discharge, but large volumes and natural transformation processes can decrease the concentration of these substances and their degradates in watershed. Currently, conventional extraction methods such as: solid phase extraction (SPE) and solid phase micro extraction (SPME) among others do not permit low detection limits. However low levels of pesticides and degradates could produce chronic toxicity in different species. Nowadays, passive sampling is widespread used for monitoring pesticides and for ensuring the water quality and bioaccumulation studies due to this methodology allows the detection of pollutant from parts per quadrillion (ppq). The most popular membranes used in passive sampling are the semipermeable membrane devices (SPMD), which permit the concentration of lipophilic substances and the polar organic chemical integrative sampler (POCIS), which permits concentration of the hydrophilic ones. This review is about the application of passive samplers in pesticides analysis, the importance of these devices in the bioaccumulation studies and the evaluation of the ecotoxicological risks. Finally, passive sampling allows reducing costs, time and the amount of organic solvent used which classifies it within the environmental trends of “green analytical chemistry”.

Determination of nineteen pesticides residues (organophosphates, organochlorine, pyrethroids, carbamate, thiocarbamate and strobilurin) in coconut water by SDME/GC–MS

Coconut water is a natural isotonic drink and a rich source of sugars, salts, vitamins, minerals and amino acids, and can be served as a beverage to quench thirst. Palm trees are often attacked by insects and/or pests, therefore reducing their productivity. In order to enhance coconut production, pesticides are often used. Thus, the main objective of this study is to propose a simple and efficient method for the determination of pesticide residues, from different chemical classes, in samples of industrialized and natural coconut water, using single-drop microextraction (SDME), followed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The extraction step using SDME was optimized and it was found that the best experimental conditions for 10mL of samples were obtained using toluene as an extraction solvent; stirring time of 30min at 200rpm; drop volume of 1.0μL; and acidification with HCl without salt addition. The chromatographic method was validated and good values were found for the figures of merit, with LOD ranging between 0.1 and 0.88μgL−1, and LOQ between 1.21 and 6.69μgL−1. The method was successfully applied to real samples of natural and industrialized coconut water, and the pesticides sulfotep, demeton-O, dimethoate, disulfoton, fenitrothion and malathion were determined at concentrations ranging from <LOQ to 12.1μgL−1. The proposed methodology presents high sensitivity and the capability for detecting and quantifying low levels of pesticides in coconut water samples.