Use Of Organophosphate Pesticides Research Articles

Induction of DNA damage in the peripheral blood of zebrafish (Danio rerio) by an agricultural organophosphate pesticide, monocrotophos

The use of organophosphate pesticides (OPs) in agricultural practices in India has gained popularity due to their broad spectrum, low cost and high potency. Monocrotophos (an OP) which is a systemic and contact broad-spectrum cholinesterase inhibitor is being widely used in India. However, its use entails the damage to other non-target organisms such as fish. In the present study, zebrafish (Danio rerio) were exposed to various doses of monocrotophos (0.125, 0.625 and 1.25 μL/L) and genotoxicity studies were carried out employing the comet assay and micronucleus test in the peripheral blood of these fish after 24, 48 and 72 h of exposure. Significant DNA damage in the form of % tail DNA and micronuclei was observed in all the treated fish compared to the control. Both % tail DNA and micronuclei frequency were found to increase significantly as the concentration increased. DNA damage was also observed at all the time intervals for all treatments except in the 0.125 μL/L-treated group. A positive correlation was also observed between the comet assay and micronucleus test. The study thus suggests the use of zebrafish as an experimental model to study the genotoxic effects of agricultural pesticides using the comet assay and micronucleus test.

Environmental monitoring and risk assessment of organophosphate pesticides in aquatic ecosystems of north-west Bangladesh

The use of organophosphate pesticides (OPPs) to protect a variety of crops has increased in Bangladesh. OPPs may contaminate surrounding aquatic environments through several routes including spray drift, surface runoff and groundwater leaching. Since it is unknown how much OPP end ups in aquatic environment in Bangladesh, the objectives of the present study were to quantify the residues of ten most commonly used OPPs in water and sediment of water bodies of north-west Bangladesh and to assess their ecological risks for aquatic organisms. The risks of the pesticides in surface water and sediment were assessed using a first-tier risk quotient (RQ) approach. The higher-tier PERPEST model was used to refine the ecological risks of pesticides when RQ indicated a potential risk. Results showed the most frequently detected pesticides that appeared in high concentrations were chlorpyrifos, diazinon and quinalphos in surface water and sediment. The highest concentration of OPPs measured in water was 9.1 μg chlorpyrifos/L (median of 1.95 μg/L), while this was 51 μg diazinon/kg dw (median of 11 μg/kg dw) for sediment. Furthermore, results showed high acute and/or chronic RQs (RQ > 1) in surface water and sediment for chlorpyrifos, diazinon, quinalphos, malathion and fenitrothion. The higher-tier PERPEST model confirmed risks of chlorpyrifos, diazinon, quinalphos and fenitrothion for aquatic insects, micro- and macro-crustaceans which were previously derived by RQ-based risk assessment for aquatic organisms. Furthermore, the results of the PERPEST model also indicated possible indirect effects of these pesticides on algae and macrophytes, community metabolism, rotifers and other macro-invertebrates.

Association Between Organophosphate Pesticide Exposure and Thyroid Hormones in Pregnant Women.

Use of organophosphate pesticides (OPs) is widespread in China. Although animal studies suggested that OP exposure could affect thyroid function, little is explored in human populations. We investigated levels of OP exposure in pregnant women and the relationship between OPs and thyroid hormones in Shandong, China. We enrolled 637 pregnant women from April 2011 to December 2013. OP exposure was assessed by a questionnaire administered to the pregnant women in the hospital and by analyses of urinary dialkylphosphate (DAP) metabolites of OPs in pregnant women (n = 413). We measured the concentration of five thyroid hormones in serum samples in pregnant women (n = 325) and analyzed the association between DAP metabolites of OPs and thyroid hormones (n = 325). Median levels of DAP metabolites were 9.81 μg/L for dimethylphosphate (DMP), 0.79 μg/L for dimethylthiophosphate (DMTP), 5.00 μg/L for diethylphosphate (DEP), and 0.78 μg/L for diethylthiophosphate (DETP), which were higher than those reported in developed countries. We found that the total DAP concentration (the sum of DMP, DMTP, DEP, and DETP) in urine was positively associated with free T4 levels (β = 0.137; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.012, 0.263) and negatively associated with thyroid-stimulating hormone levels (β = -0.145; 95% CI = -0.242, -0.048). The findings suggest that OP exposure may be associated with changes in thyroid function in pregnant women. Given that urinary OP levels in pregnant women in Shandong were much higher than those reported in developed countries, further studies on the effects of OP exposure on thyroid function in pregnant women in China are warranted.

Prenatal Residential Proximity to Agricultural Pesticide Use and IQ in 7-Year-Old Children.

Background:Residential proximity to agricultural pesticide use has been associated with neural tube defects and autism, but more subtle outcomes such as cognition have not been studied.Objectives:We evaluated the relationship between prenatal residential proximity to agricultural use of potentially neurotoxic pesticides and neurodevelopment in 7-year-old children.Methods:Participants included mothers and children () living in the agricultural Salinas Valley of California enrolled in the Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas (CHAMACOS) study. We estimated agricultural pesticide use within 1 km of maternal residences during pregnancy using a geographic information system, residential location, and California’s comprehensive agricultural Pesticide Use Report data. We used regression models to evaluate prenatal residential proximity to agricultural use of five potentially neurotoxic pesticide groups (organophosphates, carbamates, pyrethroids, neonicotinoids, and manganese fungicides) and five individual organophosphates (acephate, chlorpyrifos, diazinon, malathion, and oxydemeton-methyl) and cognition in 7-year-old children. All models included prenatal urinary dialkyl phosphate metabolite concentrations.Results:We observed a decrease of 2.2 points [95% confidence interval (CI): , ] in Full-Scale IQ and 2.9 points (95% CI: , ) in Verbal Comprehension for each standard deviation increase in toxicity-weighted use of organophosphate pesticides. In separate models, we observed similar decrements in Full-Scale IQ with each standard deviation increase of use for two organophosphates (acephate and oxydemeton-methyl) and three neurotoxic pesticide groups (pyrethroids, neonicotinoids, and manganese fungicides).Conclusions:This study identified potential relationships between maternal residential proximity to agricultural use of neurotoxic pesticides and poorer neurodevelopment in children. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP504

Zirconium(IV) functionalized magnetic nanocomposites for extraction of organophosphorus pesticides from environmental water samples

The widespread use of organophosphate pesticides (OPPs) in agriculture leads to residue accumulation in the environment which is dangerous to human health and disrupts the ecological balance. In this work, one nanocomposite immobilized zirconium (Zr, IV) was prepared and used as the affinity probes to quickly and selectively extract organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) from water samples. The Fe3O4-ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA)@Zr(IV) nanocomposites (NPs) were prepared by simply mixing Zr(IV) ions with Fe3O4-EDTA NPs synthesized by one-pot chemical co-precipitation method. The immobilized Zr(IV) ions were further utilized to capture OPPs based on their high affinity for the phosphate moiety in OPPs. Coupled with GC–MS, four OPPs were used as models to demonstrate the feasibility of this approach. Under the optimum conditions, the limits of detection for target OPPs were in the range of 0.10–10.30ngmL−1 with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 0.61–4.40% (n=3), respectively. The linear ranges were over three orders of magnitudes (correlation coefficients, R2>0.9995). The Fe3O4-EDTA@Zr(IV) NPs were successfully applied to extract OPPs samples with recoveries of 86.95–112.60% and RSDs of 1.20–10.42% (n=3) from two spiked real water. By the proposed method, the matrix interference could be effectively eliminated. We hope our finding can provide a promising alternative for the fast extraction of OPPs from complex real samples.

Plaguicidas organofosforados y efecto neuropsicológico y motor en la Región del Maule, Chile

ObjectiveTo evaluate organophosphate pesticide exposure and neuropsychological and motor performance in agricultural and non-agricultural workers in the Maule Region in Chile. MethodAnalytic cross-sectional study in 93 exposed farm workers and 84 unexposed non-agricultural workers. A battery of four neuropsychological tests was administered together with a neuro-motor physical examination. ResultsOn the Weschler adult intelligence scale (WAIS-IV), exposed agricultural workers exhibited poorer performance than non-agricultural workers in verbal comprehension (β=−3.2; p=0.034) and processing speed (β=−4.4; p=0.036) and in the full scale (β=−4; p=0.016), as well as in discrimination sensitivity (β=1, p=0,009), adjusted by years of schooling and/or age. ConclusionsWe suggest the development of policies and regulations for the control, sale and use of organophosphate pesticides and intervention strategies on safety measures aimed at the exposed population.

The Effects of the Landguard™ A900 Enzyme on the Macroinvertebrate Community in the Salinas River, California, United States of America.

Agricultural use of organophosphate pesticides are responsible for surface water toxicity in California and has led to a number of impaired water body listings under section303(d) of the Clean Water Act. Integrated passive-treatment systems can reduce pesticide loading in row crop runoff, but they are only partially effective for the more soluble organophosphates. The Landguard™ enzyme has been effectively proven as an on-farm management practice for the removal of chlorpyrifos and diazinon in furrow runoff, but it has not been used in larger-scale treatment because of concerns regarding the potential impact on in-stream macroinvertebrates after chronic use. A first-order agricultural creek was treated with the Landguard enzyme for 30days approximately 450m upstream of its intersection with the Salinas River. Toxicity and pesticide chemistry were measured in the creek during treatment as well as in the river both upstream and downstream of the creek input before and after treatment. Benthic macroinvertebrates were also surveyed in the river before and after enzyme treatment. Low concentrations of organophosphate pesticides were detected in the creek, but Landguard removed detected concentrations of chlorpyrifos. Toxicity detected in the creek was likely caused by pyrethroid pesticides, and no toxicity was detected in river samples. There were no differences in habitat or macroinvertebrate assemblages between upstream and downstream samples or between pre- and post-treatment samples. These results indicate that chronic treatment of the creek with Landguard enzyme had no impact on macroinvertebrate community structure in the river.

Highly Sensitive Impedance Sensor for Detection of Acephatement Using Nanostructured Assembly

Introduction Increasing worldwide pollution has become one of the key environmental problems. Extensive use of organophosphate pesticides (OPs) has raised serious public concern. Traditional analysis of OPs is routinely carried out by gas/liquid chromatography or mass spectroscopy. These methods are often expensive and not suitable for in-situ measurements. Alternatively, enzyme/antibody-based biosensors have emerged recently. Although high selectivity can be achieved, the poor chemical/physical stability of the antibodies or enzymes prevents the use in harsh environments. Compared to these technologies, electrochemical methods have been highly concerned for the detection of OPs due to the inherent sensitivity, simplicity, favorable portability, and low cost. Currently, how to construct a high-performance, in particular a non-enzymatic and label-free electrochemical sensing platform, for the detection of OPs remains a significant challenge. Herein, we developed a highly sensitive impedance sensor for the detection ofacephatement (AM) as the model of OPs by the combination of layer-by-layer (LBL) nanoassembly and supramolecules. The nanoassembly was obtained by alternate assembly of cationic poly (diallyldimethylammonium chlo-ride) (PDDA), anionic graphene oxide (GO) and cyclodextrin (CD), respectively, onto the surface of carbon nanospheres (labeled as PDDA-GO-CD@CNs). Experimental section: The CNSs were prepared by a “green” method under hydrothermal conditions according to the previous report. The assembly of PDDA-GO-CD@CNs was performed by alternative LBL assembly, and then collected by centrifugation at 3000 rpm and dried at 60 0C overnight. Afterwards, 10 µL of 0.1 mgmL-1 dispersion of PDDA-GO-CD@CNs composite was dropped onto the surface of the cleaned GCE and was kept at room temperature till dry (labeled as PDDA-GO-CD@CNs/GCE). Impedance measurements were obtained at the open circuit potential with a frequency range of 0.1-100,000 Hz and amplitude of 10 mV at a CHI 660D electrochemical workstation (Shanghai Chenhua, China). A conventional three electrode system was used comprising platinum foil as auxiliary electrode, a standard Ag/AgCl as the reference electrode, and the modified GCE as the working electrode. The electrolyte solutions were slowly stirred for a certain time after each injection of AM before impedance measurements. Results and discussion Typical SEM and TEM images of the as-prepared CNs before and after self-assembly were shown in Fig. 1. Compared with the original smooth CNs (~ 450 nm in average diameter, shown in Fig. 1a), the surface of CNs became rough after assembly (shown in Fig. 1b). As shown in Fig. 1d, after coating, uniform nanoplatelets were randomly attached onto the surface of CNs. Obviously, the nanoassembly of PDDA-GO-CD@CNs has been successfully fabricated by a simple procedure. Fig. 2a shows the impedance change with different concentrations of AM. With increasing the concentration of AM, the binding sites will be successively filled with AM molecules via the host-guest interaction. The values of Rct (charge transfer resistance) as a function of AM concentration are plotted in Fig. 2b. Two linear relationships were observed ranging from 0.001 to 0.020 μg mL-1 and 0.1 to 0.5 μg mL-1, with a detection limit 0.6ngmL-1 (S/N=3). In summary, we have successfully fabricated an ordered inorganic-organic nanostructured assembly of PDDA-GO-CD@CNs film via a facile LBL assembly and first explored its application as a label-free impendance sensor for the detection of OPs. Such a nanoassembly of PDDA-GO-CD@CNs, combining the individual properties of building blocks, exhibits a strong enrichment effects toward AM, and finally realizes the rapid, highly sensitive and selective determination of AM. The resulting sensor shows both good reproducibility and ideal stability. We believe that the combination of nanoassembly architectures and supramolecules as well as capacitive transduction would pave a new way for enzymeless and label-free sensing OPs. References J. M. Gong, X. M. Han, X. L. Zhu, and Z. Q. Guan, Biosens. Bioelectron., 2014, 61, 379-385.J. M. Gong, T. Liu, X. Q. Wang, X. L. Hu, and L. Z. Zhang, Environ. Sci. Technol., 2011, 45, 6181-6187. Figure Captions Fig. 1. Typical SEM images of (a) CNs, (b) the assembly of PDDA-GO-CD@CNs; TEM images of (c) CNs and the as-prepared assembly of PDDA-GO-CD@CNs composite. Fig. 2. (a) Real-time impedance responses with different concentrations of AM (from bottom to top, 0, 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 ng mL-1, respectively); (b) the calibration curves for different concentrations of AM. Figure 1

Recent advancements in sensing techniques based on functional materials for organophosphate pesticides.

The use of organophosphate pesticides (OPs) for pest control in agriculture has caused serious environmental problems throughout the world. OPs are highly toxic with the potential to cause neurological disorders in humans. As the application of OPs has greatly increased in various agriculture activities, it has become imperative to accurately monitor their concentration levels for the protection of ecological systems and food supplies. Although there are many conventional methods available for the detection of OPs, the development of portable sensors is necessary to facilitate routine analysis with more convenience. Some of these potent alternative techniques based on functional materials include fluorescence nanomaterials based sensors, molecular imprinted (MIP) sensors, electrochemical sensors, and biosensors. This review explores the basic features of these sensing approaches through evaluation of their performance. The discussion is extended further to describe the challenges and opportunities for these unique sensing techniques.

Adverse Health Effects of Organophosphate Pesticides among Occupationally Exposed Farm Sprayers: A Case Study of Bhopal Madhya Pradesh, India.

India being an agricultural land, pesticides consumption causes a serious environmental and public health problem. Due to the steep competition and a large demand, many farmers are resorting to extensive and rather over use of organophosphate pesticides to increase their agricultural yields. The sprayers who are involved in the spraying activity of pesticides in fields get the direct exposure of pesticides due to unsafe and non-preventive work practices. They do not use the safety masks, gloves and other protective gears during the spraying of pesticides which results into the access of pesticides in the blood stream through inhalation and dermal exposure which can adversely affect their eyes, skin and the respiratory system. In the present study relationship between the extent of pesticide used and signs and symptoms of illnesses due to exposure among spray farmers of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh India, who sprayed pesticides by themselves and therefore were directly exposed to pesticides were assessed. 105 spray farmers were interviewed using previously designed questionnaires during a cross sectional survey. The 18 months exposed spray farmers reported maximum acute signs and symptoms like burning/stinging of eyes (18.42%), blurred vision (23.68%), skin redness/itching (50%), excessive sweating/shortness of breath (34.2%), dry sore throat (21.05%) and burning of nose (28.9%). The signs and symptoms were found to be duration dependent among the sprayers. It is concluded that there is need for creating more awareness among the farm sprayers and authorities in implementing and ensuring the use of protective gear while handling pesticides.

Peripheral Nervous System Function and Organophosphate Pesticide Use among Licensed Pesticide Applicators in the Agricultural Health Study

Background: Evidence is limited that long-term human exposure to organophosphate (OP) pesticides, without poisoning, is associated with adverse peripheral nervous system (PNS) function.Objective: We investigated associations between OP pesticide use and PNS function by administering PNS tests to 701 male pesticide applicators in the Agricultural Health Study (AHS).Methods: Participants completed a neurological physical examination (NPx) and electrophysiological tests as well as tests of hand strength, sway speed, and vibrotactile threshold. Self-reported information on lifetime use of 16 OP pesticides was obtained from AHS interviews and a study questionnaire. Associations between pesticide use and measures of PNS function were estimated with linear and logistic regression controlling for age and outcome-specific covariates.Results: Significantly increased odds ratios (ORs) were observed for associations between ever use of 10 of the 16 OP pesticides and one or more of six NPx outcomes. Most notably, abnormal toe proprioception was significantly associated with ever use of 6 OP pesticides, with ORs ranging from 2.03 to 3.06; monotonic increases in strength of association with increasing use was observed for 3 of the 6 pesticides. Mostly null associations were observed between OP pesticide use and electrophysiological tests, hand strength, sway speed, and vibrotactile threshold.Conclusions: This study provides some evidence that long-term exposure to OP pesticides is associated with signs of impaired PNS function among pesticide applicators.

Determination of chlorpyriphos in broccoli using a voltammetric acetylcholinesterase sensor based on carbon nanostructure–chitosan composite material

The widespread use of organophosphate pesticides (OPPs) in agriculture leads to residue accumulation in the environment, which is dangerous to human health and disrupts the ecological balance. This study reports results obtained by a standard chromatographic method (high performance liquid chromatography, HPLC) and an amperometric method for chlorpyriphos (CPF) determination in broccoli. Reversed-phase HPLC with UV–VIS detection was used for the separation, and the mobile phase was acetonitrile–water (75:25v/v). The electrochemical experiments were performed in phosphate buffer solutions at pH=7.4, with an incubation time of 10min. The response of the sensor was a linear function of CPF concentration from 10−10 to 10−7M with a corresponding equation: y=0.1467x+1.4472 (R2=0.9959) and a detection limit of 1.58×10−10M. The biosensor methodology was used to analyze CPF directly in broccoli that had been previously spiked with CPF solution.

Acute and sublethal effects of sequential exposure to the pesticide azinphos-methyl on juvenile earthworms (Eisenia andrei)

The use of organophosphate pesticides is an integral part of commercial farming activities and these substances have been implicated as a major source of environmental contamination and may impact on a range of non-target fauna. The extent to which soil dwelling non-target organisms are affected by exposure to the organophosphate azinphos-methyl was investigated through monitoring selected biomarker responses and life cycle effects under laboratory conditions in the earthworm Eisenia andrei. Standard acute toxicity tests were conducted followed by a sequential exposure regime experiment, in order to assess the effects of multiple pesticide applications on biomarker (cholinesterase activity and neutral red retention time), life-cycle (growth and reproduction) and behaviour (avoidance and burrowing activity) responses. The present study indicates that the time between exposure events was a more important variable than concentration and that a longer interval between exposures may mitigate the effects of pesticide exposure provided that the exposure concentration is low. Additionally, it was shown that E. andrei was unable to avoid the presence of azinphos-methyl in soil, even at concentrations as high as 50% of the LC(50) value, indicating that the presence of azinphos-methyl in the soil pose a realistic threat to earthworms and other soil dwelling organisms. The ChE inhibition test showed a high percentage inhibition of the enzyme in all exposure groups that survived and NRR times of exposed organisms were lower than that of the controls. The present study yielded important results that contribute to the understanding of biological impacts of pesticide pollution on the environment. Extrapolating these results can aid in optimising pesticide application regimes to mitigate the environmental effects thereof and thus ensuring sustained soil biodiversity in agricultural areas.

Strength in Numbers: Three Separate Studies Link in Utero Organophosphate Pesticide Exposure and Cognitive Development

Strength in Numbers: Three Separate Studies Link in Utero Organophosphate Pesticide Exposure and Cognitive Development

Sources of exposure to and public health implications of organophosphate pesticides.

To review the public health significance of organophosphate pesticide exposure in the United States of America. Since the situation of high organophosphate pesticide exposure and the concomitant health risks in the developing countries of the world is well known, this article seeks to highlight the public health significance of organophosphate exposure in the United States, where it is less common than in many other nations. Looking at the situation in the United States would serve to further emphasize the seriousness of organophosphate pesticide-related health issues in developing countries. A search for journal articles on organophosphate pesticides and organophosphate exposure was done on the PubMed electronic bibliographic database system of the National Library of Medicine of the United States. To supplement that search, information on organophosphate toxicity, biological monitoring, and regulation of pesticides was obtained from other published articles, textbooks, and relevant Internet sites. Organophosphate pesticides are a group of chemicals that are mainly used in agriculture. Organophosphates inhibit the activity of both the cholinesterase (ChE) enzymes-red blood cell (RBC) ChE and serum ChE-resulting in the cholinergic features of organophosphate toxicity. A 50% reduction in serum ChE activity from the baseline is an indication of acute organophosphate toxicity. The RBC ChE activity, which is less rapidly depressed than the serum ChE activity, is a measure of chronic exposure to organophosphates. Exposures to organophosphates are broadly classified into two categories: occupational and environmental. Occupational exposures occur among agricultural workers (including migrant farmworkers), industrial workers, pest control exterminators, and other workers. Nonoccupational exposure affects a large segment of the general population in the United States. Residential exposures come from organophosphate pesticide use by exterminators and by household residents as well as from dietary and accidental exposures. Other environmental exposures occur in public places and areas close to farms, and exposures could also happen from organophosphate use in chemical warfare or terrorism. In the United States some organophosphate pesticides are restricted by the Environmental Protection Agency in order to protect humans, animals, and the environment. In addition, the Food Quality Protection Act regulates dietary exposure to pesticides, particularly for infants and children. Organophosphate pesticides continue to pose a risk to human health in the United States. Biological monitoring should be used to strictly regulate occupational exposures to organophosphates and thus protect the health and safety of workers. Among the public there should be an increased awareness of environmental exposure to organophosphates as well as of the threat of chemical warfare or terrorism.

Agricultural use of organophosphate pesticides and the risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma among male farmers (United States).

Data from three population-based case-control studies conducted in Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota were pooled to evaluate the relationship between the use of organophosphate pesticides and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) among white male farmers. The data set included 748 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and 2236 population-based controls. Telephone or in-person interviews were utilized to obtain information on the use of pesticides. Odds ratios (OR) adjusted for age, state of residence, and respondent status, as well as other pesticide use where appropriate, were estimated by logistic regression. Use of organophosphate pesticides was associated with a statistically significant 50% increased risk of NHL, but direct interviews showed a significantly lower risk (OR = 1.2) than proxy interviews (OR = 3.0). Among direct interviews the risk of small lymphocytic lymphoma increased with diazinon use (OR = 2.8), after adjustment for other pesticide exposures. Although we found associations between the risk of NHL and several groupings and specific organophosphate pesticides, larger risks from proxy respondents complicate interpretation. Associations, however, between reported use of diazinon and NHL, particularly diffuse and small lymphocytic lymphoma, among subjects providing direct interviews are not easily discounted.

Almond and stone fruit growers reduce OP, increase pyrethroid use in dormant sprays

Growers and pesticide applicators in California are legally required to file pesticide use reports with details about every application to commercial crops. We used the individual applicator records to document a decline in the use of organophosphate pesticides (OP) on almond and stone fruit orchards during the rainy season in California, a time period in which the trees are dormant. The decline is important because dormant applications are a major source of surface water contamination and the Federal Clean Water Act mandates a reduction in movement of OPs into surface water. However, the decline in use of OPs has been accompanied by an increase in use of pyrethroid pesticides, particularly in stone fruit orchards. Additional implementation of “reduced-risk” integrated pest management practices could further reduce use of dormant applications of OPs and pyrethroids on almonds and stone fruit orchards.

Algal-bacterial treatment facility removes selenium from drainage water

Growers and pesticide applicators in California are legally required to file pesticide use reports with details about every application to commercial crops. We used the individual applicator records to document a decline in the use of organophosphate pesticides (OP) on almond and stone fruit orchards during the rainy season in California, a time period in which the trees are dormant. The decline is important because dormant applications are a major source of surface water contamination and the Federal Clean Water Act mandates a reduction in movement of OPs into surface water. However, the decline in use of OPs has been accompanied by an increase in use of pyrethroid pesticides, particularly in stone fruit orchards. Additional implementation of “reduced-risk” integrated pest management practices could further reduce use of dormant applications of OPs and pyrethroids on almonds and stone fruit orchards.

Genotoxicity From Domestic Use of Organophosphate Pesticides

Genotoxicity From Domestic Use of Organophosphate Pesticides

Genotoxicity from domestic use of organophosphate pesticides.

This report describes the types of chromosome damage in peripheral blood found in patients exposed to domestic application of organophosphate pesticides. These changes serve as a biomarker of cumulative toxic exposure. Susceptible individuals show DNA damage as chromosome alterations. The importance of these findings is that the apparent genotoxic changes occurred from domestic application of two of the commonly used organophosphate pesticides in America and adds one more adverse potential effect from these hazardous chemicals. Peripheral blood from eight patients exposed to the domestic spraying of organophosphate pesticides was cultured and the chromosomes photographed. The types of chromosome alterations seen included chromatid and chromosome breaks, single and double minutes, dicentrics, rings, translocations, exchanges (including sister chromatid), and endoreduplications. Our findings support previous findings that organophosphate pesticides have genotoxic effects even at domestically sprayed levels.