Pesticide Industry Research Articles

Novel 3D plate-like g-C3N4/BiOCl heterojunction as a highly efficient photocatalyst for the degradation of carbofuran in wastewater under visible light irradiation

The g-C3N4/BiOCl (gCN-BCl) heterojunction photocatalyst was synthesized using a low-temperature precipitation method for effective photocatalytic degradation of carbofuran (CBF). All gCN-BCl composites demonstrate greater efficacy in removing CBF compared to its individual constituents. The synergistic effect of incorporating the 0D structured BiOCl onto the 2D structured g-C3N4 was comprehensively examined using various microscopic, X-ray, and spectroscopic analytical techniques. Additionally, optical and photoelectrochemical analyses were conducted. The findings validated that the interaction between the two semiconductors at the heterointerfaces enhanced remarkable physical and structural stability, promoted high charge separation and transfer properties, and improved photocatalytic degradation. Under optimal conditions, 5-gCN-BCl (0.25 g/L) achieved a CBF (5 mg/L) removal efficiency of 95.7 % under visible light irradiation of 120 min, achieving 3.1- and 5.9-times higher degradation rate than the pure BiOCl and g-C3N4, respectively. The radical trapping experiments indicated that the h+ and •O2− were the primary reactive species involved in the CBF degradation. Furthermore, the potential toxicity of CBF and its intermediates was assessed, revealing that the photocatalytic degradation process significantly lowered the ecotoxicity of pesticide wastewater. The potency of 5-gCN-BCl was also evaluated in tap water and real wastewater samples, with CBF degradation efficiencies of 85.8 %, 47.6 %, and 38.7 % in tap water, municipal, and pesticide industry wastewater, respectively. Additionally, artificial neural network (ANN) modeling was employed to predict and optimize the photocatalytic degradation process, providing further insights into the system’s performance. The outcomes of this work offer valuable insights into the development of heterojunction photocatalysts with superior stability and efficacy for eliminating pesticides from water bodies.

Hepatotoxicity Induced by Methyl Eugenol: Insights from Toxicokinetics, Metabolomics, and Gut Microbiota.

Due to continuous application as a flavoring agent in the pesticide, pharmaceutical, and food industries, methyl eugenol (ME) persists in the environment and causes deleterious impacts including cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and liver damage. This study utilized a comprehensive approach, integrating toxicokinetics, metabolomics, and gut microbiota analysis, to explore the mechanisms behind ME-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. The study observed significant rises in ALT and AST levels, along with significant weight loss, indicating severe liver damage. Toxicokinetic data showed delayed Tmax and plasma accumulation after 28 days of repeated ME exposure at doses of 20 mg/kg, 40 mg/kg, and 60 mg/kg. The metabolomic analysis pinpointed four critical pathways-TCA cycle; alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism; arginine biosynthesis; and tyrosine metabolism-linked to 20 potential biomarkers. Gut microbiota analysis revealed that extended ME exposure led to microbial imbalance, particularly altering the populations of Akkermansia, Prevotella, and Ruminococcus, which are key to amino acid metabolism and the TCA cycle, thus contributing to hepatotoxicity. However, the causal relationship between changes in gut microbiota and liver metabolite levels still requires further in-depth research. This study underscores the significant role of liver metabolites and gut microbiota in ME-induced liver damage.

Research on the microscale effects of fuel pellets carrying chemical pesticide distillation residues

To effectively deal with organic hazardous wastes generated in the production processes of chemical pesticide industries. In this study, the strong shear force generated by high-speed rotating blades was utilized to fully mix and stir pasty or viscous liquid organic hazardous wastes with porous solid fuels. The wastes were broken down into small molecular clusters and evenly distributed on the surfaces of the pores of porous solid fuel particles. This study then investigated the thermal characteristics of fuel particles carrying the distillation residues of chemical pesticides under microscale effects, the volatilization and destruction removal characteristics, the formation of pollutants, and the migration and transformation of F and Cl elements. The results showed that when the average diameter of the fuel particles was 6 mm and the mass ratio of the chemical pesticide distillation residue to the fuel particles was 2:3, small molecular clusters of the residue were evenly distributed on the surfaces of the fuel particles, with a dispersity of 67 %. The volatilization rate of the irritating odors in the coated particles was less than 2 %. With an increase in the proportion of the chemical pesticide distillation residue, the ignition temperature of the particles decreased, the thermal stability increased, the burnout temperature rose, and the maximum weight loss rate first increased and then decreased. The Ca and alkali metal oxides in the fuel particles had a significant effect on fixing chlorine and fluorine.

Two birds with one stone: Multifunctional controlled‐release formulations of pesticides

AbstractControlled release and nanotechnology techniques hold promising potential for propelling the pesticide industry toward the goals of green revolution. This study introduces the concept of atom economy into the multifunctionality of controlled‐release formulations (CRFs) of pesticides from both economic and sustainable perspectives. In addition to their core function of controlling the release of active ingredient, carriers also provide additional benefits, including enhanced foliar adhesion and pesticide translocation, nutritional function, synergistic bioactivity, safety for nontarget organisms, crop stress alleviation, reduced soil leaching, soil remediation, and fluorescence visualization. These additional functions are highlighted and taken seriously. Through ingenious excogitation, the multifunctional CRFs of pesticides can achieve multiple objectives, enhancing input efficiency while minimizing environmental impacts. We tentatively blazed a trail by reviewing the recent advances in multifunctional CRFs of pesticides from the perspective of green chemistry. Additionally, potential development and implementation barriers of CRFs were discussed, emphasizing the necessity for robust field trials and comprehensive systems‐level efficacy/biosafety evaluations to substantially boost the technical readiness and performance of multifunctional CRFs of pesticides. Our goal is to expand the multifunctional concept for pesticide formulations, thereby accelerating the development of global sustainable agrochemical products.

Study on the catalytic performance of Fe in-situ modified small crystallite Silicalite-1 zeolite in Chichibabin condensation reaction

Pyridine and its derivatives, collectively referred to as pyridine bases, are widely used in industries such as pesticides and pharmaceuticals, serving as crucial intermediates in the chemical industry. In recent years, with the development of the pesticide and pharmaceutical industries, the demand for pyridine bases has rapidly increased. The Chichibabin condensation reaction is the most commonly route for industrial production of pyridine bases. Currently, the most used ZSM-5 zeolite catalyst is limited by the instability of its silicon-aluminum framework structure, resulting in a short active reaction cycle (5 h). To address this limitation, this study selected the thermally stable and hydrothermally stable Silicalite-1 zeolite. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was employed as a colloidal dispersant and Fe was introduced into the MFI framework through in-situ modification during the hydrothermal synthesis of zeolite. The influence of PVP dosage, template agent dosage, and other crystallization conditions on the crystallinity, pore structure, and acidity of Silicalite-1 zeolite products was investigated using XRD, SEM, TG, and N2 adsorption-desorption measurement. The acidity of Fe-modified Silicalite-1 zeolites was characterized using NH3-TPD, Py-FTIR, FT-IR, and XPS. These results indicated that the introduction of seed crystals effectively reduced the particle size of the zeolite to about 200 nm. Fe-modified Silicalite-1 displayed a disk-like morphology with excellent crystal dispersion. The highest relative crystallinity of the zeolite reached 103% with 15% seed crystal input and 3.75% PVP addition. The Fe-modified Silicalite-1 possessed a significantly enhanced abundance of both Lewis (L) and Brønsted (B) acid sites, resulting in an increase in the initial activity from 66% to 85% for the pyridine bases synthesis through the Chichibabin condensation. Compared to ZSM-5, Fe-modified Silicalite-1 exhibited superior catalytic stability, maintaining the total carbon conversion and pyridine bases yield above 66% and 40%, respectively, over a 15 h reaction period. Furthermore, the strategy proposed in this study, employing polyvinylpyrrolidone as a colloidal stabilizer to modify Silicalite-1 zeolite, could significantly broadened the application prospects of weakly acidic pure silica zeolites in the field of acid catalysis. This approach has demonstrated significant scientific value and industrial potential.

Arsenic trioxide induces innate immune response and inflammatory response in chicken liver via cGAS-STING/NF-κB pathway

Arsenic is a toxic metal-like element widely used in the pesticide, preservative and semiconductor industries. However, accumulation of arsenic through the food chain can cause serious damage to animal and human health. However, the toxic mechanism of arsenic-induced hepatotoxicity in chickens is not clear, and the present study aimed to investigate the potential role of cGAS-STING and NF-κB pathways on inflammatory injury in chicken liver. In this study, 75 white-feathered broilers were divided into a control group, a low-dose arsenic group (4 mg/kg) and a high-dose arsenic group (8 mg/kg) to investigate the toxic effects of arsenic on chicken liver. In this study, we found that pathological changes such as inflammatory cell infiltration and vesicular degeneration occurred in the liver when exposed to ATO. Crucially, exposure to ATO triggered the cGAS-STING pathway and markedly raised the levels of mRNA and protein expression of cGAS, STING, TBK1, and IRF7. The type I interferon response was also triggered. Simultaneously, STING induced the activation of the conventional NF-κB signaling pathway and stimulated the expression of genes associated with inflammation, such as IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β. In summary, the induction of inflammatory responses via cGAS-STING and NF-κB signaling pathways under high ATO exposure provides new ideas for further studies on the toxicological mechanisms of arsenic.

Characterization and genome sequence of N,N-dimethylformamide degradation in Paracoccus sulfuroxidans DM175A1-1 isolated from activated sludge of wastewater.

N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) is an organic solvent with stable chemical properties and high boiling point. Based on its good solubility, DMF is widely used in synthetic textile, leather, electronics, pharmaceutical and pesticide industries. However, the DMF pollutes the environment and does harm to human liver function, kidney function, and nerve function. Herein, an efficient DMF-degrading strain, DM175A1-1, was isolated and identified as Paracoccus sulfuroxidans. This strain can use DMF as the sole source of carbon and nitrogen. Whole-genome sequencing of strain DM175A1-1 revealed that it has a 3.99-Mbp chromosome a 120-kbp plasmid1 and a 40-kbp plasmid2. The chromosome specifically harbors the dmfA1 and dmfA2 essential for the initial steps of DMF degradation. And it also carries the some part of genes facilitating subsequent methylotrophic metabolism and glutathione-dependent pathway. Through further DMF tolerance degradation experiments, DM175A1-1 can tolerate DMF concentrations up to 10,000 mg/L, whereas the majority of Paracoccus strains could only show degradation activity below 1,000 mg/L. And the efficiency of organic nitrogen conversion to NH3-N in DMF can reach 99.0% when the hydraulic retention time (HRT) is controlled at 5 days. Meanwhile, it showed a significant degradation effect at a pharmaceutical enterprise in Zhejiang Province with high concentration of DMF wastewater. This study provides a new strain Paracoccus sulfuroxidans DM175A1-1 which shows a significant influence on DMF degradation, and reveals the characterization on its DMF degradation. It lays the foundation for the application of biological method in the efficient degradation of DMF in industrial wastewater.

Effective degradation of bentazone by two-dimensional and three-phase, three-dimensional electro-oxidation system: kinetic studies and optimization using ANN.

Bentazone is a broad-leaved weed-specific herbicide in the pesticide industry. This study focused on removing bentazone from water using three different methods: a two and three-dimensional electro-oxidation process (2D/EOP and 3D/EOP) with a fluid-type reactor arrangement using tetraethylenepentamine-loaded particle electrodes and an adsorption method. Additionally, we analysed the effects of two types of supporting electrolytes (Na2SO4 and NaCl) on the degradation process. The energy consumption amounts were calculated to evaluate the obtained results. The degradation reaction occurs 3.5 times faster in 3D/EOP than in 2D/EOP at 6 V in Na2SO4. Similarly, the degradation reaction of bentazone in NaCl occurs 2.5 times faster in 3D/EOP than in 2D/EOP at a value of 7.2 mA/cm2. Removal of bentazone is significantly better in 3D/EOPs than in 2D/EOPs. The use of particle electrodes can significantly enhance the degradation efficiency. The study further assessed the prediction abilities of the machine learning model (ANN). The ANN presented reasonable accuracy in bentazone degradation with high R2 values of 0.97953, 0.98561, 0.98563, and 0.99649 for 2D with Na2SO4, 2D with NaCl, 3D with Na2SO4, and 3D with NaCl, respectively.

Relevance and Potential Applications of C2-Carboxylated 1,3-Azoles.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is an economically viable and abundant carbon source that can be incorporated into compounds such as 1,3-azoles relevant to the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and pesticide industries. Of the 2.4 million commercially available C2-unsubstituted 1,3-azole compounds, less than 1 % are currently purchasable as their C2-carboxylated derivatives, highlighting the substantial gap in compound availability. This availability gap leaves ample opportunities for exploring the synthetic accessibility and use of carboxylated azoles in bioactive compounds. In this study, we analyze and quantify the relevance of C2-carboxylated 1,3-azoles in small-molecule research. An analysis of molecular databases such as ZINC, ChEMBL, COSMOS, and DrugBank identified relevant C2-carboxylated 1,3-azoles as anticoagulant and aroma-giving compounds. Moreover, a pharmacophore analysis highlights promising pharmaceutical potential associated with C2-carboxylated 1,3-azoles, revealing the ATP-sensitive inward rectifier potassium channel 1 (KATP) and Kinesin-like protein KIF18A as targets that can potentially be addressed with C2-carboxylated 1,3-azoles. Moreover, we identified several bioisosteres of C2-carboxylated 1,3-azoles. In conclusion, further exploration of the chemical space of C2-carboxylated 1,3-azoles is encouraged to harness their full potential in drug discovery and related fields.

Implementation of Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to select the best vendor for bio-efficacy trials (case study: the xyz agrochemical company)

Purpose: The pesticide industry is highly regulated by various regulations and requirements. Getting a distribution permit for a pesticide depends on the results of bio-efficacy trials carried out by institutions outside the company (vendors). These vendors must be selected from a list that has been made by the Ministry of Agriculture. Choosing a vendor is quite a difficult endeavor because not all vendors have the same competencies. Research Methodology: One method to choose a vendor among several vendors based on various criteria hierarchically that meets the requirements is to use the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. This thesis presents the results of the trial of the use of the AHP method in the XYZ Agrochemical Company using a qualitative and quantitative approach by collecting primary data through questionnaires and interviews with a team of Research and Development experts from the XYZ Agrochemical Company. Results: The results of the case study at the XYZ Agrochemical Company show the practical application of the AHP model in real-world vendor selection scenarios, providing an overview of the relative significance of each criterion and its impact on the overall decision-making process. Limitations: Secondary data was obtained from government regulations, company reports, and relevant literature to form vendor profiles, organizational capabilities, and pesticide regulations that apply specifically to Indonesia. Contribution: Through the AHP framework, based on the results of the interview, a hierarchical structure of evaluation criteria in selecting vendors was established, including expertise, past performance, laboratory and field facilities, timely delivery, in conducting bio-efficacy trials, and vendor responsiveness in communicating.

USES AND ABUSES OF PESTICIDES IN BANGLADESH

Bangladesh, spanning 148,460 km² with a 580 km coastline, confronts significant climate change challenges, experiencing rising temperatures and declining rainfall. With a population exceeding 170 million, its density could surpass 1200 people per km² by 2025, despite ranking 94th in land area and 8th in global population. Bangladesh ranks 3rd in rice and vegetable production and 10th in tropical fruits production: The country’s pesticide use ranks 29th globally, with substantial variations per hectare compared to leading countries like China and Japan. Pesticides play a vital role in Bangladeshi agriculture to combat pests and diseases. Fluctuations in registered formulations from 2010 to 2022 indicate regulatory adjustments and market shifts, with biopesticide registrations witnessing growth. The pesticide industry has flourished, with the number of companies expected to reach 802 by 2024, reflecting increasing demand and regulatory approvals. However, pesticide consumption has shown fluctuation, with increases in both usage and market value. The heavy treatment of vegetables like brinjal highlights the necessity for targeted pest management strategies. Despite the benefits of pesticides in enhancing yields, their misuse poses significant health and environmental risks, necessitating sustainable pest management practices to ensure long-term agricultural and environmental sustainability in Bangladesh.

Persulfate activation with biochar supported nanoscale zero- valent iron: Engineering application for effective degradation of NCB in soil

Nitrochlorobenzene (NCB) is very common in pesticide and chemical industries, which has become a major problem in soil environment. However, the remediation of NCB contaminated soil is received finite concern. Using biochar as a substrate for nanoscale-zero valent iron (nZVI/p-BC) to activate peroxodisulfate (PDS), a novel heterogeneous oxidative system had been applied in the current study to remediate NCB contaminants in soil. The degradation efficiencies and kinetics of m-NCB, p-NCB, and o-NCB by various systems were contrasted in soil slurry. Key factors including the dosage of nZVI/p-BC, the molar ratio of nZVI/PDS, initial pH and temperature on degradation of NCB were further examined. The results confirmed that the nZVI/p-BC/PDS displayed the remarkable performance for removing NCB compared with other systems. Higher temperature with nZVI/PDS molar ratio of 2:1 under the acidic condition favored the reduction of NCB. The treatment for NCB with optimal conditions were evaluated for the engineering application. The mechanism of nZVI/p-BC/PDS indicated that electron transfer between p-BC and nZVI was responsible for activation of PDS, generating active species (SO4•−, •OH and 1O2) via both the free and non-free radical pathways. Experimental results revealed prominent availability of nZVI/p-BC/PDS system in remediation of actual contaminated field by NCB.

Development of green pesticides from traditional Chinese medicines based on artificial intelligence and compatibility of traditional Chinese medicines

The food security of China as a big agricultural country is attracting increasing attention. With the progress in the traditional Chinese medicine industry, Chinese medicinal materials and their preparations have been gradually developed as agents for disease prevention and with antimicrobial and insecticidal functions in agriculture. Promoting pesticide innovation by interdisciplinary integration has become the trend in pesticide research globally. Considering the increasingly important roles of green pesticides from traditional Chinese medicines and artificial intelligence in pest target prediction, this paper proposed an innovative green control strategy in line with the concepts of ecological sustainable development and food security protection. CiteSpace was used for visual analysis of the publications. The results showed that artificial intelligence had been extensively applied in the pesticide field in recent years. This paper explores the application and development of biopesticides for the first time, with focus on the plant-derived pesticides. The thought of traditional Chinese medicine compatibility can be employed to creat a new promosing field: pesticides from traditional Chinese medicine. Moreover, artificial intelligence can be employed to build the formulation system of pesticides from traditional Chinese medicines and the target prediction system of diseases and pests. This study provides new ideas for the future development and market application of biopesticides, aiming to provide more healthy and safe agricultural products for human beings, promote the innovation and development of green pesticides in China, and protect the sustainable development of the environment and ecosystem. This may be the research hotspot and competition point for the green development of the pesticide industry chain in the future.

N-succinyl-chitosan as ecofriendly pesticide carriers: Nano encapsulation and synergistic antifungal effect on 4-hydroxyphenyl-2-propenyl-1-one derivatives based on chalcone structure

IntroductionTraditional pesticides have poor-water solubility, high toxicity and low bioavailability. Therefore, it is of great significance for the sustainable and healthy development of the pesticide industry to develop efficient and ecofriendly new chemical pesticide products and formulations. ObjectivesThis study aims to synthesize a series of derivatives based on chalcone structure (HPPO), and then use the amphiphilic and self-assembly characteristics of N-succinyl-chitosan (NSCS) to prepare HPPO@NSCS nanoparticles (HPPO@NSCS NPs) in order to realize the green application of HPPO, and investigate the antifungal activity and mechanisms of HPPO@NSCS NPs. MethodsNSCS was synthesized by structural modification using chitosan as the carrier. Based on its amphiphilic and self-assembly characteristics, HPPO-16@NSCS NPs were reasonably prepared by combining with active small molecule HPPO-16. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), fluorescence spectroscopy (FS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were used to characterize the physicochemical properties of NSCS and HPPO-16@NSCS NPs. The inhibitory activity of nanopesticides against Rhizoctonia solani (R. solani) was tested in vivo and in vitro. The mechanism of antifungal action was discussed from the observation of pathogen morphology, fluorescence staining and enzyme activity determination. Results28 small molecules based on chalcone structure (HPPO-1-28), NSCS and HPPO-16@NSCS were successfully synthesized. The application of HPPO-16@NSCS could impair the development, cell structure, cellular energy utilization, and metabolism pathways of the fungi. The protective effects of HPPO-16@NSCS NPs on rice leaves and leaf sheaths were 80.9 and 76.1 %, respectively, which were better than those of azoxystrobin. ConclusionThis study reveals that these simple chalcone derivatives can be further explored as viable antibacterial alternatives and NSCS as a novel pesticide matrix can be used for the delivery of more insoluble pesticides.

Sorption capacity of Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms for zinc removal from electroplating industry wastewater.

Various industrial operations in the dye, fertilizer, pesticide, battery, mining, and chemical industries have been associated with releasing heavy metals in wastewater, such as lead, zinc, copper, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, nickel, and mercury. These metals are dangerous to aquatic life as well as to humans, who may consume them directly or indirectly. Therefore, before being released into open water and land resources, it is necessary to minimize the concentration of toxic ions below the discharge limit. This study used Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms to remove zinc from wastewater from the electroplating industry in a constructed wetland. Experimental investigations were conducted for removing zinc ions from electroplating industry wastewater using various process parameters such as nutrient dosages, dilution ratios, potential of hydrogen ions, biomasses, and contact times. The outcome of this study revealed that the maximum zinc removal percentage in electroplating industrial wastewater was found for the optimum nutrient dosages of 60g, dilution ratios of 10, potential hydrogen ion levels of 8, and biomass amounts of 100g. The maximum zinc removal by Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms was found to be 88.3 ± 0.6 and 93.4 ± 0.4% at the optimum parameter values for the electroplating industry wastewater and the aqueous solution, respectively, against the optimum contact time of 22days. This study suggests using this phytoremediation technology to remove all pollutants from industrial wastewater in general, not just wastewater from the electroplating industry.

Supervising in the Implementation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in good Horticultural Practices in the Sembalun agrotourism area

The use of natural enemies as pest control has long been known, but has been largely replaced by the rapid development of chemical pesticide industry technology, especially since the green revolution. One alternative pest control technology that is quite promising to be developed is the use of biological agents (predators or parasotoids) that have more natural characteristics than chemical characteristics. With the presence of natural enemies which are then used to suppress pest populations, it will be safe for human health and the environment. It can be hoped that the agricultural products produced will be acceptable and highly competitive on the global market. Considering the Sembalun area as a tourism destination, it will be very relevant if the local community understands good horticultural practices. The intervention of using technology for farmers as an alternative in good Horticultural Cultivation is highly expected by farmers in the Sembalun area. Therefore, assistance is needed to implement integrated Pest Management in good Horticultural practices. The method used in this activity is the Action Research Method by applying a Participatory Action Program approach from participants through discussion and group work in all activities. The result is that farmers are very interested in implementing good horticultural cultivation, especially with habitat management approaches such as using refugia plants to control pests. Participating farmers increase their knowledge and skills to recognize differences in pests and natural enemies (predators and parasitoids) found on potato plants that are integrated with refugia plants. The target group has increased knowledge and understanding of the importance of implementing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices in horticultural cultivation. It is hoped that training and assistance activities for healthy horticultural cultivation efforts will continue both by the university team and related agencies. This kind of activity needs to be continued by the participating group and spread to other groups nearby. There is a need for assistance in applying for Prima 3 and Prima 2 food safety certification to farmer groups in the Sembalun Agrotourism Area, so that the number of products from certified horticultural business actors will increase. Activities to implement Integrated Pest Management in horticultural farming business groups in the Sembalun Tourism Area need to continue

Thiacloprid impairs reproductive functions of male Wistar rats

Global male infertility correlated to the rise of endocrine-disrupting chemicals, including insecticides, has grown into a pressing problem. Thiacloprid is one of the most commonly used neonicotinoids that accounts for more than 25% of the global pesticide industry. However, its impact on the reproductive system and male fertility has not been fully elucidated. The object of this study was to explore the adverse effects of thiacloprid on male Wistar rats’ reproductive system. Thirty healthy male rats were separated into one of three groups: control group, and two groups that were orally administered with low (22.5 mg/kg) and high dose (62.1 mg/kg) of thiacloprid for 56 days. Thiacloprid significantly (p<0.05) reduced body weight and relative testicular weight, as well as sperm quality (count, motility, viability, and morphology), in a dose-dependent manner. THIA-treated groups revealed a large effect (d > 0.8) on semen quality with Cohen’s d of (6.57, 8.82), (20.14, 23.54), and (2.81, 9.10) for count, motility, and viability respectively. Meanwhile, the serum testosterone level dropped while the levels of luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones increased. 17ꞵ-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase and 3ꞵ-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase levels were significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner. The activity of the tested antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), glutathione reduced (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) exhibited a considerable decrease compared to the control group with a significant elevation in the lipid peroxidation activity as indicated by malondialdehyde (MDA) level. The testicular histology revealed degenerative changes in spermatogenic cells and interstitial tissue. Comet assay revealed DNA fragmentation in treated groups’ testicular tissue. Thiacloprid exposure interferes with reproductive function and impairs male Wistar rat fertility. Such harmful consequences may also develop in humans frequently exposed to thiacloprid.

Study on the degradation of triethylamine wastewater by catalytic ozone-biological coupled system of Ce-Fe@ZSM-5

Triethylamine (TEA) is an organic amine, due to the development of the pesticide industry, TEA wastewater volumes of yearly increasing, the poor biochemical performance and high toxicity. Therefore, we report a novel ozone catalyst as biological treatment technology by compounding Ce-Fe@ZSM-5 molecular sieve and domesticated activated sludge to construct a catalytic ozone-biodegradation coupling system. The low efficiency of ozone utilization was addressed by optimizing the stability and activity strength of the catalyst with a large specific surface area. The degradant rate of TEA reached 89.5 % versus 82 % of biological treatment and the elimination rate of TOC reached 71.5 %, which is 7.5 % increase the biological treatment of TEA. In order to efficiently degrade TEA and other organic amine compounds, the degradation pathway and mechanism of TEA were investigated. This research offered a theoretical foundation and prospective application for degradation of TEA.

Chronic sub lethal nerve agent (Soman) exposure induced long-term neurobehavioral, histological, and biochemical alterations in rats

Organophosphorus (OP) pesticides and insecticides are used in agriculture and other industries can also cause adverse effects through environmental exposures in the people working in agricultural and pesticide industries. OP nerve agent exposures have been associated with delayed neurotoxic effects including sleep disorders, cognitive malfunctions, and brain damage in Gulf War victims, and Japanese victims of terrorist attacks with nerve agents. However, the mechanisms behind such prolonged adverse effects after chronic OP nerve agent’s exposures in survivors are not well understood. In the present study, male Wistar rats were subcutaneously exposed to nerve agent soman (0.25XLD50) for 21 consecutive days to evaluate the neurobehavioral, neuropathological and biochemical alterations (oxidative stress and antioxidants levels). Neurobehavioral studies using Elevated Plus Maze (EPM), T-Maze, and rotarod tests revealed that chronic soman exposure produced alterations in behavioral functions including increased anxiety and reduction in working memory and neuromuscular strength. Biochemical studies showed that antioxidants enzyme (glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were reduced and oxidative stress (reduced glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxidation levels (malondialdehyde (MDA)) were significantly increased in brain at 30 days in soman exposed rats as compared to control rats. Neuroselective fluorojade-c stain was used to examine the brain damage after chronic soman exposure. Results demonstrated that chronic soman exposure induced neurodegeneration as brain damage was detected at 30- and 90-days post exposure. The present study results suggest that chronic nerve agent exposures even at low doses may produce long-term adverse effects like neurobehavioral deficits in rats.

Antifungal efficiency of amla leaves against Alternaria alternata and Bipolaris spicifera

In the present study, have been investigated for antifungal potential against two phytopathogens namely and . Inhibitory potential of methanolic extract of the plant was analyzed by poisoned food technique in which different concentrations of test material were prepared in sterilized potato dextrose agar. Results of the investigation revealed that has potential activity against both the test pathogens with IC value of 1±0.02 mg/mL and 0.95±0.019 mg/mL against and respectively. To conclude, leaves of amla possess potential antifungal activity and may be used as a resource of biocides in pesticide and food industry.