Use Of Pesticides In Agriculture Research Articles

Associations between residential proximity to agricultural land use as pesticides exposure and birth outcomes.

Pesticides are widely used globally. Due to their widespread use, exposure to pesticides is of concern. In addition to occupational exposure, residential exposure during pesticide application is a concern for those living in or near agricultural areas. The objective of this study was to analyze the association between residential proximity to agricultural pesticide use and birth outcomes. The association between residential proximity to agricultural land use as pesticide exposure and birth outcomes was explored in a birth cohort including 283 pregnant women from a medical center in Hualien during 2013-2016. In the third trimester, we collected demographic information and the residential addresses of pregnant women via structured questionnaires. After delivery, newborn birth weight, gestational age, and head circumference were collected from medical records. Maternal residential address during pregnancy was collected for geospatial mapping. The percentages of farmland area within circular buffers of different sizes were applied to estimate pesticide exposure. Associations between residential proximity to agricultural land use as pesticide exposure and birth outcomes were analyzed by multiple linear regression analyses. A significantly smaller head circumference was associated with agricultural farmland located within 400m (β = - 0.51 [95% CI, - 0.99, - 0.03], P = 0.037) and 500m (β = - 0.67 [95% CI, - 1.14, - 0.19], P = 0.006) radii of residences in the tertile 2 group. A significantly smaller head circumference was also associated with dry farming area within 400m (β = - 0.70 [95% CI, - 1.17, - 0.24], P = 0.003) and 500m (β = - 0.81 [95% CI, - 1.27, - 0.34], P = 0.001) radii of residences in the tertile 2 group. The multivariate linear regression analyses did not show any significant association between residential farmland area and birth weight or gestational age. In conclusion, residential proximity to agricultural land use as pesticide exposure was associated with negative infant birth outcomes, especially a small head circumference. In the future, agricultural land use information could be combined with biological samples to more accurately assess exposure in pregnant women.

Site-Directed Mutagenesis – A Chance to Meet Environmental Challenges and Provide Healthy Food for People or an Unacceptable Hazard to Humans, Animals, and the Environment. Consequences of the European Court of Justice Judgment in Case C-528/16

Abstract One of the EU's strategic goals is to reduce the environmental and climate footprint of the EU food system and strengthen its resilience, while ensuring food security for European citizens. Thus, the EU Farm to Fork strategy, which is one of the central pillars of the European Green Deal, set ambitious targets for 2030 to reduce pesticide use in agriculture by 50% and fertilizers use by 20%, with a concomitant 50% reduction of nutrient leakage to surface and groundwater. Additionally, it is recommended that at least 25% of the EU agricultural land shall be kept under organic farming. These goals are far-reaching, but several recent studies indicate that implementing them without significant progress in research and innovation (R & I) may result in a yield decrease by up to 30%, depending on the crop, and an increase in the price of agricultural commodities by up to 18%. Especially affected would be horticulture due to its high dependence on plant protection against pests and diseases. Therefore, the studies recommend accelerating plant breeding in order to produce new plant cultivars genetically resistant to pests and diseases and better equipped to cope with abiotic stresses like limited nutrition and water deficit. The progress in classical plant breeding is a lengthy process. It is especially slow in the case of woody species, like most fruit plants, due to their long juvenile periods and limited genetic variance. Recent advances in functional genomics, bioinformatics, and molecular methods provided tools that speed up the breeding process significantly. Several site-directed mutation technologies allow modifying a specific gene at a predefined site, by deletion or insertion of single or multiple nucleotides, without affecting off-target genes. Several valuable cultivars have been bred so far using these methods, and a large number of others are under trials. However, their release will be severely impeded by the decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union, dated 25 July 2018, that the release of organisms obtained by site-specific mutations, as opposed to organisms obtained by induced random mutation, is controlled by Directive 2001/18/EC2 on genetically modified organisms. This paper reviews the new generation breeding techniques, especially site-directed mutagenesis, and their benefits as well as potential hazards to consumers and the environment.

Understanding the environmental drivers of clinical azole resistance in Aspergillus species.

Aspergilli are ubiquitous fungal pathogens associated with severe life-threatening infections, especially in immunocompromised patients. Azoles are the first line of defence in the fight against most Aspergillus -related infections. However, resistance to these therapeutic compounds has developed, which is mainly due to the existence of mutations in lanosterol 14 alpha-demethylase (Cyp51A), a crucial enzyme in the pathway that produces ergosterol and is the target of azole antifungals. Azole-based antifungal medications are ineffective because of infections brought on by azole-resistant Aspergillus species, leading to a high fatality rate. However, resistant Aspergillus isolates have also been isolated from azole-naïve patients. Global agricultural practices promote the use of azole fungicides to protect crops from phytopathogens. Usage of azole fungicides on a large scale has been linked to the development of resistance among Aspergillus species prevalent in the environment. The infections caused by these azoleresistant Aspergillus species cannot be treated by the available azole drugs, in turn leading to high morbidity and mortality rates. Thus, knowledge of the environmental drivers and comprehending the genetic basis of fungal drug resistance evolution is pertinent, considering increasing numbers of patients with COVID-19 infections who are sensitive to opportunistic fungal infections. This article emphasises the prevalence and underlying mechanisms of azole resistance in Aspergillus species, with a focus on environmental triggers and resistance development. It also highlights the need for regular surveillance of pesticide use in agriculture, detection of triazole-resistant Aspergillus species in environmental and clinical settings and development of new antifungal drugs.

Fabrication of a dual pH-responsive and photothermal microcapsule pesticide delivery system for controlled release of pesticides.

The development of stimulus-responsive and photothermally controlled-release microcapsule pesticide delivery systems is a promising solution to enhance the effective utilization and minimize the excessive use of pesticides in agriculture. In this study, an AVM@CS@TA-Fe microcapsule pesticide delivery system was developed using avermectin as the model drug, chitosan and tannic acid as the wall materials, and tannic acid-Fe complex layer as the photothermal agent. The optical microscope, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscope were used to characterize the prepared microcapsule. The slow-release, UV-shielding, photothermal performance, and nematicidal activity of the microcapsule were systematically investigated. The results showed that the system exhibited excellent pH-responsive and photothermal-sensitive performances. In addition, the UV-shielding performance of the delivery system was improved. The photothermal conversion efficiency (η) of the system under the irradiation of near-infrared (NIR) light was determined to be 14.18%. Moreover, the nematicidal activities of the system against pine wood nematode and Aphelenchoides besseyi were greatly increased under the irradiation of light-emitting diode (LED) simulated sunlight. The release of the pesticide-active substances in such a pesticide delivery system could be effectively regulated with the irradiation of NIR light or LED-simulated sunlight. Thus, the developed pesticide delivery system may have broad application prospects in modern agriculture fields. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

A role-playing game to stimulate thinking about vineyard management practices to limit pesticide use and impacts

Pesticides harm the environment and the health of applicators and rural populations. Although several levers exist to help reduce agricultural pesticide use, farmers hesitate to use them because they can require specific training, costly materials, and additional worktime while often decreasing yields. In this study, our objective was to design and develop an ad hoc role-playing game that can be used to design strategies of change for agricultural practices to reduce the unwanted impacts of pesticide use at farm and watershed scale. The main challenge was to create a game that is realistic and relevant to actors while bringing new knowledge to foster learning. We developed a participatory process to build the game and then complemented it with original contributions from research: the results of innovative field experiments and the design of simple assessment indicators corresponding to the evaluation criteria of actors. Our case study was a vineyard watershed subject to heavy pesticide use. Interview surveys with farmers and workshops with local actors (including farmers) and experts were employed to build the game, which included a spatial typology of farms, a simple calculator of potential impacts, and two types of roles. In the role of winegrower, the participants propose changes in practices for a virtual farm. In the role of public administrator, they evaluate the winegrowers' requests and the evolution of potential impacts, and then suggest further changes. The game was played with local actors and experts, separately. Game results were analyzed in terms of changes in practices, subsidy requests, and the evolution of potential impacts, both at the scale of farm types and the entire watershed.In the two game sessions, all participants modified the practices of their virtual farms. This revealed common and divergent choices between the group of experts and the group of local actors. Experts requested more plot-scale subsidies. They were also more ambitious in managing fungi and decreasing glyphosate use. At the watershed scale there were few differences between the potential impacts of the strategies as designed by the two different groups. However, the different attitudes of local actors and experts revealed different perceptions on investment, risks, and subsidies.This is the first game developed at a territorial scale to co-design and assess agricultural systems aimed at reducing unwanted impacts of pesticide use. The game is limited by the absence of economic and yield impacts, which should be a priority in the development of future versions of the game.

Occurrences, distribution and risk assessment of polar pesticides in Niger River valley and its tributary the Mekrou River (Niger Republic).

The increase in food needs due to high population growth in Niger has led to the intensification of urban agriculture and the increased use of pesticides. The objective of this study is primarily to assess the polar pesticide contamination (mainly herbicides) of the Niger River and its tributary, the Mekrou River, in Niger, using both grab sampling and POCIS (Polar Organic Chemical Integrative Samplers), and then to evaluate the risk to the aquatic environment. Two water sampling campaigns were carried out during the wet and dry seasons. The polar pesticides were analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry, which allowed the identification of compounds with concentrations in the grab samples above the WHO guide values and the EU directive: diuron with 2221ng/L (EU quality guideline: 200ng/L), atrazine with 742ng/L (EU quality guideline: 600ng/L) and acetochlor with 238ng/L (EU quality guideline: 100ng/L). The risk assessment study indicated that diuron and atrazine present a high risk for the aquatic environment during the wet season. The main source of water contamination is the intensive use of pesticides in urban agriculture near the city of Niamey, and the intensive cotton farming in the Benin. Moreover, the surveys (30 producers interviewed) showed that 70% of the pesticides used are not approved by the Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS) and some are prohibited in Niger. The inventory of pesticides sold in the zone showed that active ingredients used by producers are 48% insecticides, 45% herbicides, and 7% fungicides.

Habitat Preference and Current Threats to The Sarus Cranes Grus Antigone (Aves: Gruiformes: Gruidae) In Important Bird Areas of Haryana, India: Implications for Determining Effective Conservation Actions

Understanding the habitat preferences of Sarus Crane can assist ecologists in identifying high-priority habitats and improving conservation strategies. The habitat utilization and preference of Sarus Crane were studied in and around Important Bird areas of the Gurugram district from November 2019 to October 2020. In total, 171 flocks were observed in agricultural land followed by marshland (147) and grassland (11). Our analysis showed that the Sarus Crane strongly preferred agricultural areas (s = +0.18) and avoided grassland habitats (s = -0.22 and -0.53 respectively). There was a significant difference in the utilization of agriculture and marshland (P<0.05) habitats in different seasons. However, the Sarus Crane utilized the grassland habitat randomly (P>0.05). The Sarus Cranes experienced several serious threats, including predation, habitat destruction, and the agricultural use of pesticides. This study on habitat preference and current threats will provide a scientific baseline for future research to better understand the ecology of the Sarus Cranes and will be helpful in their conservation. These IBA’s are the only suitable sites in Haryana because it is surrounded by a large area of agricultural land and exposed to the pressure of human activities. It is, therefore, necessary to protect such habitats, to provide a healthy ecosystem for Sarus Cranes.

Predicting Resistance: Quantifying the Relationship between Urban Development, Agricultural Pesticide Use, and Pesticide Resistance in a Nontarget Amphipod.

Resistance alleles within the voltage-gated sodium channel (vgsc) have been correlated with pyrethroid resistance in wild populations of the nontarget amphipod, Hyalella azteca from California (CA), U.S.A. In the present study, we expand upon the relationship between land use and the evolution of pesticide resistance in H. azteca to develop a quantitative methodology to target and screen novel populations for resistance allele genotypes in a previously uninvestigated region of the U.S. (New England: NE). By incorporating urban land development and toxicity-normalized agricultural pesticide use indices into our site selection, we successfully identified three amino acid substitutions associated with pyrethroid resistance. One of the resistance mutations has been described in H. azteca from CA (L925I). We present the remaining two (vgsc I936F and I936V) as novel pyrethroid-resistance alleles in H. azteca based on previous work in insects and elevated cyfluthrin resistance in one NE population. Our results suggest that urban pesticide use is a strong driver in the evolution of resistance alleles in H. azteca. Furthermore, our method for resistance allele screening provides an applied framework for detecting ecosystem impairment on a nationwide scale that can be incorporated into ecological risk assessment decisions.

Pesticide Use in Indian Agriculture: Policy Alternatives for Environmental Health

This article makes a case for introducing actionable policy alternatives to address the human health hazards posed by agricultural use of pesticides in India. Pesticides, which include insecticides, rodenticides, herbicides, and fungicides, are widely used in global agricultural practices to protect crops from pest attacks. While pesticides are considered important for their role in boosting agricultural productivity and meeting global food security targets, the article argues that pesticides have a detrimental impact on human health both via occupational and non-occupational routes of exposure. It discusses the human health effects of prolonged pesticide exposure both in the international and national contexts. The article shows that despite a lower aggregate and per capita pesticide consumption vis-à-vis other countries at the national level, the use of agricultural pesticides in India has led to a disproportionate burden of premature deaths due to chronic diseases. By categorising the registered Indian pesticides as per the World Health Organization’s toxicity criterion, the paper argues that unregulated sale of both registered and unregistered pesticides must be addressed to counter the broader health hazards associated with pesticides in general, and the looming burden of chronic diseases that India is faced with in particular.

Participatory approaches for raising awareness among subsistence farmers in Tanzania about the spread of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors and the possible link to improper agricultural pesticide use

BackgroundInsecticide resistance is a key barrier to long-term malaria control, and it may be exacerbated by poor agricultural pesticide use. Current practices, however, do not link public health and agricultural pesticide use. This study investigated the perspectives of farmers and other stakeholders regarding the integration of agricultural and public health measures to address resistance. Additionally, the feasibility of participatory workshops to increase the farmers’ understanding and participation in pesticide stewardship was assessed.MethodsFour themes were investigated: pesticide awareness, practices, and opinions of; insecticide resistance in malaria vectors; the effectiveness of current malaria prevention tools; and the links between agricultural and public health pesticide usage. Participatory workshops and field training were held with entomologists, farmers, and agricultural specialists, focusing on agro-ecosystem practices related to pest control; and local farmers were involved in live-testing for insecticides resistance of local Anopheles mosquitoes.ResultsMost farmers (94%) considered pesticides effective, and nearly half of them (n = 198, 46.4%) could identify and name crop pests and diseases, mostly using local names. Three quarters were unaware of mosquito larvae in their fields, and only 7% considered their fields as potential sources of mosquitoes. Two thirds were uninformed of any effects that agricultural pesticides may have on mosquitoes, and three quarters had never heard of resistance in malaria mosquitoes. Experts from various sectors acknowledged that agricultural pesticides might impact malaria control through increasing resistance. They did, however, emphasize the importance of crop protection and advocated for the use of pesticides sparingly and non-chemical approaches. Farmers learnt how to discriminate between malaria vectors and non-vectors, identify agricultural pests and diseases, choose and use pesticides effectively, and conduct resistance tests during the participatory workshops.ConclusionThis study emphasizes the significance of enhancing subsistence farmers’ awareness of mosquito ecology as well as merging public health and agricultural pest management measures. Participatory techniques have the potential to raise stakeholder awareness and engagement, resulting in more effective resistance management.

دراسة استهلاك المنتجات الغذائية العضوية مقارنة بالمنتجات الغذائية التقليدية

The study aimed to identify the quantity of nitrates present in food produced by the organic farming method compared to food produced by the traditional farming method. It also, aimed to identify the danger of the expansion the use of fertilizers and agricultural pesticides containing nitrates without proper supervision or awareness which leaves residues of nitrates in food, especially vegetables, and fruits that are eaten directly because of their harmful effect on human health and the extent of the risks that may be exposed to from eating foods containing nitrates among a sample from Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University employees. The number of the sample was (279) during Ragab, Sha'ban, and Ramadan in 1443 HD. Its average was 18.6% of the total sample. To achieve the study objectives, it relied on the descriptive and quantitative method for data collection where sample was identified that consumed food produced by traditional agriculture more than the same types of food produced by organic farming. The results of the laboratory analysis indicated that the nitrates ratio in the traditional food was with the average of 621.87 while the organically produced foods was with the average of 359, 05. The results of the survey indicated that (89.6%) of the total study sample had a bachelor's degree or higher, and (95.3%) were Saudi women. They also indicate that the study members' opinions about the meaning of organic products are that natural fertilizers are used in the cultivation of organic products, followed by the non-reliance on pesticides Then avoid using hormones as for the method of identifying organic products. It was found that 32% learned about organic products through television, and 22% through the market, while the motives for purchasing organic products were that they were of high quality by 23%, while 749 were healthy, while 10% believe that it is free of pollution. Individuals who get organic products through the supermarket were 55%, and that 13% from farms directly and individuals who prefer to buy traditional local products were 17%, while 57% prefer to buy local organic products, and that 4% prefer exported traditional products. The results indicate an increase in the consumption of organic products which may be due to avoiding harmful substances found in traditional products and obtaining healthy food that is safe from pollutants. Therefore, the researcher recommends conducting more research to identify the nutritional content of organic food products and compare them with traditional food products and knowing the health effects of both.

Adsorption and Photocatalytic Degradation of Pesticides into Nanocomposites: A Review.

The extensive use of pesticides in agriculture has significantly impacted the environment and human health, as these pollutants are inadequately disposed of into water bodies. In addition, pesticides can cause adverse effects on humans and aquatic animals due to their incomplete removal from the aqueous medium by conventional wastewater treatments. Therefore, processes such as heterogeneous photocatalysis and adsorption by nanocomposites have received special attention in the scientific community due to their unique properties and ability to degrade and remove several organic pollutants, including pesticides. This report reviews the use of nanocomposites in pesticide adsorption and photocatalytic degradation from aqueous solutions. A bibliographic search was performed using the ScienceDirect, American Chemical Society (ACS), and Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) indexes, using Boolean logic and the following descriptors: “pesticide degradation” AND “photocatalysis” AND “nanocomposites”; “nanocomposites” AND “pesticides” AND “adsorption”. The search was limited to research article documents in the last ten years (from January 2012 to June 2022). The results made it possible to verify that the most dangerous pesticides are not the most commonly degraded/removed from wastewater. At the same time, the potential of the supported nanocatalysts and nanoadsorbents in the decontamination of wastewater-containing pesticides is confirmed once they present reduced bandgap energy, which occurs over a wide range of wavelengths. Moreover, due to the great affinity of the supported nanocatalysts with pesticides, better charge separation, high removal, and degradation values are reported for these organic compounds. Thus, the class of the nanocomposites investigated in this work, magnetic or not, can be characterized as suitable nanomaterials with potential and unique properties useful in heterogeneous photocatalysts and the adsorption of pesticides.

Environmental assessment of the influence of pesticides on non-target arthropods using PRIMET, a pesticide hazard model, in the Tiko municipality, Southwest Cameroon

Pesticide use in farming is unescapable to enhance the harvest and prevent deleterious organisms. Unfortunately, certain pesticide users most often unveil poor practices, remarkably in developing countries. This study aimed at estimating pesticide risk to non-target arthropods (NTAs) using PRIMET (Pesticide Risks in the Tropics to Man, Environment and Trade), a pesticide risk model, in the Tiko municipality, Southwest Cameroon. To achieve this, data was assembled on the pesticide treatment plan (active ingredient, crops, dosage, number of applications, application interval) and ecotoxicological properties (LR50), and typeset one at the time in PRIMET 2.0 for risk appraisal. The model estimated the Acceptable Effect Concentration (AECNTA), the In-Field and Off-Field Exposure (PEC) and Exposure Toxicity Ratio (ETR = PEC/AECNTA). If ETR < 1, there is “No Risk”, if 1 ≤ ETR≤ 100, there is a “Possible Risk”, and if ETR > 100, there is a “Definite Risk”. Amongst the thirty-nine (39) pesticides evaluated, the most dangerous compound was imidacloprid (ETRIF = 255 000 000), followed by cypermethrin (ETRIF = 299 800) and oxamyl (ETRIF = 57 917). Epoxiconazole was the only fungicide, out of fourteen predicted to pose a definite in-field risk to NTAs with ETRIF = 1491. Half of the fungicides (50%) posed a possible in-field risk. One third of herbicides evaluated posed a possible in-field risk to NTAs. In this classification, paraquat (ETRIF = 51) exhibited the highest risk. All the herbicides were predicted for no off-field risk to NTAs. NTAs seemed to be more tolerant to most fungicides and herbicides than insecticides. The strengthening of the directive on pesticide purchasing and operation is inevitability in order to protect anthropoid and environmental health.

Residential proximity to agricultural pesticide use and risk-taking behaviors in young adults from the CHAMACOS study

BackgroundPrenatal pesticide exposure has been associated with poorer neurodevelopment during childhood, which could lead to greater risk-taking behaviors and delinquency in adolescence. This association may be augmented by adversity exposure. ObjectivesEvaluate the relationship between prenatal pesticide exposure and risk-taking behavior in young adults at 18-years of age. Assess whether adversity exposure modifies these associations. MethodsParticipants included mother-child dyads (n = 467) enrolled in the Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children Of Salinas (CHAMACOS) study, a longitudinal birth cohort set in the agricultural Salinas Valley of California. We estimated agricultural pesticide use within one km of maternal residences during pregnancy using a geographic information system, residential addresses, and California's Pesticide Use Reporting data. We used Bayesian hierarchical regression to evaluate associations of prenatal exposure to a mixture of 11 neurotoxic pesticides with self-reported police encounters, risk-taking behaviors, and unique types and frequency of delinquent acts. We also evaluated effect modification of these relationships by adversity exposure. ResultsWe observed generally null associations of neurotoxic pesticide use with risk-taking behaviors. Prenatal residential proximity to chlorpyrifos use was associated with higher risk of a police encounter, a delinquent act, and higher incidence of both unique types of acts committed and total frequency of delinquent acts. Prenatal residential proximity to dimethoate use was associated with a higher incidence of police encounters and methomyl with a higher risk of committing a delinquent act. There were no consistent differences when stratified by the number of adverse childhood experiences. ConclusionsWe observed mostly null associations between prenatal residential proximity to agricultural pesticide use and risk-taking behaviors at age 18, with little evidence of effect modification by childhood adversity. There were suggestive associations for chlorpyrifos use with having any police encounter and with all measures of delinquent acts that warrant confirmation in other studies.

Residential proximity to agricultural pesticide use and respiratory health in the CHAMACOS study

BACKGROUND AND AIM: We previously observed associations in the Center for the Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas (CHAMACOS) cohort study between pesticide exposure (including organophosphate metabolites in children’s urine and residential proximity to agricultural sulfur use) and respiratory symptoms and lung function at 7-years of age. In the current analysis, we examined respiratory health in relation to residential proximity to agricultural use of manganese (Mn) containing pesticides while accounting for other pesticide exposures previously associated with these outcomes in this cohort. METHODS: Our population includes participants with pesticide exposure estimates available that completed the 7-year assessment. We evaluated agricultural use of Mn pesticides within 1 and 3 km of residences during pregnancy, early life (birth to 6y of age) and the year prior to the assessment (6 to 7y of age) using a Geographic Information System to link residential histories with California’s Pesticide Use Reporting data. We assessed probable asthma from maternal report of symptoms and conducted lung function measurements using spirometry. The number of participants ranged from 276 – 330 for probable asthma and 204 – 265 for lung function measurements. We adjusted regression models for potential confounders and exposures that have been associated with these outcomes in this cohort. RESULTS: We observed an association between residential proximity to Mn pesticide use and probable asthma. A two-fold increase in use within 1 km during the year prior to the assessment was associated with a relative risk for probable asthma of 2.1 (95% confidence interval = 1.4, 3.1) after adjusting for other exposures previously related to this outcome in this cohort. We did not observe any associations with proximity to use and lung function impairment at 7-years of age. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a higher risk of probable asthma with residential proximity to higher Mn pesticide use.

Certain Geomorphological Features and Fish Fauna of River Mara Bharali in Sonitpur District of Assam

Background: Rapid industrialization, water abstraction and the extensive use of pesticides in agriculture have severe strains on rivers and resulted in deterioration of water quality. The present investigation on certain geomorphological aspects and fish fauna was conducted in the remnants of old channel of river Jia Bharali called as Mara Bharali at Tezpur in the Sonitpur district of Assam from December, 2017 to November, 2019. Methods: Five sampling stations were selected that covers a stretch of 16.5 km. River width, river depth, bank type and riparian vegetation were assessed following Armantrout (1999) and statistical analysis were conducted. Fish species were collected and identified following Talwar and Jhingran (1991). Result: Maximum value of river-width was found at site MB5 (12.821±6.067 m). Mean water current velocity was found to be maximum at site MB5 (0.645±0.056 ms-1) followed by MB1 (0.433±0.045 ms-1). The river depicts riffle-pool morphology and consisted of substrates in the form of pebbles, sand and silt. Thirty four fish species belonging to 25 genera, 08 orders and 17 families has been recorded. Moreover, random sampling analysis shows the presence of 14 rare species in Mara Bharali.

A ratiometric supramolecular fluorescent probe for on-site determination of cyfluthrin in real food samples

The massive use of cyfluthrin pesticide in agriculture has brought growing concerns on the food safety due to its chemical stability, easy-to-accumulation, and several harmful effects on human health. Design of a rapid, reliable and portable analytical method for on-site monitoring cyfluthrin is of great significance. Although reported assays showed high sensitivity and selectivity to cyfluthrin, these intensity-based outputs suffered from the interference from a variety of analyte-independent factors, i.e. the instrumental parameters, which often led to the poor accuracy and repeatability of detection results. In this work, we reported a novel host–guest supramolecular probe by using albumin as the host and solvatofluorochromic flavonoid as the guest, for the first time, successfully realizing ratiometric determination of cyfluthrin. This probe was capable of detecting cyfluthrin with the fast response (10 s), high sensitivity (LOD ∼70 ppb) and selectivity, good anti-interference performance, and remarkably distinct emission color change from orange to green. Moreover, the portable paper-based test strips could be facilely obtained and utilized for ratiometric determination cyfluthrin pesticide in food samples, such as apple, tomato, cucumber. The signal outputs could be captured and analyzed by using a smartphone, demonstrating the application potential of this probe in on-site food analysis. We expected this work may open up a novel avenue for on-site determination of pesticides with the simple testing apparatuses.

Pyemotes ventricosus Dermatitis: A Case Report and an Extensive Review of Outbreaks and Clinical Cases.

(1) Background: Pyemotes ventricosus dermatitis, caused by free-living mites, could be difficult to diagnose since bites are painless and ectoparasites are not visible. We present an unpublished clinical case that occurred in Italy and an extensive review of clinical cases and outbreaks of Pyemotes species. (2) Methods: Case reports and outbreaks of Pyemotes spp. were searched for on Pubmed and Embase. Epidemiological and clinical data were analysed with descriptive statistics. (3) Results: In total, we found 40 case reports and 21 outbreaks to be considered in this review. The majority of cases involved young females, occurred in summer and were observed in Europe. Dermatitis was the most common clinical manifestation. Diagnosis was mainly based on risk factors. Treatment was based on topical steroids and antihistamine drugs. Regarding outbreaks, contact with grain or feed and exposure with infested furniture were the main risk factors. The mean number of involved patients were 69, with symptoms most commonly ending within a week. (4) Conclusions: Pyemotes ventricosus dermatitis is underreported, especially in countries like Africa and Central and South-America, since disease is self-limiting and comet sign is reported in a quarter of cases. The reduction in use of pesticides in agriculture could lead to an increased exposure to Pyemotes spp. in the future.

Health Effects of Pesticide Exposure in Latin American and the Caribbean Populations: A Scoping Review.

Background:Multiple epidemiological studies have shown that exposure to pesticides is associated with adverse health outcomes. However, the literature on pesticide-related health effects in the Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC) region, an area of intensive agricultural and residential pesticide use, is sparse. We conducted a scoping review to describe the current state of research on the health effects of pesticide exposure in LAC populations with the goal of identifying knowledge gaps and research capacity building needs.Methods:We searched PubMed and SciELO for epidemiological studies on pesticide exposure and human health in LAC populations published between January 2007 and December 2021. We identified 233 publications from 16 countries that met our inclusion criteria and grouped them by health outcome (genotoxicity, neurobehavioral outcomes, placental outcomes and teratogenicity, cancer, thyroid function, reproductive outcomes, birth outcomes and child growth, and others).Results:Most published studies were conducted in Brazil (37%, ) and Mexico (20%, ), were cross-sectional in design (72%, ), and focused on farmworkers (45%, ) or children (21%, ). The most frequently studied health effects included genotoxicity (24%, ) and neurobehavioral outcomes (21%, ), and organophosphate (OP) pesticides were the most frequently examined (26%, ). Forty-seven percent () of the studies relied only on indirect pesticide exposure assessment methods. Exposure to OP pesticides, carbamates, or to multiple pesticide classes was consistently associated with markers of genotoxicity and adverse neurobehavioral outcomes, particularly among children and farmworkers.Discussion:Our scoping review provides some evidence that exposure to pesticides may adversely impact the health of LAC populations, but methodological limitations and inconsistencies undermine the strength of the conclusions. It is critical to increase capacity building, integrate research initiatives, and conduct more rigorous epidemiological studies in the region to address these limitations, better inform public health surveillance systems, and maximize the impact of research on public policies. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP9934

Biotechnological and Medical Aspects of Lactic Acid Bacteria Used for Plant Protection: A Comprehensive Review.

The use of chemical pesticides in agriculture goes hand in hand with some crucial problems. These problems include environmental deterioration and human health complications. To eliminate the problems accompanying chemical pesticides, biological alternatives should be considered. These developments spark interest in many environmental fields, including agriculture. In this review, antifungal compounds produced by lactic acid bacteria (LABs) are considered. It summarizes the worldwide distribution of pesticides and the effect of pesticides on human health and goes into detail about LAB species, their growth, fermentation, and their antifungal compounds. Additionally, interactions between LABs with mycotoxins and plants are discussed.