Types Of Pesticides Research Articles

Bioremediation Studies on Pesticides in Soil by Novel Microorganisms Isolated from Agricultural Fields

Pesticides are organic compounds widely used in agriculture for increasing agricultural yield, soil productivity and to control the insect vectors for prevention of various plants, human and animal epidemics. Pesticides are widely distributed in our ecosystem. Organophosphates are found to be one of the most common group of pesticides found across the world. However, excessive and indiscriminate use of pesticides have generated a number of environmental problems such as release of toxic waste in the environment resulting to contamination of air, water and terrestrial ecosystem. In order to control the harmful effects of pesticides, multiple attempts have been made like the use of physical, chemical, biological and enzymatic approaches to reduce pesticides. However, physical and chemical methods have proven to be inefficient. One of the most promising field of biotechnology that offers a novel approach to degrade the pesticides is bioremediation. Bioremediation uses microorganisms, microbial or plants enzymes to detoxify contaminants in the soil and other environments. Three group of microorganisms i.e., bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi have been found to degrade the pesticides. Bacterial group involved in degradation includes Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Flavobacterium, Arthrobacter, Paracoccus, Aerobacter, Alcaligens, and Sphingomonas. Fungi having potential bioremediation capacities includes Fusarium, Aspergilus niger, Penicillium, Oxysporum. Streptomycetes have been found to degrade pesticides among the actinomycetes group. This review highlights various aspects of microbial degradation of pesticides including the types of pesticide degrading microbes and mechanism of degradation.

Steric and energetic studies on the influence of cellulose on the adsorption effectiveness of Mg trapped hydroxyapatite for enhanced remediation of chlorpyrifos and omethoate pesticides

Magnesium-trapped hydroxyapatite (Mg.HP) was hybridized with cellulose fiber to produce a bio-composite (CLF/HP) with enhanced adsorption affinities for two types of toxic pesticides (chlorpyrifos (CF) and omethoate (OM)). The enhancement influence of the hybridized cellulose on the adsorption performances of Mg.HP was illustrated based on the determined steric and energetic factors. The computed CF and OM adsorption performances of CLF/HP during the saturation phases are 279.8 mg/g and 317.9 mg/g, respectively, which are significantly higher than the determined values using Mg/HP (143.4 mg/g (CF) and 145.3 mg/g (OM)). The steric analysis demonstrates a strong impact of the hybridization process on the reactivity of the surface of the composite. While CLF/HP reflects effective uptake site densities (Nm) of 93.3 mg/g (CF) and 135.3 mg/g (OM), the estimated values for Mg.HP are 51.2 mg/g (CF) and 46.11 mg/g (OM), which explain the reported enhancement in the adsorption performances of the composite. The capacity of each uptake site to be occupied with more than one molecule (n (CF) = 3–3.74 and n (OM) = 2.35–3.54) suggests multimolecular uptake. The energetic factors suggested physical mechanistic processes of spontaneous and exothermic behaviors either during the uptake of CF or OM.

Neural Network Model for Surface Raman Spectroscopy and Pesticide Concentration of Spinach

At present, there are over 1000 chemical pesticides. The widespread use of these pesticides not only causes serious environmental pollution, but also poses a threat to human health. Currently, there are over 1000 types of chemical pesticides. The widespread use of these pesticides has caused serious environmental pollution. Meanwhile, due to some workers not effectively removing pesticides from food during the picking and processing stages of the farm plants, so the long-term consumption of such food will also pose a threat to human health. An analytical technique called Raman spectroscopy is based on the Raman scattering effect, which was discovered by Indian scientist C.V. Raman. It is used in molecular structure research to get data on molecule vibration and rotation by analyzing scattering spectra at various frequencies from incident light. As a newborn way, the Raman spectroscopy analysis method has higher sensitivity. In this thesis, I put it and the BP neural network together and set up the model, to predict pesticide residues in spinach.

Impact of pesticides on marine coral reef foraminifera

Our laboratory study looked into how pesticides affect the foraminifera species Heterostegina depressa and their obligatory algal endosymbionts. We incubated the foraminifera separately with different types of pesticides at varying concentrations (1 %, 0.01 % and 0.0001 %); we included the insecticide Confidor© (active substance: imidacloprid), the fungicide Pronto©Plus (tebuconazole), and the herbicide Roundup© (glyphosate). Our evaluation focused on the symbiont's photosynthetically active area (PA), and the uptake of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and nitrogen (nitrate) to determine the vitality of the foraminifera. Our findings showed that even the lowest doses of the fungicide and herbicide caused irreparable damage to the foraminifera and their symbionts. While the insecticide only deactivated the symbionts (PA = 0) at the highest concentration (1 %), the fungicide, and herbicide caused complete deactivation even at the lowest levels provided (0.0001 %). The fungicide had the strongest toxic effect on the foraminiferal host regarding reduced isotope uptake. In conclusion, all pesticides had a negative impact on the holosymbiont, with the host showing varying degrees of sensitivity towards different types of pesticides.

Dissolved black carbon mediated photo-transformation of tetrachlorantraniliprole: Kinetics, pathways, and adverse effects of the photoproduct

The combustion of agricultural and forestry residues, along with subsequent runoff, can lead to the production of a significant quantities of dissolved black carbon (DBC), which plays a pivotal role in the photo-transformation of organic pesticides. As a result, the photochemical activity of DBC and its associated photo-transformation mechanisms must elucidate. This study investigated the effect of DBC on tetrachlorantraniliprole (TCTP) photo-transformation, a new type of pesticide independently developed and widely used in China, using photochemical simulation experiments. The results revealed that the prepared DBC had a smaller molecular weight and higher aromaticity, generating 3DBC*, ·OH, and 1O2, with apparent quantum yields of 4.75 × 10−2, 4.35 × 10−5, and 4.01 × 10−2, respectively. 3DBC* was the dominant intermediate reactive responsible for accelerating TCTP photolysis by determining its direct photolysis rate constant as 0.278 min−1. The degradation pathway of TCTP mainly involved nucleophilic substitution, dechlorination, and cleavage of the C–N bond. Notably, TCTP can photo-generate the cross-condensation products only in the presence of DBC. Ecotoxicity and organ-specific toxicity analysis demonstrated reduced environmental risks compared to TCTP for both direct photoproducts, as well as those mediated by DBC. These findings highlighted how DBC altered the photo-transformation pathway leading to decreased environmental risk-associated amide pesticides.

Assessing pesticide residues occurrence and risks in water systems: A Pan-European and Argentina perspective

Freshwater ecosystems face a particularly high risk of biodiversity loss compared to marine and terrestrial systems. The use of pesticides in agricultural fields is recognized as a relevant stressor for freshwater environments, exerting a negative impact worldwide on the overall status and health of the freshwater communities. In the present work, part of the Horizon 2020 funded SPRINT project, the occurrence of 193 pesticide residues was investigated in 64 small water bodies of distinct typology (creeks, streams, channels, ditches, rivers, lakes, ponds and reservoirs), located in regions with high agricultural activity in 10 European countries and in Argentina. Mixtures of pesticide residues were detected in all water bodies (20, median; 8–40 min-max). Total pesticide levels found ranged between 6.89 and 5860 ng/L, highlighting herbicides as the dominant type of pesticides. Glyphosate was the compound with the highest median concentration followed by 2,4-D and MCPA, and in a lower degree by dimethomorph, fluopicolide, prothioconazole and metolachlor(-S). Argentina was the site with the highest total pesticide concentration in water bodies followed by The Netherlands, Portugal and France. One or more pesticides exceeded the threshold values established in the European Water Framework Directive for surface water in 9 out of 11 case study sites (CSS), and the total pesticide concentration surpassed the reference value of 500 ng/L in 8 CSS. Although only 5 % (bifenthrin, dieldrin, fipronil sulfone, permethrin, and terbutryn) of the individual pesticides denoted high risk (RQ > 1), the ratios estimated for pesticide mixtures suggested potential environmental risk in the aquatic compartment studied.

Modified calix[4]arene with pyrene sulfonyl linkage: Fluorescence and electrochemical sensor for the detection of paraquat in potatoes via host–guest chemistry

In this presented work, we propose a new calix[4]arene-pyrene based supramolecular fluorescence system C4Py, constructed for the recognition of paraquat (PQ) herbicide. The proposed method shows fluorescence “turn-off” effect while binding of PQ with C4Py, by quenching the fluorescence intensity of C4Py. Excellent selectivity for PQ is demonstrated by a comparison with other various types of pesticides. The limit of detection is found to be 7.14 µM by fluorescence experiment. The recognition event has been confirmed by 1H NMR as well as MALDI-TOF analysis. This approach was validated by PQ with spiking experiments using potatoes as real sample, exhibiting 7.692 ppm limit of detection. For the further confirmation of C4Py: PQ binding, the electrochemical study was also carried out using cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. The results of electrochemical study demonstrated a decrease of the oxidation peak current on increasing concentration of PQ into C4Py solution confirming binding of PQ with C4Py.

Inadequate Personal Protective Equipment Factors and Odds Related to Acute Pesticide Poisoning: A Meta-Analysis Report.

Acute pesticide poisoning (APP) continues to affect farm workers, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). The dose-response relationship between exposure and APP is well-researched, but pesticide exposure assessment in a practical environment is difficult to perform, considering various work practices and protections in place. It is well known that inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE) use is a risk factor of APP. However, it is unknown which types of inadequate PPE use, such as face or other types of general protection, are most harmful. This study aimed to identify if inadequate PPE use is an indicator of APP risk following established specifications for meta-analysis of epidemiological studies. Included studies reported an odds ratio (OR) between PPE use to APP in agricultural workers. Data extracted from selected articles included authors, publication year, country of origin, farm type, population size, method of data collection and time frame of reported symptoms, job task, type of PPE and pesticides used, adjustments made in analysis, OR for APP, and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Meta-analysis was performed using a random effects model, where ORs were pooled to assess an overall estimate for poisoning odds. Our findings suggested that inadequate PPE use was associated with increased odds (OR = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.16-2.12) of having APP. Failure to use general protection and inadequate face protection increased odds of APP by 1.29 times (95% CI = 0.88-1.90) and 1.92 times (95% CI = 1.23-3.00), respectively. The meta-analysis results indicate that improper facial protection and general protection are not differently associated with APP odds. Our study concludes that more robust protection against inhalation and dermal contact are critical because any gaps in comprehensive full-body PPE would put workers and exposed populations at APP risk.

Investigating the current situation of chemical pesticides trade in Tripoli region and its suburbs in Libya

This study was conducted within the framework of a research program at the Agricultural Research Center for Sustainable Development during the 2021-2022 agricultural season through field visits to pesticide marketing and storage sites in Tripoli and its suburbs to investigate the condition of commercial stores and their suitability to health conditions, the nature of their activity and their legal status, along with the status of the people working in them, their educational level and the extent to which their awareness of the dangers of pesticides and their impact on their health. Some questions were also about the types of pesticides traded in the Libyan market, their physical condition, their specialties, their commercial sources, and how to dispose of their empty containers. It became clear from this study that approximately half of the pesticide shops were in the main streets of Tripoli, and only 27% of them were in rural areas. Moreover, no less than 50% of the stores do not have warehouses, and those that do have warehouses are considered inappropriate for storing these dangerous materials. It was also shown that there is a lack of attention and implementation of the sanitary conditions in pesticide stores, including ventilation, air conditioners, and the height of the stores. We also noticed that the percentage of licensed shops designated for selling pesticides did not exceed 35%, and that many of them hold licenses not designated for selling pesticides, and some of them don’t have license. As for the materials that are marketed alongside pesticides, most of them are agricultural equipment, with the presence of fertilizers and seeds. Regarding the persons that are selling pesticides, their ages range from the twenties to the fifties, and their educational levels vary, as the percentage of illiterate people was 15%, the percentage of those who obtained compulsory primary, middle, and secondary education was 49%, the percentage of those who obtained an intermediate and higher diploma was 23%, and the percentage of university salespeople was 13%. It is striking that 79% of the sellers are not specialized in the agricultural field. As for the level of knowledge of the sellers about the dangers of chemical pesticides, it was found that 72% of them have little to moderate knowledge. In addition, 77% of them do not wear protective clothing, and only sometimes at best, which shows that 43% of the workers’ health was negatively affected by their handling of pesticides. Finally, this study showed that the pesticides circulating in the Tripoli area are liquid, solid and gaseous in approximately equal proportions. As for the specialties of pesticides on offer, it turned out that 22% of them are insecticides, 21% are herbicides, 21% are fungicides, 19% are rodenticides, and 17% are acaricides. As for the sources of pesticides offered on the market, 36% of them were issued by commercial agents of international companies or from well-known wholesalers with clear addresses. However, 27% of the pesticides offered were imported by unknown importers or obtained through unlicensed and often unknown street traders. As for the methods used to dispose of containers, the study showed that 50% of the containers are disposed of by filling them up, burning them, or using the containers to place other materials such as food and medicines, which is generally considered a violation of internationally recognized health methods. This study is considered a model for the other Libyan cities and will contribute to providing decision-makers with important and vital information for regulating the pesticide trading sector in Libya.

Evaluation of the Health Risk and Distribution Characteristics of Pesticides in Shallow Groundwater, South Korea

In this work, a method of simultaneously analyzing pesticide concentration and assessing its risks was developed. Assessments were conducted to evaluate the distribution characteristics and risks to human health of pesticides in shallow groundwater in agricultural areas. We developed multi-residue analytical methods using liquid chromatography (LC-MS/MS) and gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) to analyze 57 pesticides in groundwater. In addition, risk assessments were performed by setting scenarios considering the routes of pesticide infiltration into groundwater. For the simultaneous analysis of 57 pesticides, the liquid–liquid extraction method was applied twice using dichloromethane under acidic and alkaline conditions. The extract was concentrated and analyzed using LC-MS/MS (41 pesticides) and GC-MS/MS (16 pesticides). The precision and accuracy ranges of the analytical methods were 0.1~12.9% (within ±15%) and 80.3~113.6% (within ±20%), respectively. The limit of quantification was found to range from 0.0004 to 0.0677 μg/L. In total, 57 pesticides were monitored in 200 groundwater wells from 2019 to 2020. Twenty-six pesticides, including metolachlor and imidacloprid, were detected, with an average concentration of 0.0008 μg/L in groundwater. The pesticide types and detection levels differed depending on the survey period and surrounding land. When the risks associated with alachlor, metolachlor, and carbofuran were assessed, their health risks when found in groundwater were evaluated to be negligible (non-carcinogenic risk: less than 10−3, carcinogenic risk: less than 10−6).

Occurrence, distribution, and health risk assessment of pyrethroid and neonicotinoid insecticides in aquatic products of China

Synthetic pyrethroid insecticides (SPIs) and neonicotinoid insecticides (NEOs), now dominant in the insecticide market, are increasingly found in aquatic environments. This study focused on six SPIs and five NEOs in aquatic products from four Chinese provinces (Shandong, Hubei, Shanxi and Zhejiang) and the risk assessment of the safety for the residents was conducted. It revealed significantly higher residues of Σ6SPIs (6.27–117.19 μg/kg) compared to Σ5NEOs (0.30–14.05 μg/kg), with SPIs more prevalent in fish and NEOs in shellfish. Carnivorous fish showed higher pesticide levels. Residues of these two types of pesticides were higher in carnivorous fish than in fish with other feeding habits. In the four regions investigated, the hazard quotient and hazard index of SPIs and NEOs were all <1, indicating no immediate health risk to human from single and compound contamination of the two types of pesticides in aquatic products. The present study provides valuable information for aquaculture management, pollution control and safeguarding human health.

The efficacy of botanical pesticides in controlling coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari, 1867) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): A meta-analysis

Coffee berry borer pest (CBB) is one of the main pests that has a significant impact on coffee production and quality. In Indonesia, the utilization of plant-based pesticides has promising prospects in controlling CBB. The purpose of this study is to provide information on the impact of different types of plant pesticide on CBB mortality through a measurable algorithm analysis. A literature search was performed using Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Researchgate, and ScienceDirect. A linear mixed model (LMM) was applied to evaluate the effect of botanical pesticide application on the mortality rate of CBB. A total of 14 plant families were included in meta-regression analysis for estimating the effect size of each family. The average effect of pesticide exposure to CBB analyzed using LMM was 0.039 which mean that botanical pesticidal exposure has significant effect on the mortality rate of CBB (P&lt;0.05). The results of this study suggested that the use of botanical insecticide especially derived from plants belonging to Family Anacardiaceae was significantly effective in controlling CBB.

Decision support model to assess pesticide safeness toward environment.

For farmers around the world to protect crops from disturbing pests, it is common to use pesticides to ward off the growth of pests or even eliminate them. Even though pesticides are seen as a good thing for protecting crops, there is one thing that mustn't be forgotten the origin of the pesticide itself is a toxin compound that is dangerous if used irresponsibly. The main concern of this study is excessive use of pesticides may cause serious consequences to the ecosystem and environment through the accumulation of pesticide residue by irresponsible farmers. To minimize the effects of pesticide residues, the selection of the type of pesticide needs to be considered which type may not be harmful to the environment's health even though accumulation happens. Therefore, in this study, a fuzzy-based computational model assessor was built to measure the safety level of pesticides toward the environment. The fuzzy model was created with consideration of several parameters related to pesticide behaviors, its effects on beneficial organisms, and its persistence in the environment. The method used for this study includes literature reviewing, fuzzification, statistical approach, expert knowledge sharing, and quantitative analysis. The model created in this study can assist in a more accurate and realistic method of selecting better pesticide options that will be used by farmers. To ensure the validity of the model, verifying and validating the formula and pesticide result assessment were done with related literature articles. In this study, from 10 types of pesticides used as a sample, dodine, and iprodione pesticides are the best option for protecting crops with a safety level of 7.36, and abamectin, dimethoate, chorpyrifos, and methidathion are not safe options for farming use because of its potential of harming the environment.

Development of a Portable NIR Spectrometer for Detecting Pesticide Residues

The problem of pesticide residues found in fruits and vegetables that exceed the standard is something that all sectors are interested in solving. The main reason is that farmers, consumers, and relevant authorities do not know the real-time value of the residues. The detection of the pesticide residues is not immediately known since it must have been carried out at the central laboratory, where the received result will also take so long time. To solve this problem, our research team has designed and developed a portable near-infrared (NIR) spectrometer. The developed NIR spectrometer is designed to not only detect the reflected intensity of the residues in the wavelength range from 410 [nm] to 940 [nm] using the AS7265x chipset, but also collect and analyze the normalized spectral signal using the microprocessor ESP32-WROVER-B for detecting each type of the four pesticide residues: Carbendazim, Cypermethrin, Diazinon, and Imidacloprid. From experimental results on forty pesticide residues on basil leaves and chili from the local market in Phitsanulok province, it was conclusively demonstrated that the NIR spectrometer correctly identifies a tested type of the four pesticide residues on the twenty-eight basil leaves and twenty chili, and has more stable, consistent and accurate performance for detecting the pesticide type of the forty residues than the thin-layer chromatography method utilized at the central laboratory. Furthermore, the developed NIR spectrometer exhibits remarkable versatility and the best performance of detecting each type of the four pesticide residues on the twenty-eight basil leaves and twenty-eight chili or the total fifty-six samples as well as a test run repeated 100 times per sample and at seven concentration levels. At the pesticide concentration levels of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 mg/l, the Accuracy, Precision and Recall values were perfect at 1.00 and standard deviation of zero in all cases. Also, the Accuracy value was greater than 0.98 and both the Precision and Recall values were greater than 0.97 with an overall standard deviation of less than 0.013 when detecting the two pesticide residue types at concentration levels of 0.05 and 0.1 mg/l. Overall, the results showed that the proposed NIR spectrometer correctly detects pesticide residues in the concentration range from 1 [mg/l] to 5 [mg/l]. As well, the total cost of the tests with the portable NIR spectrometer was about 4,395 Baht. This cost is very reasonable particularly when the price of the proposed portable NIR spectrometer is nearly half that of devices with identical specifications that are sold on the commercial market.

Perception of Environmental Risks of Phytosanitary Products in the Market Gardening in Douvar Municipality of Mokolo (Far North Region of Cameroon)

Peri-urban market gardening plays an important role in the supply of fresh vegetables in the town of Mokolo (Far North, Cameroon) and its surroundings. This activity is concentrated around the dam supplying drinking water to the Mokolo city. To fight against pests and increase their yield, market gardeners’ resort to pesticides, with the risks they often ignore. The objective of this study is to assess the perception of risks and effects linked to the use of plant protection products on human health and the environment in particular. The study was made through a survey and was carried out among 88 market gardeners using survey sheets. The results obtained show that in the locality of Douvar, market gardening is more practiced by young people under 35 years old. They also use plant protection products which are dangerous for human health and the environment. Market gardeners use 13 different types of pesticides with a dominance of insecticides (60.92%). The survey also showed that 100% of farmers agree that the use of pesticides leads to good yields and also eradicated insects and disease. However, the decision to carry out phytosanitary treatments and the timing of treatment are often conditioned by the availability of the product and the presence of the attack. The majority of market gardeners (83%) are not educated and therefore do not have a good knowledge on the application rates and the frequencies of treatment of crops.

Pengendalian Kutu Beras (Sitophilus oryzae l.) Secara Organik

Rice weevils can cause damage to rice in warehouses, so it is necessary to control them in an environmentally friendly manner. The aim of this research was to determine the effect of various types of organic pesticides used on rice weevils (Sitophilus oryzae L.). This study used a completely randomized design (CRD), consisting of 6 treatments applied during the imago stage. Each treatment consisted of 4 replications so that the experimental units obtained were 24 experiments. The results of the research show that the use of vegetable pesticides has the potential to kill rice weevils. Mortality observations obtained very significantly different results, where the open eco enzyme (TT) treatment with a percentage of 72.50% was a treatment that had an influence on rice weevil mortality. All treatments were able to kill rice weevils. from percentage 35 to 72.5. All botanical pesticides used can suppress the rice weevil population for up to 4 weeks after application and there is an increase thereafter and repeated applications are necessary to suppress the population.

Efficiency of toxicological tests on Rural Workers exposed to testicides

The objective of this study was to compare the results of two methods to verify acute pesticide poisoning, the analysis of micronucleus (MN) of cells in the oral mucosa and the measurement of Plasma Cholinesterase (BuChE) and Erythrocyte Cholinesterase (AChE) in rural workers exposed to pesticides. As methodological procedures, two groups with 27 individuals each were determined. Blood samples were collected to measure AChE and BuChE, Alkaline Phosphatase, Gamma Glutamil Transferase (Gamma GT), Oxaloacetic Transaminase (TGO) and Pyruvic Transaminase (TGP), for the exposed group, at two moments: after the moment of application of the insecticide-type pesticide and after the application of any other type of pesticide. In the unexposed group, only one collection was carried out. For MN analysis, cells were collected from the buccal mucosa from the inner region of the cheek. The group exposed to pesticides had a higher number of MN when compared to the group not exposed to pesticides. There was no significant difference in AChE between the exposed group and the unexposed group at the first moment (p = 0.847) and similarly for BuChE (p = 0.070).

DETECTION OF SOME ORGANOCHLORINE PESTICIDES IN LARGE AFRICAN SNAILS FROM OJE MARKET, IBADAN, NIGERIA

Snails (Mollusca: Achatinadae) are crucial fauna species on earth that serve the functions of food and biological indicators of environmental pollution. Numerous chemical discharges from agricultural applications of pesticides and industrial outlets could destroy human body parts and deplete the environment. This study assessed the occurrence of some organochlorine pesticides in giant African snails from Oje Market, Ibadan, Nigeria. Aldrin, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), and heptachlor epoxide levels were measured in snails taken at random from thirty (30) sample points in the Oje market in Ibadan. Snails were weighed, labeled, and then divided into three groups of ten (10). The forte extraction method was used, and gas chromatography with an electron capture detector (GC/ECD) was used to analyze the various pesticide types in the snail sample. The mean concentration of heptachlor epoxide is 41.65 mg/kg, higher than aldrin and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (9.44 mg/kg and 4.17 mg/kg, respectively). The concentrations of pesticides range from 4.27 mg/kg - 21.77 mg/kg for aldrin, 2.80 mg/kg to 6.92 mg/kg for dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, and 22.87 mg/kg to 75.15 mg/kg for heptachlor epoxide. The Pearson correlation coefficient between Aldrin and DDT is 0.939, while that of Aldrin and Heptachlor epoxide is 0.945, and that of Heptachlor epoxide and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane is 0.981. The analysis revealed a solid positive correlation between the concentration of pesticides. The pesticide levels observed in the snail samples exceeded those of the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization. Therefore, snails' consumption should be monitored to avoid toxicity in humans.

Associations of chronic exposure to a mixture of pesticides and type 2 diabetes mellitus in a Chinese elderly population

Epidemiological studies have related exposure to pesticides to increased risk of diabetes. However, few studies have evaluated the health effects of mixed pesticides exposure, especially in an elderly population. Here, we utilized gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to quantify the levels of 39 pesticides in 4 categories in a Chinese elderly population. Then we used general linear models to explore the association between individual pesticide exposure and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Restricted cubic spline (RCS) models were fitted to identify potential non-linearities between those associations. Furthermore, stratified analysis by gender was conducted to explore the gender-specific associations. Finally, we used weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression, quantile-based g computation (qgcomp), and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) to evaluate the effects of mixed exposure to 39 pesticides. The results showed that exposure to pesticides was associated with high risk of T2DM, with β-Hexachlorocyclohexane (β-BHC) and oxadiazon being the most significant independent contributors, which was pronounced among elderly women. Moreover, the association of β-BHC and oxadiazon with T2DM was linear. These indicated that it is an urgent need to take practical measures to control these harmful pesticides.

Bioactive metabolites of licorice and thyme as potential inhibitors of Cox1 enzyme of phytopathogens of Capsicum annuum L.: In-silico approaches

Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (Cox1), a key enzyme, has a crucial role in cellular respiration in eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Generally, respiratory inhibitors are considered one of the types of chemical pesticides. Thyme oil and licorice aqueous extract have been reported to have antifungal activities against fungal phytopathogens of Capsicum annuum L., i.e., Colletotrichum capsici, Fusarium oxysporum, and Pythium aphanidermatum. The present study focuses on identifying the key bioactive molecules of thyme and licorice botanicals inhibiting the activity of the Cox1 enzymes of the above mentioned phytopathogens, employing the in-silico approach. From a wide range of bioactive molecules screened, the molecular docking indicated trans-carveol, carvacrol, kaempferol 3-rhamnoside 7-xyloside, kaempferitrin, and astragalin 7-rhamnoside as the potential inhibitors for Cox1 of C. capsici, β-Caryophyllene, Caryophyllene acetate, hispaglabridin A, kaempferol 3-rhamnoside 7-xyloside and licorice glycoside A for Cox1 of F. oxysporum and (+)-Longifolen, Caryophyllene acetate, Hispaglabridin A, Neoliquiritin 2''-apioside and Licorice-saponin A3 for Cox1 of P. aphanidermatum. Most of the top-scoring bioactive molecules exhibited higher binding affinity with the targets than the chemical compound, i.e., carbendazim. Density functional theory (DFT) analysis confirmed the reactivity of the top-docked compounds. Molecular dynamic simulations confirmed the stability of docked complexes when evaluated through multiple descriptors. Additionally, MM/PBSA analysis supported the findings, indicating the spontaneous binding of the enzymes to the screened ligands. ADMET analysis revealed the safety of the selected bioactive compounds. The present findings could be useful in developing biopesticidal formulations as efficient and sustainable alternatives to chemical pesticides. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma