Use Of Atrazine Research Articles

Controlled release of atrazine from a polyurethane matrix for improved agricultural use

This study investigated the controlled release kinetics of the herbicide atrazine (ATZ) from a polyurethane (PU) matrix. To address the environmental concerns associated with the widespread use of atrazine, particularly its high mobility due to low adsorption and stability, this research evaluated the potential of PU as a matrix for a controlled release system (CRS). The PU/ATZ film was fabricated via the casting method and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). In vitro release tests were performed to assess the atrazine release profile, employing mathematical models, including Korsmeyer-Peppas and Higuchi, to elucidate the release mechanisms. The findings demonstrated that the PU matrix effectively facilitated controlled release, with approximately 30% of atrazine released over 96 h. The Korsmeyer‒Peppas model yielded the best fit for the release kinetics, indicating that the release mechanism follows Fickian diffusion.

A review of the potential adverse health impacts of atrazine in humans.

Atrazine is a widely used chlorinated triazine herbicide in agricultural settings, which has raised concerns over its potential adverse effects on human health. The extensive application of atrazine has resulted in its pervasive presence in the environment, contaminating soil, groundwater, and surface water. While earlier research suggested that atrazine is unlikely to pose a health concern, recent evidence has indicated the necessity to reassess this point of view. This review aims to assess the recent evidence on atrazine's adverse effects on human health, focusing on (i) Cancer, (ii) Metabolic Diseases, (iii) Reproductive System, (iv) Neural System, and (v) Epigenetic Effects. Strategies to mitigate atrazine contamination and limitations of previous studies are also discussed. We strongly believe that further investigation is necessary to determine the potential detrimental consequences of atrazine in humans, particularly in developing countries, where herbicides are widely used without stringent safety regulations. Therefore, the current review will be beneficial for guiding future research and regulatory measures concerning the use of atrazine.

Selectivity of Herbicides in Controlling Weeds in Corn (Zea mays L) With A Tegel and Jajar Legowo Planting Pattern in West Aceh Regency

Maize (Zea mays L.) has a strategic role in meeting global food needs. How is the selectivity of herbicides in cultivation patterns 1 (single rows) and 2 (double rows) in Maize plants (Zea Mays L), how is the combination of herbs and plant pattern suitable for the management of weeds in corn crops (Zea mays L), how are the interactions of selectivities of herbicides and cultivation of maize (Zea mays L). This study uses Random Group Design (RGD) factorial patterns where factor 1 (herbicide) and factor 2 (planting pattern). The herbicide is composed of 4 types: H0 (control), H1 (Atrazine 180g/l + Mesotrione 40g/ l + Nicosulfuron 20 g/l, H2 (Atazine 500g/L, Mesotrione 50 g/L) and H3 (Topramezone 10 g/ L + Atrazine 300 g/ l). While the planting pattern consists of 2 types: P1: single row (70 x 20 cm) and P2: double rows (100x20x40 cm). Some conclusions were obtained, among others: The use of the herbicide atrazine in several formulas within the tile and legowo planting patterns does not cause poisoning in corn plants. The combination of herbicides (Topramezon 10 g/l and Atrazine 300 g/l / Tile) is most suitable for corn plants. There is an interaction between the herbicide and the planting pattern on the parameters of ear weight without husk and ear length without husk, which shows significant differences

Ruthenium decorated nickel-iron layered double hydroxides (NiFe-LDH) for promoting peroxymonosulfate activation and atrazine degradation

With the extensive use of atrazine (ATZ), its potential hazards to ecological environment and human health have raised public concerns. This study reports the effective degradation of ATZ via advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) using peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activated by heterogeneous catalysts of Ru loaded NiFe-LDH blossom nanosheets (Ru/NiFe-LDH). During AOPs, the highly dispersed Ru sites as the main catalytic centers and the NiFe-LDH substrate synergistically stimulated PMS to efficiently produce reactive oxygen species to oxidize ATZ. Under optimal conditions, the degradation activity of ATZ by 5.8Ru/NiFe-LDH/PMS system reached 100% within 90 min. Additionally, it also exhibited good environmental applicability. Besides, electron paramagnetic resonance along with quenching experiments illustrated the production of 1O2, O2• −, •OH, SO4• − and surface-bond radicals during the degradation, where 1O2, •OH and surface-bond radicals were further identified as the dominant oxygen species for the oxidation. The ATZ degradation pathway was determined using the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to discern the intermediate products, e.g., dealkylation, alkylic-hydroxylation and dechlororination-hydroxylation processes. This work holds a potential application value for the removal of atrazine and other pollutants.

Influence of Nonionic Surfactants on the Adsorption and Elution of Atrazine in Agriculturally Modified Soils

The Hetao Irrigation District, situated in the Northwest of China, serves as a significant commercial grain base. Widespread use of atrazine, an herbicide in the region, has resulted in significant environmental issues, impacting the ecosystem equilibrium and sustainable agricultural development. The co-adsorption of the globally employed atrazine herbicide along with two nonionic surfactants, Tween-80 and Brij30, onto soils treated with HCl and H2O2 was investigated. The study revealed that the adsorption isothermal curves of surfactants on soil adhered to a two-stage adsorption model. Various types of adsorption isothermal curves, such as S-type or L-type, influenced the adsorption capacity of atrazine on the soil. Observations indicated that S-type or L-type isothermal curves of surfactants interconverted with alterations in soil polarity. Moreover, it has been uncovered that the adsorption properties of Tween 80 in the soil are intricately connected to its ability to elute atrazine within the same soil. This discovery provides theoretical support for a prudent reduction in herbicide usage in the Hetao Irrigation District in the upcoming years.

County-Level Atrazine Use and Gastroschisis

The incidence of gastroschisis, a birth defect involving the herniation of the small bowel through the abdominal wall, has increased in the US since the 1960s. The pesticide atrazine is a hypothesized cause of gastroschisis; however, examination of the association between atrazine and gastroschisis has been limited. To evaluate national trends in gastroschisis incidence, maternal and infant characteristics associated with gastroschisis, and whether county-level atrazine use is associated with gastroschisis. This retrospective, repeated cross-sectional study examined birth certificate data of all live births in the US and data on atrazine use from the US Geological Survey from January 1, 2009, through December 31, 2019. The data analysis was performed between August 5, 2021, and May 26, 2023. County-level atrazine use. The primary outcome was gastroschisis incidence. Covariates included maternal age, race and ethnicity, body mass index (measured by weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared), parity, insurance type, Chlamydia infection during pregnancy, smoking, and rurality. Mixed-effects logistic regression models (year fixed effects and county random effects) were constructed using different county-level atrazine exposure variables (1-, 5-, and 10-year means). Between 2009 and 2019, 39 282 566 live births were identified, with 10 527 infant diagnoses of gastroschisis. Infants with gastroschisis were more likely to have mothers who identified as non-Hispanic White (61% vs 54%; P < .001), had a lower body mass index (median [IQR], 23.4 [20.8-27.2] vs 25.4 [22.0-30.8]; P < .001), were more likely to be nulliparous (median [IQR], 0 [0-1] vs 1 [0-2]; P < .001), and were more commonly covered by Medicaid (63% vs 43%; P < .001). During the study period, the rate (per 1000 live births) of gastroschisis decreased from 0.31 (95% CI, 0.29-0.33) to 0.22 (95% CI, 0.21-0.24). The median (IQR) county-level atrazine use estimates were higher among infants with gastroschisis (1 year, 1389 [IQR, 198-10 162] vs 1023 [IQR, 167-6960] kg; 5 years, 1425 [IQR, 273-9895] vs 1057 [IQR, 199-6926] kg; 10 years, 1508 [IQR, 286-10 271] vs 1113 [IQR, 200-6650] kg; P < .001). In adjusted models, higher county levels of atrazine (each 100 000-kg increase) were associated with a higher incidence of gastroschisis (1 year: adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.12 [95% CI, 1.01-1.24]; 5 years: AOR, 1.15 [95% CI, 1.02-1.30]; 10 years: AOR, 1.21 [95% CI, 1.07-1.38]). In this cross-sectional study, higher county levels of atrazine were associated with infant diagnoses of gastroschisis. While atrazine is the second-most used herbicide in the US, numerous countries around the world have banned it out of concern for adverse effects on human health. These findings suggest that exploring alternatives to atrazine in the US may be warranted.

Screening of Atrazine Tolerant Aquatic Plant and Roles of Plant Growth Regulators on Plant Growth and Atrazine Tolerance

The extensive use of atrazine to control weeds in agricultural areas has contaminated atrazine in surface water and groundwater. Atrazine contamination in water resources causes human health concerns. Thus, this study investigated the possible use of aquatic plants for removing atrazine from contaminated water. The experiment was performed under plant nursery conditions and divided into two parts: (1) the atrazine-tolerant plants were screened, and (2) the most atrazine-tolerant plant was used for atrazine phytoremediation stimulated by plant growth regulators. The results showed that atrazine was toxic to all aquatic plants, as the dry weight of the plants was significantly decreased when exposed to 20 mg/L of atrazine (P&lt;0.05). Based on five aquatic plants grown under 2.5–20 mg/L atrazine-contaminated water, &lt;i&gt;Azolla microphylla&lt;/i&gt; Kaulf. was the most tolerant aquatic plant and was more suitable for use in atrazine phytoremediation than the other aquatic plants (&lt;i&gt;Ceratophyllum demersum&lt;/i&gt; L., &lt;i&gt;Eichhornia crassipes&lt;/i&gt; (Mart.) Solms, &lt;i&gt;Hydrilla verticillata&lt;/i&gt; (L. f.) Royle, and &lt;i&gt;Salvinia cucullata&lt;/i&gt; Roxb. ex Bory). The total chlorophyll, carotenoid, and proline contents in the biomass of &lt;i&gt;A. microphylla&lt;/i&gt; cultured in 2.5–20 mg/L of atrazine did not significantly differ between the atrazine concentrations (P&gt;0.05). Meanwhile, the proline contents in the other four aquatic plants increased with increasing atrazine concentrations, and the chlorophyll content significantly decreased with an increase in the atrazine concentration. However, &lt;i&gt;A. microphylla&lt;/i&gt; could not remove atrazine from contaminated water, and the application of plant growth regulators (6-benzyladenine, gibberellic acid, indole-3-butyric acid, and salicylic acid) did not improve the atrazine removal from water. Atrazine in the water was around 21–26 mg/L on day five of &lt;i&gt;A. microphylla&lt;/i&gt; cultivation compared to the initial concentration (25 mg/L). Using a plant growth regulator was ineffective for stimulating growth and atrazine removal by &lt;i&gt;A. microphylla&lt;/i&gt;. Future research should explore other potential mechanisms for enhancing atrazine removal by &lt;i&gt;A. microphylla&lt;/i&gt;.

Degradation of Atrazine by an Anaerobic Microbial Consortium Enriched from Soil of an Herbicide-Manufacturing Plant.

Atrazine is an important herbicide that has been widely used for weed control in recent decades. However, with the extensive use of atrazine, its residue seriously pollutes the environment. Therefore, the microbial degradation and detoxification of atrazine have received extensive attention. To date, the aerobic degradation pathway of atrazine has been well studied; however, little is known about its anaerobic degradation in the environment. In this study, an anaerobic microbial consortium capable of efficiently degrading atrazine was enriched from soil collected from an herbicide-manufacturing plant. Six metabolites including hydroxyatrazine, deethylatrazine, N-isopropylammelide, deisopropylatrazine, cyanuric acid, and the novel metabolite 4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-1,3,5-triazine (EIPAT) were identified, and two putative anaerobic degradation pathways of atrazine were proposed: a hydrolytic dechlorination pathway is similar to that seen in aerobic degradation, and a novel pathway initiated by reductive dechlorination. During enrichment, Denitratisoma, Thiobacillus, Rhodocyclaceae_unclassified, Azospirillum, and Anaerolinea abundances significantly increased, dominating the enriched consortium, indicating that they may be involved in atrazine degradation. These findings provide valuable evidence for elucidating the anaerobic catabolism of atrazine and facilitating anaerobic remediation of residual atrazine pollution.

MAPK/NF-κB signaling mediates atrazine-induced cardiorenal syndrome and antagonism of lycopene

Atrazine (ATZ) is the most prevalent herbicide that has been widely used in agriculture to control broadleaf weeds and improve crop yield and quality. The heavy use of ATZ has caused serious environmental pollution and toxicity to human health. Lycopene (LYC), is a carotenoid that exhibits numerous health benefits, such as prevention of cardiovascular diseases and nephropathy. However, it remains unclear that whether ATZ causes cardiorenal injury or even cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) and the beneficial role of LYC on it. To test this hypothesis, mice were treated with LYC and/or ATZ for 21 days by oral gavage. This study demonstrated that ATZ exposure caused cardiorenal morphological alterations, and several inflammatory cell infiltrations mediated by activating NF-κB signaling pathways. Interestingly, dysregulation of MAPK signaling pathways and MAPK phosphorylation caused by ATZ have been implicated in cardiorenal diseases. ATZ exposure up-regulated cardiac and renal injury associated biomarkers levels that suggested the occurrence of CRS. However, these all changes were reverted, and the phenomenon of CAR was disappeared by LYC co-treatment. Based on our findings, we postulated a novel mechanism to elucidate pesticide-induced CRS and indicated that LYC can be a preventive and therapeutic agent for treating CRS by targeting MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathways.

An Updated Evaluation of Atrazine-Cancer Incidence Associations among Pesticide Applicators in the Agricultural Health Study Cohort.

Atrazine is a common agricultural herbicide in the United States. Few epidemiologic studies have evaluated cancer risks. Previous analyses within the Agricultural Health Study (AHS) have found some evidence of associations with cancer at some sites. We updated exposure information, incident cases, and follow-up time to assess the associations between atrazine use and cancer at specific sites in the AHS. Information about lifetime pesticide use was reported at enrollment (1993-1997) and follow-up (1999-2005). Among 53,562 pesticide applicators in North Carolina and Iowa, we identified 8,915 incident cases through cancer registry linkages through 2014 (North Carolina)/2017 (Iowa). We used Poisson regression to evaluate the association between ever/never and intensity-weighted lifetime days of atrazine use and incident cancer risk controlling for several confounders. We also evaluated lagged exposures and age-stratified risk. Approximately 71.2% of applicators reported ever using atrazine, which was associated with lung cancer [; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04, 1.46]. Aggressive prostate cancer risk was increased in the highest quartile (; 95% CI: 0.95, 1.52; ), particularly among those years old (; 95% CI: 1.61, 5.75; ; ). Among applicators years of age, ever-atrazine use was associated with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) (; 95% CI: 1.10, 5.38; ). For soft tissue sarcoma, there was an elevated risk in the highest tertile of exposure (: 2.54; 95% CI: 0.97, 6.62; ). In analyses with exposure lagged by 25 years, there was an elevated risk of pharyngeal (; 95% CI: 1.45, 6.36; ) and kidney (; 95% CI: 1.15, 2.29; ) cancers. We observed suggestive associations with some malignancies in overall, age-specific, and lagged analyses. Associations with aggressive prostate cancer and NHL were apparent among those diagnosed at younger ages and with cancers of the pharynx and kidney, and soft tissue sarcomas were observed in lagged analyses. Further work is needed to confirm these observed associations and elucidate potential underlying mechanisms. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13684.

Nanofibrous-substrate-based controlled herbicidal release systems: Atrazine/hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex loaded PVA agro-augmenting electrospun mats

The paper deals with the development of atrazine (ATZ)/hydroxypropyl-β-Cyclodextrin (H-βCD) inclusion complex (IC) loaded PVA-based sustainable electrospun mats (EM) as a structurally stable agro-augmenting assembly for controlled herbicide release system. The IC was prepared in a 1:1 stoichiometric ratio via the co-precipitation method. The thermal (DSC, TGA), morphological (FESEM), and microstructural (FTIR, XRD, and NMR) characterization revealed the successful encapsulation of ATZ into the cavity of H-βCD. Further, uniform and bead-free IC-loaded EM were fabricated by the incorporation of the synthesized IC into the PVA precursor solution. Microstructural analysis of IC-loaded PVA EM confirmed the presence of hydrogen bonding interactions between IC and PVA EM. The fabricated EM exhibited improvement in surface-hydrophobicity (contact angle ∼78.3º), swelling (∼260%), surface area ( ∼26 m2/g), pore volume (∼3.2 × 10−2 cc/g), and ATZ release efficacy in water (∼13.6%) and in soil (∼ 6.2%). The thermal and mechanical analysis indicated an increase in thermal stability (from ∼284 to ∼395 °C) with a simultaneous increment in the mechanical properties (from ∼24.3.7 to ∼27.4 MPa) for PVA-based EM upon the incorporation of IC at lower content. Furthermore, the herbicidal activities indicated that IC, as well as IC-loaded PVA EM, exhibited better herbicidal activity against L.sativa than free ATZ. Thus, the present study conceptually established an innovative and efficient method for designing fibrous mats with tunable ATZ-release and thermo-mechanical properties that can reinforce agrotechnology by optimally boosting both crop-yield and environmental sustainability via a substantial reduction in the excessive use of ATZ.

Effect of atrazine on testicular toxicity involves accommodative disorder of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes system and testosterone synthesis in European quail (Coturnix coturnix)

Due to the wide use of atrazine (ATR), the concern has increased regarding the negative impact of ATR on reproduction. Nevertheless, the reproductive effects caused by different exposure concentrations and the severity of toxic damage are poorly understood. In organisms, ATR is metabolized and degraded through phase II enzyme systems, and changes in cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes may have a regulatory role in the harm of ATR. However, less information is available on the induction of CYPs by ATR in avian organisms, and even less on its effects on the testis. Birds are exposed to ATR mainly through food residues and contaminated water, the purpose of this study was to examine reproductive toxicity by different exposure concentrations and elaborate metabolic disorders caused by ATR in European quail (Coturnix coturnix). In this study, the quail were given ATR at 50 mg/kg, 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg by oral gavage for 45 days, and the testicular weight coefficients, histopathology and ultrastructure of testes, primary biochemical functions, sex steroid hormones, critical protein levels in the testosterone synthesis pathway, the expression of genes involved CYPs, gonad axis and nuclear receptors expression were investigated. Altogether, testicular coefficient decreased significantly in the high-dose group (1.22%) compared with the control group (3.03%) after 45 days of ATR exposure, and ATR is a potent CYP disruptor that acts through the NXRs and steroid receptor subfamily (APND, CAR, ERND and ERα) without a dose-dependent manner. Notably, ATR interfered with the homeostasis of hormones by triggering the expression of hormones on the gonad axis (LH and E2). These results suggest that exposure to ATR can cause testicular toxicity involving accommodative disorder of phase II enzyme and testosterone synthesis in European quail.

Adsorption isotherm and kinetic analysis of molecularly imprinted polymer with two functional monomers for quantification of atrazine

ABSTRACT The extensive use of atrazine as a pesticide in agricultural practices poses a significant risk to the environment and human health. Atrazine, when applied to plants, has the potential to migrate through the soil and contaminate groundwater sources. Consequently, there is an urgent need to explore alternative methods for detecting atrazine. This study aimed to investigate the quantification of atrazine using molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) and to assess the adsorption performance and kinetics of the MIPs using various isotherm and kinetic adsorption models. MIP was synthesised with two distinct functional monomers: methacrylic acid (MAA) and acrylamide (AA). Computational analysis was employed to estimate the binding affinity of these monomers towards atrazine. Subsequently, results from adsorption capacity study indicated a higher binding affinity for MAA compared to AA with values of 0.92 mg/g and 0.48 mg/g, respectively. These findings aligned with the simulated data from the docking analysis. Moreover, the adsorption mechanism of atrazine towards MIP-MAA and MIP-AA was best represented by Jovanovic model, followed by the Langmuir, Freundlich and Linear models. While for kinetics analysis, the Elovich model was chosen as the best fit. In conclusion, the selection of the functional monomer is of utmost importance in designing MIPs as it facilitates specific interactions with analyte molecules and enhances the performance of the MIPs.

Residue determination and dietary risk assessment of mesotrione, nicosulfuron, atrazine and its four metabolites in maize in China

IntroductionTo improve maize yield in China, multiple herbicides have been simultaneously applied to control more weeds. However, this combined application raises concerns about potential residues and their subsequent risks to human health. Therefore, evaluating the residues and dietary risk of new herbicide formulations is critical for the sustainability of maize production.MethodsUsing UHPLC-MS/MS, we developed quick methods for the determination of residues of mesotrione, nicosulfuron, atrazine and its four metabolites with acceptable accuracy and precision. The limits of quantification (LOQs) were 0.01 mg/kg for mesotrione and atrazine-desethyl-desopropyl, and 0.005 mg/kg for nicosulfuron, atrazine, 6-deisopropyl atrazine, 2 hydroxyatrazine, and deethylatrazine. Field trials were conducted at 12 different locations in China. And the risk quotient (RQ) model was used to evaluate the chronic risk of residues of these herbicides.ResultsThe residues of straw samples were in the ranges of &amp;lt;0.01 mg/kg for mesotrione, &amp;lt;0.005–0.010 mg/kg for nicosulfuron, and &amp;lt;0.037–0.254 mg/kg for accumulated atrazine. In green straw, the observed ranges were &amp;lt;0.01 mg/kg for mesotrione, &amp;lt;0.005–0.007 mg/kg for nicosulfuron, and &amp;lt;0.037–0.211 mg/kg for accumulated atrazine. Meanwhile, for both green and fully-grown maize, residues were &amp;lt;0.01 mg/kg for mesotrione, &amp;lt;0.005 mg/kg for nicosulfuron, and &amp;lt;0.037 mg/kg for accumulated atrazine. And all RQ values of green and fully-grown maize were below 100%.ConclusionBased on the RQ model, the dietary risk of exposure to three herbicides through maize was acceptable by consumers. This study helps guide the rational use of mesotrione, nicosulfuron and atrazine to ensure the safe production of maize and our human health.

Characterizing Atrazine Degradation by Molybdenum-reducing Pseudomonas sp.

The most feasible and economical technique for removal of toxic compounds in the polluted environment is bioremediation. This technique surpasses other physicochemical methods in recent time for being effective particularly at a lower concentration of the toxicant. In this study, seven (7) previously isolated molybdenum-reducing bacteria were screened for their potential to degrade atrazine herbicide as sole carbon source for growth. Bacterial colony count on mineral salt medium supplemented with atrazine was used for the screening, while the effects of incubation time, concentration, temperature, pH, inoculum size and heavy metals on atrazine biodegradation was used in characterizing the candidate isolate. Of the seven isolates, an isolate identified as Pseudomonas sp. that grew best with a count of 195 CFU/mL was chosen. The optimum conditions supporting atrazine degradation by Pseudomonas sp. were found to be temperature 35 °C, pH 7.0, incubation time 48 hours and 400 µL inoculum. The use of atrazine as carbon and electron donor source for molybdenum reduction, poorly support molybdenum blue (Mo-blue) production. At a concentration (2 ppm), heavy metals such as lead and copper did not significantly (p&gt;0.05) affect atrazine biodegradation relative to control, iron and silver shows a relative stimulatory effect to the process, while mercury and zinc showed significant (p&lt;0.05) inhibitory effect when compared to control. The ability of the isolate to degrade atrazine makes it an important instrument for bioremediation of this herbicide.

Influences of continuous and pulse atrazine exposure on intestinal flora and metabolites of Pelophylax nigromaculatus tadpoles

Atrazine, a widely used herbicide, has adverse effects on the growth and metabolism of amphibians. Due to the cyclical application use of the pesticide atrazine in agricultural production, atrazine concentrations in water occur in the form of pulses. However, knowledge of the effects of atrazine pulse exposure on the gut microbiota and metabolism of amphibians is limited. In this study, Pelophylax nigromaculatus tadpoles (Gs 26) were exposed to continuous and pulse atrazine (100 μg/L) for 60 days. The results showed that continuous exposure and pulse exposure had different effects on the diversity of gut microbiota. At the phyla level, pulse exposure significantly increased the relative abundance of Actinobacteria, and decreased the relative abundance of Firmicutes compared to continuous exposure. At the genus level, continuous and pulse exposure to atrazine significantly altered the relative abundance of Acetobacterium, Microbacterium, Bacteroides, Eulopiscium and Leuconostoc. Compared to continuous exposure, pulse exposure significantly increased the relative abundance of Microbacterium, and significantly decreased the relative abundance of Acetobacterium and Eplopiscium. In terms of metabolism, pulse exposure significantly increased the relative abundance of creatine, guanine, and inosine and significantly decreased the relative abundance of 3-hydroxysebacic acid, ganoderic acid F, hypoxanthine, and withaperuvin H compared to continuous exposure. Continuous and pulse exposure to atrazine significantly altered the relative abundance of metabolites of the pymidine metabolism, purine metabolism, beta-alanine metabolism and other pathways in the gut of P. nigromaculatus tadpoles. In addition, changes in most metabolites had a significant correlation with changes in gut microorganisms. In conclusion, our study confirmed that pulse exposure to atrazine has a greater effect on the composition of the gut microflora and the metabolism of P. nigromaculatus tadpoles than continuous exposure.

Lycopene ameliorates atrazine-induced spatial learning and memory impairments by inhibiting ferroptosis in the hippocampus of mice.

Atrazine (ATR) is a commercially available herbicide that is used worldwide. The intensive use of ATR poses potential risks to animals' and humans' health. Lycopene (LYC) is an anti-oxidative phytochemical that normalizes health hazards triggered by environmental factors. In this study, we aimed to investigate the toxic effects of ATR on the hippocampus and its amelioration by LYC. Male mice were exposed to ATR (50mg/kg/day or 200mg/kg/d) and/or LYC (5mg/kg/d) for 21 days. The results showed that ATR exposure induced hippocampus-dependent learning and memory impairments. ATR-induced ferroptosis in hippocampal cells affects the homeostasis of lipid metabolism, whereas LYC ameliorates the neurotoxic effects of ATR in the hippocampus. LYC inhibited ATR-induced ferroptosis by increasing the expression of HO-1, Nrf2 and SLC7A11. Therefore, this study established that LYC ameliorates ATR-induced spatial learning and memory impairments by inhibiting ferroptosis in the hippocampus and also provides a novel approach for the treatment in contradiction of environmental pollutants.

Enhanced phytoremediation of atrazine-contaminated soil by vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides L.) and associated bacteria.

The intensive and long-term use of atrazine (ATZ) has led to the contamination of agricultural soils and non-target organisms, posing a series of threats to human health through the transmission of the food chain. In this study, a 60-day greenhouse pot experiment was carried out to explore the phytoremediation by Chrysopogon zizanioides L. (vetiver). The uptake, accumulation, distribution, and removal of ATZ were investigated, and the degradation mechanisms were elucidated. The results showed that the growth of vetiver was inhibited in the first 10 days of the incubation; subsequently, the plant recovered rapidly with time going. Vetiver grass was capable of taking up ATZ from the soil, with root concentration factor ranging from 2.36 to 15.55, and translocating to the shoots, with shoot concentration factor ranging from 7.51 to 17.52. The dissipation of ATZ in the rhizosphere soil (97.51%) was significantly higher than that in the vetiver-unplanted soil (85.14%) at day 60. Metabolites were identified as hydroxyatrazine (HA), deethylatrazine (DEA), deisopropylatrazine (DIA), and didealkylatrazine (DDA) in the samples of the shoots and roots of vetiver as well as the soils treated with ATZ. HA, DEA, DIA, and DDA were reported first time as metabolites of ATZ in shoots and roots of vetiver grown in soil. The presence of vetiver changed the formation and distribution of the dealkylated products in the rhizosphere soil, which remarkably enhanced the occurrence of DEA, DIA, and DDA. Arthrobacter, Bradyrhizobium, Nocardioides, and Rhodococcus were the major atrazine-degrading bacterial genera, which might be responsible for ATZ degradation in the rhizosphere soil. Our findings suggested that vetiver grass can significantly promote ATZ degradation in the soil, and it could be a strategy for remediation of the atrazine-contaminated agricultural soil.

“Transgender Frogs Turn Your Son Gay”: Endangered Amphibians, Estrogenic Pollution, and Male Extinction

Scientists, conservationists, and environmentalists argue that the use of Atrazine, one of the most commonly used herbicides in the US, contributes to global amphibian population declines and extinctions. Researchers have also linked Atrazine to increased rates of cancer and other health complications in humans that disproportionately affect already marginalized communities. However, prevailing public discourse has focused primarily on the speculative risks that Atrazine, as an endocrine disruptor, could pose to normative human gender, sex, and sexuality. These concerns were sparked by experiments in the early 2000s, conducted by Dr. Tyrone Hayes and colleagues, characterizing frogs exposed to Atrazine as “feminized” and “chemically castrated.” I find that scientific and popular discourse surrounding the Atrazine controversy encodes cultural anxieties about the maintenance of normative masculinities and the future of humanity in an increasingly toxic world. Moreover, depending on the context, rhetorical depictions of frogs exposed to Atrazine reify binary sex/gender or, contrastingly, affirm sexual diversity. The case of Atrazine demonstrates that environmental discourse can sustain normalized and naturalized ideas of gender, sex, and sexuality even as the meanings imposed on them are contradictory and contextual.

Atrazine adsorption by graphene-based materials: Interaction mechanism and application in real samples

The wide use of atrazine (ATZ) as a triazine herbicide poses serious threats to the environment and human health. Therefore, it is particularly necessary to develop some effective methods for the removal of ATZ from the environment. Here, we studied the removal of ATZ from aqueous solutions by three graphene-based materials (GBMs), including graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNP). The results revealed that all the three GBMs had extremely high ATZ adsorption capacity, which followed the order of rGO (1083.94 mg/g) > GO (1011.94 mg/g) > GNP (1005.77 mg/g), and they were also confirmed to be applicable to actual samples. The adsorption was well fitted by the Elovich kinetic model with the determination coefficient ( R 2 ) > 0.985, 0.998 and 0.993 for GO, rGO and GNP, respectively. Moreover, the adsorption isotherm data were fitted to the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Dubinin–Radushkevich and Sips models. The results revealed that the adsorption process was the best fit by the Sips model. The fitting results of adsorption kinetics and adsorption isotherm demonstrated that the adsorption is a multi-mechanism process. In addition, the interaction mechanism of ATZ with the adsorbents was investigated by density functional theory (DFT), and the visual illustration revealed that the adsorption process was driven synergistically by H-bonding and π − π conjugation interactions. The developed materials are of high convenience and feasibility, and have great application potential in the removal of ATZ and other pesticides from the aqueous environment. • High ATZ adsorption capacity of GBMs with the order of rGO > GO > GNP. • The visualization of intermolecular interactions between ATZ and GBMs are investigated by IGMH analyses. • The GBMs are applicable to actual samples.