Pesticide ecotoxicology

Changes in the expression of isoenzymes, peptides and nerve cells of T. angustula and T. fiebrigi stingless bees were evaluated after in vitro contamination with Sanson® 40SC (nicosulfuron) and 200 Gramoxone® (paraquat) herbicides, and also the use of such bees as bioindicators of the presence of pesticides. After contamination, analyses of changes in expression of isoenzymes esterases (EST), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and nerve cells employing CEC (critical electrolyte concentration) were conducted. The herbicide nicosulfuron causes partial inhibition of esterases from T. angustula and T. fiebrigi. The herbicide paraquat promotes total inhibition of esterase activity in T. fiebrigi from the concentration of 1%, and in concentrations of 10% and 100% in T. angustula. The superoxide dismutase isoenzymes showed an increase in their relative activity after contamination with paraquat at 10% and 100% in both species. No changes were observed for MDH and peptid...

A variety of chemicals including foaming agents are used to aid in the protection of forest resources from the wild land fires. The fire-fighting foams (FFFs) are formulations composed principally of surfactants. As a part of Japanese national project, environmentally inert FFFs have been developed. There is an emerging need for testing the impacts of these FFFs on the living organisms composing the typical landscapes or ecosystems in Japan. In the present report, we aimed to describe our latest attempt for assessing both the short-tem and long-term impacts of FFFs in aquatic (fresh water) and semi-aquatic (wetland) ecosystems , by employing the laboratory-sized model assays (preliminary studies) and the biotope-based observation, respectively. In the biotope assays which was based on the observation in compact biotopes mimicking the fresh water environments and wetland, both the acute and long-term eco-toxic impacts of two FFFs (soap-based and synthetic detergent-based) were assessed. Spraying of synthetic detergent-based foam formula was shown to be more toxic compared to soap-based formula and mock water treatment.

The effects of acute toxicity of pesticide on oxygen consumption of Three species of fish were used: Gambusia affinis, Cyprinus carpio L and Ctenopharyngodon idella were determined using Chlorofete pesticide an organophosphate pesticide (active ingredient is Tc 48% Chloropyrfos). Four concentration 0.1, 0.5, 1 and 5 ppm were used with the control sample in experiment oxygen consumption measured after 24 hours , the results of the oxygen consumption showed increase in the rate of oxygen consumption with increased the concentration in all fish and the Common carp was more resistant to oxygen deficiency , compared to grass carp which is the least tolerant and died after 24 hours .

This investigative article for Science Digest (March, 1983) revealed the high global death toll from accidental and occupational exposure (and suicides) involving Paraquat (Gramoxone), a revolutionary herbicide with the unfortunate quality of being an extraordinarily awful poison. The piece won a 1983 Investigative Reporters & Editors Award (magazines).

Probably the most important threat currently affecting vultures worldwide is exposure to pesticides, both accidentally and through deliberate abuse. This is of special concern since around 70% of vulture species are threatened by human activities. However, information about this threat is sparse and geographically biased. We compiled existing knowledge about pesticide exposure in vulture species globally, providing unifying criteria to mitigate this problem with a joint global effort. Most information available about accidental exposure to pesticides in vultures is related to organochlorine pesticides. Non-lethal exposure to these compounds occurs on every continent that vultures inhabit. While concentrations of organochlorine pesticides reported in different samples appear to be too low to produce health impacts, some studies show vultures with levels compatible with health impacts. In addition, there are some reports of vultures contaminated accidentally by anticoagulant rodenticides and external antiparasitic drugs used in veterinary practices. Deliberate abuse of pesticides to poison wildlife also occurs on every continent where vultures live, affecting most (78%) vulture species. However, little information is available for some regions of America, Asia and Europe. The exact number of vultures killed due to deliberate poisoning with pesticides is not well known, but the available figures are alarming (e.g. up to 500 individuals in a single event). The most widely used pesticides affecting vulture populations, and associated with deliberate poisoning, are carbamates and organophosphorus compounds. Of particular concern is the fact that massive poisoning events with these compounds occur, in some cases, within protected areas. This suggests that if this situation is not reversed, some vulture populations could disappear. A combination of measures such as banning pesticides, controlling their distribution-acquisition and environmental education could produce better results that banning pesticides alone. If poisoning with pesticides is not stopped, this threatened avian group could inadvertently go extinct very soon.

Sachet water in Nigeria, popularly called pure water is the most ubiquitous commercially
packaged water in the country. As a result, they are cheaper and vended in several locations such as motor parks, markets, hospitals road sides, outskirt of schools and streets. Given the threat of potential health risk, there is therefore need to periodically ascertain its water safety qualities (physical, chemical and microbial) to protect public health. This study focuses on ascertaining the quality of selected Sachet water brands in 3 major areas of Ondo State namely Akure, Owo and Ondo metropolis. Sampling 100 retail outlets to inquire about the top 5 most consumed sachet water brands from each area which were subjected to analysis. The results showed that the sachet water samples had good aesthetic value as all the brands of sachet water evaluated met the recommended WHO standard for appearance, colour, odour and turbidity. Thirteen of the sachet water samples had pH values between 6.5 - 7.6 which met the limit described by WHO while the other three samples had pH value below 6.5 and did not fall within WHO drinking water standard. Other physico-chemical characteristics of all the brands of water evaluated such as electrical conductivity, total dissolved solid, chloride, magnesium, calcium and Nitrate were within the acceptable limits recommended by WHO for quality drinking water except for their chemical oxygen demand properties which was >10mg/L described by WHO. Two samples had values higher than the recommended 100mg/L for total alkalinity. The concentration of metals; Pb, As, Cr and Mn was not detected in all the water samples, however, Zn, Fe, Cd and Cu were found in some samples in values slightly higher than the value described by WHO for quality water in all the 3 locations. Results of the microbiological analyses further shows that all the brands of water had zero MPN/100mL count for coliforms except for only three brands with values higher than the 0 MPN/100 mL maximum limits recommended by WHO. Only two brands of the sachet water samples had value (113CFU/mL) above the 102 CFU/mL described by WHO for aerobic mesophilic count. This study suggests that maximum and effective treatment technique/method should be adopted by the water manufacturing industries to reduce or totally eradicate water-borne diseases.

In the last decade, the use of neonicotinoid insecticides increased significantly in the agricultural landscape and they are meanwhile considered a risk to honey bees. Besides the exposure to pesticides, colonies are treated frequently with various acaricides that beekeepers are forced to use against the parasitic mite Varroa destructor. Here we have analyzed the impact of a chronic exposure to sublethal concentrations of the common neonicotinoid thiacloprid (T) and the widely used acaricide τ-fluvalinate (synthetic pyrethroid, F) - applied alone or in combination - to honey bee colonies under field conditions. The population dynamics of bees and brood were assessed in all colonies according to the Liebefeld method. Four groups (T, F, F+T, control) with 8-9 colonies each were analyzed in two independent replications, each lasting from spring/summer until spring of the consecutive year. In late autumn, all colonies were treated with oxalic acid against Varroosis. We could not find a negative impact of the chronic neonicotinoid exposure on the population dynamics or overwintering success of the colonies, irrespective of whether applied alone or in combination with τ-fluvalinate. This is in contrast to some results obtained from individually treated bees under laboratory conditions and confirms again an effective buffering capacity of the honey bee colony as a superorganism. Yet, the underlying mechanisms for this social resilience remain to be fully understood.

This is an open letter addressed to Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus the new Director-General of the World Health Organisation asking him to stop the European Commission renewing the licence for glyphosate.

Britain is voting with the European Food Safety Authority to say that glyphosate is not a carcinogen.
However, Cancer Research UK Statistics show that in Britain in 2014 there were 13,605 new cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) (4,801 deaths); 41,265 new cases of bowel cancer (15,903 deaths); 12,523 new cases of kidney cancer (4,421 deaths); 5,550 new cases of liver cancer (5,091 deaths); 5,419 new cases of melanoma (2,459 deaths); 3,404 new cases of thyroid cancer (376 deaths); 10,063 new cases of bladder cancer (5,369 deaths)
9,324 new cases of uterine cancer (2,166 deaths); 7,378 cases of ovarian cancer (4,128 deaths); 9,534 new cases of leukaemia (4,584 deaths); 55,222 new cases of invasive breast cancer (11,433 deaths); 46,690 new cases of prostate cancer (11,287 deaths); 8,919 new cases of oesophageal cancer (7,790 deaths); 2,418 new cases of testicular cancer (60 deaths); and 5,501 new cases of myeloma (2,928 deaths).
In the US in 2014 there were 24,050 new cases of myeloma.

Mealy bugs infests anumber of crop plants and results a serious economic loss. Although, there are a
number of insecticides to overcome the yeild losses in crop plants. But, the presence of waxy layer around
its body that make them so difficult to control by means of insecticides. The waxy coating, high
reproduction rate, protection by ants and variety of hosts are some of the factors which contribute to the
pest status of this pest insect. Most of farmers mainly rely on synthetic chemicals for the management of
cotton mealy bug but due to rising environmental and economic concerns there is a dire need to develop
eco and environmental friendly measures to combat this menace. The use of synthetic insecticides is
extremely toxic to natural enemies of mealy bugs. Plant derivatives can be used as an alternative approach
to synthetic chemicals which are cost effective, easily available and safe to environment and biocontrol
agents. Similarly, olfactory studies show that odors emitted from plant and mealy bug itself can also be
used in pest management strategies.

Se describe la noción de la resistencia y se mencionan diferentes clases de este fenómeno, es decir, los tipos de morfológico, comportamental, y fisiológico o metabólico. Se destaca la historia y evolución de la resistencia en los artrópodos. Se marcan los casos de resistencia en artrópodos y también la resistencia de éstos organismos a diferentes clases de plaguicidas. Se explica el proceso del metabolismo de los pesticidas en las plantas y los microorganismos y finalmente, los mecanismos de resistencia de las plantas hacia los estímulos.

En la República Argentina, existe una controversia creciente respecto de los efectos tóxicos a largo plazo de la exposición humana a agroquímicos de aplicación periurbana aérea o terrestre. El extensivo problema de la dispersión de los pesticidas en el aire afecta a una diversidad de comunidades a través de todo el país. En respuesta a la solicitud de asesoramiento de integrantes de los Consejos Deliberantes y de ONG’s de diversas localidades del interior de Argentina, el presente trabajo explora recientes evidencias científicas y adelantos técnicos que revelan subestimaciones de impactos sanitarios negativos potenciales e insuficiencias del valor protectivo de estrategias y políticas locales de evaluación de toxicidad crónica de pesticidas autorizados y de uso ilegal.
iNVESTIGACIÓN REALIZADA EN 2009

Trabajo incluido como introducción al capítulo de Informes Médicos del libro “Pueblos Fumigados”, investigación publicada en 2007 sobre la problemática del uso de plaguicidas en las principales provincias sojeras de la Argentina, fruto de la campaña Paren de Fumigar del GRR.

The honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) is an important pollinator and a model for pesticide effects on insect pollinators. The effects of agricultural pesticides on honeybee health have therefore raised concern. Bees can be exposed to multiple pesticides that may interact synergistically, amplifying their side effects. Attention has focused on neonicotinoid pesticides, but flupyradifur-one (FPF) is a novel butenolide insecticide that is also systemic and a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonist. We therefore tested the lethal and sublethal toxic effects of FPF over different seasons and worker types, and the interaction of FPF with a common SBI fungicide, propicona-zole. We provide the first demonstration of adverse synergistic effects on bee survival and behaviour (poor coordination, hyperactivity, apathy) even at FPF field-realistic doses (worst-case scenarios). Pesticide effects were significantly influenced by worker type and season. Foragers were consistently more susceptible to the pesticides (4-fold greater effect) than in-hive bees, and both worker types were more strongly affected by FPF in summer as compared with spring. Because risk assessment (RA) requires relatively limited tests that only marginally address bee behaviour and do not consider the influence of bee age and season, our results raise concerns about the safety of approved pesticides, including FPF. We suggest that pesticide RA also test for common chemical mixture synergies on behaviour and survival.

The present study was aimed to evaluate the effects of acute dose of Cypermethrin (CYP), an extensively use synthetic pyrethroid, on hematology and morphology of the liver, gills and brain of Mahseer (Tor putitora). The effects were assessed on the basis of the previous results of acute toxicity test after exposing fish to acute concentration, 63 μg L-1 (LC50 of 96 h) of CYP. Light microscopic studies revealed severe histopathological changes in liver, gills and brain tissues. The morphological alterations in liver involved glycogen vacuolation, hemorrhage vacuolation, congestion, fatty infiltration and hepatic necrosis. In gills, it resulted in cellular infiltration, congestion, swollen tip of the gill filament, hetrophilic infiltration and damaged gill while in the brain it caused discoloration, neuronal degeneration, infiltration and severe spongiosis. Blood cell count also showed the toxic effect of CYP, as RBCs count decreased while WBCs count increased with time in the treated...

Traditionally grown "Alphonso" (Mangifera indica) belonging to the family Anacardiaceae is known as the king of fruits and it is famous for its specific taste and aroma. Pest control is the big challenge in front of mango farmers. The correlation between expenditure on pesticide and production of mango which showed significant positive relationship which itself explains extent of pest infestation at the study area. However, farmers are using chemical pesticides indiscriminately. This activity of farmers ultimately introduced more heavy metals in the environment which are very harmful. Present work also tried to develop relationship between heavy metal concentration and expenditure on pesticide. Here it shows slightly positive but not significant relationship which may change into significant relation if rate of intrusion of heavy metals through chemical pesticides remains the same. The present study attempted to suggest strategic plan to minimise heavy metals pollution and cost management to increase net profitability.

This is a response to the European Food Safety Authority EFSA recommending the renewal of glyphosate. There is an introduction; a history of farming with chemicals in the UK; History of chemical regulation in Europe - in the hands of the pesticides industry; Deterioration of health in the UK, the US and Latin America; Loss of biodiversity which correlates with the measurement of chemicals in the environment.

The study was designed to investigate the potency of O. majorana essential oil as a biocontrol agent against C. cephalonica and selected fungal pathogens. The essential oil proved to possess effective fumigant, insect repellent and contact toxicant activity against all the stages of C. cephalonica. On assessing the toxicity of the essential oil on human RBC, partial hemolysis was observed, which suggests relatively less toxic nature of the oil towards non targeted organisms. The work also emphasizes the minimal phytotoxic effect f the oil, hence less harmful to the environment. Inhibition of growth of selected food borne fungal pathogens exhibited the potent antifungal property of the oil. TLC was performed to separate the phytoconstituents of the oil using Hexane: Ethyl Acetate solvent system, which revealed 4 separate bands of Rf value in the range of 0.7-0.7 , suggesting the presence of monoterpenes in the oil. Further isolation of individual constituents and assessment of the bioactivity of the isolated components alone and synergistically, could pave way to the development of an effective biocontrol agent against C.cephalonica.

Such a large number of chemical pesticides that are meant to perform different functions, fall into different classes, depending on their chemical nature, toxicity, their targets etc. They have accordingly been classified by their chemical structure, specificity to target pests, name and action. They have been named by their chemical properties, chemical structure, composition, formulation, mode of action and by their target pests i.e. insects, fungi, weeds, nematodes etc.

Neonicotinoids alone or in combination with pathogens are considered to be involved in the worldwide weakening of honey bees. We here present a new approach for testing sublethal and/or synergistic effects in free flying colonies. In our experiment individually marked honey bees were kept in free flying mini-hives and chronically exposed to sublethal doses of the neonicotinoid clothianidin. Additional groups of bees were challenged with Nosema infections or with combinations of the pesticide and pathogens. Longevity and flight activity of the differentially treated bees were monitored for a period of 18 days. In contrast to previous laboratory studies, no effect of the neonicotinoid treatment on mortality or flight activity could be observed. Although the lifespan of Nosema infected bees were significantly reduced compared to non-infected bees a combination of pesticide and pathogen did not reveal any synergistic effect. Our results indicate that individual bees are less impaired by neonicotinoids if kept within the social environment of the colony. The effect of such a " social buffering " should be considered in future risk assessments.

Bacteria strains consortium  Pseudomonas putida  HZL18YDRBA  + Pseudomonas fluorescens HZL18YDRB2  granular formulation of  living  microbes  for bioherbicide known as deleterious rhizobacteria (DRB). Rhizobacteria  capable of suppressing plant growth in a species-specific manner have potential  as  bioherbicides. Only those phytotoxic  isolates that  specifically colonize and inhibit growth of weeds.

Mode of Action
Recent studies of crop management  practices that involved reduced  tillage, maintenance  of high  soil organic  matter, and  limited inputs  of agrichemicals  found  increased  levels of  DRB  associated  with weed seedlings and high activities of  specific soil  enzymes  that  apparently  contributed  to natural  weed suppression. Specific effects of DRB include reduced seed germination, growth inhibition, reduced  root  elongation, root deformation and/or discoloration.  Bacteria strains  established on the root surface within 48–72 hours  of inoculation as weed control agents by the production of phytotoxins

The mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis is a destructive pest of cotton with the potential to develop resistance to most chemical classes of insecticides. Six populations of P. solenopsis from cotton crops at six different locations in Pakistan were evaluated for resistance to selected organophosphate and pyrethroid insecticides. Resistance ratios (RRs) at LC50 were in the range of 2.7–13.3 fold for chlorpyrifos, 11.6–30.2 fold for profenofos and for the three pyrethroids tested were 10.6–46.4 for bifenthrin, 5.8–25.2 for deltamethrin and 4.1–25.0 for lambda-cyhalothrin. This is the first report of resistance to organophosphate and pyrethroid insecticides in Pakistani populations of P. solenopsis. Regular insecticide resistance monitoring programs are needed to prevent field control failures. Moreover, integrated approaches including the judicious use of insecticides and rotation of insecticides with different modes of action are needed to delay the development of insecticide resistance in P. solenopsis.

Part of the Pandora’s Box of unique changes humans have wreaked upon our environment with industrialization which has brought about the Anthropocene, is the unleashing of chemicals in the environment that harm humans and other organisms. As an example, since World War II, US chemical production has increased by 15 times, currently producing 30,000 pounds of chemicals per resident each year. Severe regulatory gaps exist, however, between rigorously testing these chemicals, and their legal production and toxicity in our environment. This article examines the most used agricultural chemical globally and the active ingredient in Monsanto’s herbicide RoundUp®,1 glyphosate, as a case study to analyze the overly-narrow approach of current legal frameworks for chemical evaluation and permissibility. We identify two principle problems in existing legal frameworks on pesticides: anthropocentrism and compartmentalization. Anthropocentric biases fail to take into account organisms outside of the Vitruvian Man version of the imaginary standard biologically and sociologically homogenous human subject, paying limited attention to susceptible nonhuman organisms such as amphibians, or vulnerable human populations such as pregnant mothers, infants, at the tails of the sensitivity curves for these chemicals. Such biases take as their model of analysis healthy and wealthy adults, and leave little buffer room for the diverse health sensitivities of humans or other organisms more susceptible to toxicity. By compartmentalizing testing of these chemicals to single populations, regulatory frameworks often tend to look at effects of chemicals in isolation, without considering synergistic effects. Synergistic effects from multiple chemical exposures often occur in populations (female, low-socioeconomic status, immigrant, children, etc.) least provisioned to defend against these chemicals—and with the least political and legal power to voice their injuries. We inquire: how are current laws and policies surrounding glyphosate creating a politics of exclusion? In answering this question, we mainly focus on regulatory frameworks for pesticides in Europe. Given that the EU legal framework is considered one of the most stringent systems for the authorization of pesticides in the world, we study this framework as a paradigmatic case. In this context, we explain how the re-evaluation of glyphosate has unleashed changing forces for the reform of the existing regulatory frameworks. We find that existing legal frameworks determine what constitutes a risk via standard models of sameness rather than acknowledgement of biological difference, as well as fail to take into account ecological analyses of chemical interactions with other extenuating environmental factors. A critical legal framework of prevention and subaltern participation is required to anticipate the problems of chemicals, replacing the current structure with a toxic-until-proven-safe model.

https://plu.mx/ssrn/a/?ssrn_id=3413272

Plant immune systems rely on their ability to recognize enemy molecules, carry out signal transduction, and respond defensively through pathways involving many genes and their products. This Perspective paper aims to explore current views on the vaccination (immunization) of plants against diseases caused by microorganisms and their (macro)molecular components, paying special attention to practical applications. We conclude that the technique of vaccination to control plant disease needs to be further investigated, developed, and considered for wider implementation in plant protection practice.

Paramecium bursaria is an unicellular organism that lives widely in fresh water environments such as rivers and ponds. Recent studies have suggested that in vivo cellular robotics using the cells of P. bursaria as micro-machines controllable under electrical and optical stimuli, has a variety of engineering applications such as transport of micro-sized particles in the capillary systems. The present study aimed to test if the swimming cells of P. bursaria, implementable in capillaries or on chips, are applicable for detection of metal ions. For model assays, rare earth elements (REEs) were chosen as target chemicals. In P. bursaria, LC 50 values for REE ions ranged between 2.0 and 62.7 µM. Among them, Sc was shown to be most toxic. In addition to the lethal impacts of REE ions, most of REE ions at sub-lethal concentrations at around 10-30 µM, showed inhibitory action against the motility of the cells during the electrically forced motility known as galvanotaxisis. In conclusion, in the non-lethal ranges of REE concentration, swimming cells of P. bursaria report the presence of REE ions, by lowering the motility.

Maize is consumed by over 95% of the Ghanaian populace and the practice of using Atrazine and Lindane (an Organochlorine) pesticides in its production has raised concerns about potential adverse effects on human health and the environment. A field survey was conducted in this study to assess farmers' knowledge of safe handling and use of these chemicals as well as toxicity awareness and symptoms among farmers and traders. Residues of these pesticides in maize samples as well as the potential health risk associated with exposure to them were also evaluated. Composite maize samples were collected for nine of ten regions in Ghana and analyzed. Data obtained from the field survey indicate that a large proportion of farmers are at risk of pesticide poisoning through occupational exposure. Over 80% of applicators do not apply safety precautions during pesticide mixing and application; resulting in considerable prevalence of pesticide related illnesses in the study area. Residues of Lindane and atrazine were below detection limits of 0.005 mg/kg and 0.010 mg/kg respectively; except in the Ashanti region where atrazine was 0.05 mg/kg which was within the EU-MRL of 0.1 mg/kg. However, minute concentrations of other Organochlo-rines (endrin—0.007 mg/kg; heptachlor—0.023 mg/kg; alpha-endosulfan—0.013 mg/kg) were found in maize samples from Brong Ahafo, eastern, central and upper west regions. Though endrin and alpha-endosulfan were below the EU-MRL of 0.01 mg/kg and 0.10 mg/kg respectively, hep-tachlor was slightly above the EU-MRL of 0.01 mg/kg. The estimated dose for all these pesticides E. D. Miensah et al. 1106 however does not pose direct hazard to human health although present in the maize samples since the values were lower than toxic thresholds and reference doses. However, due to the unsafe application practices by applicators, there exists a potential risk for systemic and carcinogenic health effects by these chemicals in the study area.

Over the past decades, both wild and domesticated insect pollinators are in dramatic decline, which puts at stake the existence of species, ecosystem resilience and global food security. Globally, 87 of major food crops depend on animal pollination. Together these account for 35 % of the world food production volume. Pollinator mediated crops are indispensable for essential micronutrients in the human diet. Many ornamental plants as well as crops for fibre, fodder, biofuels, timber and phytopharmaceuticals also depend on insect pollinators. This article aims to map the current situation of pollinators worldwide, with a focus on the critical role of pollinators in the human food chain and ecosystem sustainability, their intrinsic and extrinsic value, as well as the causes of their declines and the interventions needed to conserve them, in order to develop an argument for the importance of conserving and restoring pollinator populations and diversity. The present pollinator crisis threatens global and local food security, can worsen the problems of hidden hunger, erodes ecosystem resilience, and can destabilise ecosystems that form our life support system. An integrated approach that simultaneously addresses the key drivers is needed. This includes creation and restoration of floral and nesting resources, a global phase out of prophylactic use of neonicotinoids and fipronil, improvement of test protocols in authorisation of agrochemicals, and restoration and maintenance of independence in regulatory science. The authors argue that an international treaty for global pollinator stewardship and pollinator ecosystem restoration should be initiated in order to systemically counteract the current crisis.