JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND HEALTH PART B-PESTICIDES FOOD CONTAMINANTS AND AGRICULTURAL WASTES

Root exudation of glyphosate in S.T. Blake
Barros RE, Reis MM, Tuffi Santos LD, Fernandes Tiago JP, Gonçalves Lopes ÉM and Silva Donato LM
Glyphosate stands out in the eucalyptus management, which makes it essential to know its behavior, its effects on the plant, and possible environmental impacts. This study aimed to identify and quantify the root exudation of glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) by with chromatographic and biological methods. The five glyphosate doses were tested (0, 360, 720, 1080 and 1440 g a.e ha) on plants. The physiological and intoxication evaluations were performed after herbicide application. Water samples remaining from the pots were used for chemical quantification of root exudation of glyphosate and AMPA in high-performance liquid chromatography. plants were used as bioindicators of glyphosate in the water remaining in the pots after applying herbicide. The increase in glyphosate doses promoted linear growth in intoxication and significantly reduced total dry mass and root production. plants had their photosynthetic, transpiratory, and stomatal conductance rates reduced as the herbicide doses increased. The AMPA root exudation was not detected, but it was possible to identify the presence of glyphosate by bioassay and chemical methods. Root exudation of glyphosate by eucalyptus can result in lesser herbicide action in plant control and cause contamination of deeper soil layers.
Effects of root-irrigation with metalaxyl-M and hymexazol on soil physical and chemical properties, enzyme activity, and the fungal diversity, community structure and function
Li F, Luo Q, Wang J, Li X, Wang F, Han Q and Huang B
Fungicides are commonly applied through root irrigation in tobacco fields to control soil-borne diseases, and they affect soil microorganisms. However, the effects of metalaxyl-M and hymexazol, used to manage tobacco black shank disease, on these soil microecology remain poorly understood. This study employed high-throughput sequencing technology to explore the soil physical and chemical properties, soil enzyme activity, and the diversity, community structure and function of soil fungi in tobacco fields following root irrigation with metalaxyl-M and hymexazol. The results revealed that ammonium nitrogen (NH-N), nitrate nitrogen (NO-N), soil organic matter (SOM), electrical conductivity (EC) and soil urease (UE) in soil were significantly increased and the pH decreased after root-irrigation with these two fungicides. The abundance of soil fungal community was significantly reduced after the root-irrigation of metalaxyl-M and hymexazol. The relative abundance of Ascomycota increased significantly after the treatment with metalaxyl-M. Following hymexazol treatment, the abundance of Achroiostachys, Nigrospora, Ustilaginoidea, and Trichoderma significantly decreased. Functional prediction analysis indicated an increase in the relative abundance of functional genes of saprophytic fungi after treatment with both fungicides. This study provides a foundational understanding of the environmental behavior and supports the scientific and rational use of metalaxyl-M and hymexazol in soil.
Improved photocatalytic decomposition of carbaryl pesticide in wastewater using ZnO nanorods
Thi HP, Chu TTH and Nguyen MV
This study explores the enhanced photocatalytic performance of ZnO nanorods (ZnO-R) for degrading the carbaryl pesticide (CB) in wastewater. For comparison, commercial ZnO (ZnO-C) was used to evaluate the differences in the photocatalytic decomposition of CB between ZnO-R and ZnO-C. The results regarding the material properties demonstrated that ZnO-R enhances CB removal performance due to its unique rod shape, which extends light absorption and improves electron-hole separation. The removal rates of the carbaryl pesticide from the aqueous solution using ZnO-R and ZnO-C were 98.2% and 87.3%, respectively. Besides, the presence of other pesticides had a more negative impact on the performance of CB than inorganic contaminants. The degradation rates of CB using ZnO-R in wastewater were 99.8%, 68.2%, and 21.7% under UV, solar, and visible light, respectively. In addition, the degradation mechanism of CB using ZnO-R under UV light was proposed based on the n-type photocatalysis process. This work provides a method for selecting a suitable type of ZnO photocatalyst to control pesticide residue pollutants that are commonly found in agricultural activities.
In vitro cytotoxicity assessment of different solvents used in pesticide dilution
Salvo LM, Joineau MEG and Santiago MR
Pesticides are diluted in products called solvents for spraying fields and for cell viability studies. This study aimed to determine whether pesticide solvents can alter the toxicity of endosulfan and Vero cell viability. Thus, the cytotoxicity of some diluents commonly used in pesticide solutions was evaluated by the neutral red incorporation technique and cell growth. Vero cells were exposed to endosulfan dissolved in sunflower (, Linnaeus) oil, corn (, Linnaeus) oil, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), and Tween 80, at a concentration of 1 µg L for a period of 96 h. The results showed that both DMSO and Tween 80 induced a significant increase in cytotoxicity compared to sunflower oil and corn oil. Moreover, Tween 80 had a significant cytotoxic effect ( < 0.05) when compared to DMSO. The solvent can alter the toxicity of endosulfan, decreasing Vero cell viability, as was the case with DMSO and Tween 80.
MoS_CNTs_aerogel-based PEDOT nanocomposite electrochemical sensor for simultaneous detection of chloramphenicol and furazolidone in food samples
K J A, Reddy S, B L, Harish KN, N M Y, R P and S M
Toxic intermediates in food caused by chloramphenicol (CP) and furazolidone (FZ) have gained interest in research toward their detection. Hence, fast, reliable, and accurate detection of CP and FZ in food products is of utmost importance. Here, a novel molybdenum disulfide-connected carbon nanotube aerogel/poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) [MoS/CNTs aerogel/PEDOT] nanocomposite materials are constructed and deposited on the pretreated carbon paste electrode (PCPE) by a facile eletropolymerization method. The characterization of MoS/CNTs aerogel/PEDOT nanocomposite was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), cyclic voltammetry, and differential pulse voltammetry. The modified MoS/CNTs aerogel/PEDOT nanocomposite has improved sensing characteristics for detecting CP and FZ in PBS solution. For this work, we have studied various parameters like electrocatalytic activity, the effect of scan rates, pH variation studies, and concentration variation studies. Under optimum conditions, the modified electrode exhibited superior sensing ability compared to the bare and pretreated CPE. This improvement in electrocatalytic activity can be the higher conductivity, larger surface area, increased heterogeneous rate constant, and presence of more active sites in the MoS/CNTs aerogel/PEDOT nanocomposite. The modified electrode demonstrated distinct electrochemical sensing toward the individual and simultaneous analysis of CP and FZ with a high sensitivity of 0.701 µA. µM .cm for CP and 0.787 µA. µM .cm for FZ and a low detection limit of 3.74 nM for CP and 3.83 nM for FZ with good reproducibility, repeatability, and interferences. Additionally, the prepared sensor effectively detects CP and FZ in food samples (honey and milk) with an acceptable recovery range and a relative standard deviation below 4%.
Assessment of pesticide residues: a comprehensive analysis of seasonal trends and health implications
Afzal W, Habib SS, Ujan JA, Mohany M and Bibi H
This study assessed the presence of eight pesticide residues in the Indus River, Mianwali, Pakistan, focusing on three sampling sites (S1, S2, and S3) in water, sediment, and the fish species during both dry and wet seasons. Analysis was conducted using gas chromatography with an electron capture detector. Results indicated elevated pesticide concentrations in both seasons, with levels of 0.84 and 0.62 μg/L in water, 12.47 and 9.21 μg/g/dw in sediment, and 17.33 and 12.17 μg/g/ww in fish, with higher concentrations observed during the dry season. Cypermethrin and carbofuran were the primary pesticides detected in water, while endosulfan and cypermethrin were dominant in sediment and fish tissue, often exceeding standard safety thresholds. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis revealed stronger correlations between sediment and fish muscle, with varying associations among pesticides across seasons. The Hazard Index (HI) surpassed 1 in both seasons, signaling potential health risks to humans. These findings underscore the substantial risk agricultural pesticides pose to the aquatic ecosystem and food chain, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable agricultural practices and stricter regulations to minimize pesticide use and encourage eco-friendly pest management strategies.
Adsorption of imazamox in California agricultural soils and implications for branched broomrape management
Fatino M, Martin K, Dayan F and Hanson BD
Results of previous research on chemigated imazamox for control of branched broomrape () in processing tomatoes suggested potential soil-type differences in imazamox availability. Over two years, there were differences in crop-injury between two sites less than 30-km apart: imazamox-treated tomatoes in the Davis location had relatively minor early season injury while tomatoes at the Woodland location were severely injured or killed. The following study was conducted to investigate imazamox sorption in four California soils to determine if differences in herbicide adsorption played a role in variable crop-injury observed in the field trials. To determine the sorption capacity of imazamox of each soil, a batch-equilibrium study was conducted. There were significant differences in sorbed imazamox: the clay soil had the highest adsorption (Robert's Island: 742.5 pg µL sorbed), followed by the sandy loam soil (Ripon: 723.9 pg µL sorbed), while the loam soils from both trial sites (Davis: 704.2 pg µL sorbed; Woodland: 699.9 pg µL sorbed) had the lowest adsorption and were not significantly different from one another. Results from this study illustrate only minor differences in imazamox adsorption among the soils tested which suggests that soil type was likely not a major factor contributing to differences in crop-injury.
Bioaugmentation: a strategy for enhanced degradation of pesticides in biobed
Sethi G, Saini R, Banerjee T and Singh N
Biopurification system (BPS) or biobeds are low-cost system for decontamination of on-farm generated pesticide waste. A biobed contains a mixture of soil, lignocellulosic biomass and organic matter source (compost/peat) and works on the principal of retention of pesticide in high organic matter matrix and its subsequent degradation by microbes. Bioaugmentation, a green technology, is defined as the improvement of the degradative capacity of biobeds by augmenting specific microorganisms. During last 20 years, several studies have evaluated pesticide degradation in biobeds augmented with bacterial and fungal species and prominent microorganism include genus etc. Degradation of pesticides belonging to major classes have been studied in the bioaugmented biobeds. Studies suggested that some pesticides were degraded faster in the bioaugmented biobeds subject to survival and proliferation of degrading microbe. However, no effect of bioaugmentation was observed on degradation of some pesticides and no clear reason for the same was evident. Bioaugmentation with pesticide degrading microorganisms/consortium in combination with rhizosphere-assisted biodegradation could be an optimal strategy for accelerating the degradation of pesticides in biobeds.
Concentration and health risk assessment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in cosmetic and personal care products
Keawmanee S, Piyaviriyakul P, Boontanon N, Waiyarat S, Sukeesan S, Kongpran J and Boontanon SK
Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are toxicologically concerning because of their potential to bioaccumulate and their persistence in the environment and the human body. We determined PFAS levels in cosmetic and personal care products and assessed their health risks. We investigated the trends in concentrations and types of PFAS contaminants in cosmetic and personal care products before and after perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were added to the list of persistent organic pollutants. The total PFAS concentration ranged from 1.98 to 706.75 ng g. The hazard quotients (HQs) for PFOA, PFOS and perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) were lower than 1, indicating no appreciable risk to consumers. Assuming the simultaneous use of all product types and the worst-case scenario for calculations, perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids and perfluoroalkane sulfonic acids (PFSAs) also had hazard indices lower than 1. We found that adverse effects are unlikely to occur when each type of cosmetic is used separately, or even when all product types are used together. Nevertheless, the persistence and bioaccumulation characteristics of additional PFAS present in cosmetics continue to be a cause for concern. Further research is necessary to investigate the long-term impacts of using such cosmetics and the associated risks to human health.
Bioactive potential of L. essential oil
Parić A, Mesic A, Mahmutović-Dizdarević I, Jerković-Mujkić A, Žujo B, Bašić N and Pustahija F
The aim of this study was to evaluate the phytotoxic, genotoxic, cytotoxic and antimicrobial effects of the L. essential oil (EO). The biological activity of EO depended on the analyzed variable and the tested oil concentration. Higher concentrations of EO (20 and 30 µg mL) showed a moderate inhibitory effect on the germination and growth of seedlings of tested weed species (, , , , , , , and × ). The results obtained also indicate that the EO of has some genotoxic, cytotoxic and proliferative potential in both plant and human systems. Similar results were obtained for antimicrobial activity against eight bacteria, including multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains [, , , methicillin-resistant (MRSA), , extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing (ESBL) , and subsp. serovar Enteritidis], with the effect on multidrug-resistant bacterial strains. Research indicates that the EO of shows phytotoxic, genotoxic, cytotoxic and antimicrobial effects, as well as its potential application as a herbicide and against various human diseases.
Vortex-assisted dispersive low-density liquid-liquid microextraction of xanthydrol derivatized acrylamide in processed chips and water samples for gas chromatographic analysis
Ratsamisomsi A, Khongsiri C, Wilairat P and Tiyapongpattana W
Acrylamide, a probable human carcinogen present in heat-processed foods and environmental contaminants, requires sample extraction and preconcentration before chromatographic analysis. The method developed in this study employed derivatization with xanthydrol and dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction utilizing low-density anisole. Durian or potato chips were combined with deionized water, defatted with hexane, and subjected to precipitation of soluble carbohydrates and proteins using clarification reagents. Water samples were filtered through a membrane filter. Acrylamide was derivatized by introducing an acidic methanolic solution of xanthydrol at 50 °C. The derivatized acrylamide was extracted with 70 µL of anisole and vortexed, with the methanol from the xanthydrol solution serving as the disperser solvent. The anisole layer was analyzed using gas chromatography with both flame ionization and mass spectrometric detection. Linear calibration plots exhibited coefficients of determination >0.9997. The precision was measured at <10% RSD, and recoveries ranged from 84% to 107%. The quantitation limit varied from 2 to 10 µg kg for processed chips and from 0.05 to 0.10 µg L for water samples. Acrylamide was detected in all processed chip samples, with some concentrations exceeding the benchmark value of 750 μg kg. However, no acrylamide was identified in any of the water samples.
Occurrence, distribution and health risk assessment of quinolone residues in cultured fish in southeast China
Bao R, Yang Y, Chen H and Li Y
Quinolone antibiotics are widely utilized in aquaculture, but little is known about the health effects of their residues. This study used UPLC-MS/MS to analyze the distribution of 11 quinolone antibiotics in cultured fish sold in a coastal city in southeast China - Fujian Province and to assess their health risks. The study found 35.77% of 260 cultured fish samples detected quinolones, with three exceeding the MRL and one containing the banned drug ofloxacin. Of the 11 quinolones tested, three were found in cultured fish, with enrofloxacin at up to 246.0 μg kg, followed by ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin. The distribution of antibiotic detection rates showed no significant differences across regions or time periods; however, notable variations were observed among different fish species. The dietary exposure assessment revealed that consuming cultured fish does not pose a health risk to residents. Nevertheless, there are still instances that exceed regulatory limits. Therefore, routine monitoring and risk assessment are essential for enhancing regulatory measures and protecting public health.
Physicochemical characteristics, mycoflora and aflatoxins in corn grown and stored in Northern Tamaulipas, Mexico
Martínez-Padrón HY, García-Olivares JG, Vázquez-Carrillo MG, Mayek-Pérez N, Valdivia-Flores AG and Hernández-Delgado S
In northern Tamaulipas, México, the contamination of corn by toxigenic fungi reduces grain production and quality. Corn contaminated by mycotoxins puts humans and livestock at risk. Continuous monitoring of the sanitary quality of grain at harvest and in storage will define preventive and corrective strategies for contamination by mycotoxigenic fungi. In this work, we identified toxigenic fungi associated with corn grown and stored in northern Tamaulipas, identified and quantified aflatoxins and their relationships with the physicochemical characteristics of the grain, and identified the main genes responsible for aflatoxin production in . Fungal incidence was evaluated , aflatoxin production was evaluated HPLC, and physicochemical traits were evaluated spectrophotometry. Three genera were identified: and ; the latter had the highest incidence in both 2011 and 2012. The incidence was higher in 2012 (82.3%) than in 2011 (4.5%), and storage did not affect the incidence. Associations among fungal incidences and physicochemical traits were significant and intermediate in both years. AFB production was negatively associated with hectoliter weight, and total fungal incidence was positively related to the incidence of and and negatively related to the flotation index. AFB was detected in 13.18% of the samples, with values ranging from 3.4881.33 ppb upon receipt and from 4.3245.92 ppb after storage. Two samples exceeded the allowed limits for Mexico (20 ppb). The aflD and aflQ genes were detected in 52.1 and 56.3%, respectively, of the isolates.
Assessment of organochlorine pesticide contamination in from the Alagados Dam, Southern Brazil
R de O Stremel T, da Silva CP, E Domingues C, Lucia Voigt C, Raphael Pedroso C, Magno de Sousa Vidal C and X Campos S
Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are persistent pollutants previously used in agriculture, known for their ability to bioaccumulate and pose health risks. This study analyzed samples of roe, viscera, and muscle from fish collected from the Alagados reservoir in Paraná, Brazil. Samples were prepared through extraction and purification, then analyzed using gas chromatography with an electron capture detector (GC/ECD), chosen for its sensitivity in detecting OCPs. The method was validated for precision, accuracy, and detection limits. Detected OCPs included Aldrin (17.1 to 50.6 ng/g in roe), α-endosulfan (3.4 to 23.5 ng/g), p, p'-DDE (4.2 to 134.7 ng/g), Dieldrin (84.7 to 183.1 ng/g), β-endosulfan (6.0 to 51.6 ng/g), and p, p'-DDT (56.6 to 286.8 ng/g). In viscera, concentrations ranged from Aldrin (19.8 to 93.3 ng/g) to p, p'-DDT (52.3 to 89.2 ng/g). Muscle samples showed similar trends. Principal component analysis indicated a link between higher OCP concentrations and increased abdominal width of the fish. While OCP levels were below FAO and WHO limits, risk quotient calculations suggest potential health risks from consuming these fish.
Kinetics and sorption behavior of glyphosate and tricyclazole for their efficient retention in biomixtures
Sethi G, Saini R, Banerjee T, Kumar R, Sahu SR and Singh N
The present investigation aims to study adsorption-desorption behavior of glyphosate and tricyclazole in rice straw-compost biomixtures. To enhance pesticide adsorption and performance of the bio-purification system, rice straw-compost (BM) biomixture was mixed with wheat straw biochar (WBC, 1% and 5%), and adsorption of both pesticides in control (BM) and WBCBM(1%) and WBCBM(5%) biomixtures was compared. The kinetics study suggested that the pseudo-second-order model best explained the time-dependent adsorption of both pesticides and intraparticle adsorption was not the rate-determining step. Tricyclazole was more sorbed than glyphosate in all biomixtures which can be attributed to its lower water solubility. The WBC increased the sorption of both pesticides, but the effect varied with the nature of pesticides and biochar content. The adsorption coefficient values in BM, WBCBM(1%), and WBCBM(5%) biomixtures were 26.74, 38.16, and 51.97 (glyphosate) and 38.07, 59.94, and 84.54 (tricyclazole), respectively. The adsorption data was subjected to the Freundlich, the Langmuir, and the Temkin isotherms, and among them, the Freundlich isotherm best explained pesticide adsorption behavior. Desorption results suggested that the adsorption of glyphosate was more irreversible than tricyclazole and depended upon initial pesticide concentration. This study suggested that biochar mixed rice straw-compost biomixtures can be exploited in bio-purification systems for glyphosate and tricyclazole.
Persistence and degradation of tembotrione in loamy soil: Effect of various organic amendments, moisture regimes and temperatures
Ghoshal D, Dixit M, Narayanan N, Mandal A, Saini P, Banerjee T, Singh N, Kumar A and Gupta S
In the present study, persistence and degradation of tembotrione, a triketone herbicide, was studied in loamy soil collected from maize field. Effects of organic amendments, moistures and temperatures on tembotrione dissipation were evaluated. Soil samples were processed according to the modified QuEChERS involving dichloromethane solvent and MgSO without PSA. Analysis using LC-MS/MS showed >95% recoveries of tembotrione its two metabolites TCMBA and M5 from fortified soils. Tembotrione residues dissipated with time and 85.55 to 98.53% dissipation was found on 90th day under different treatments. Tembotrione dissipation increased with temperature and moisture content of the soil. Among organic amendments, highest dissipation was observed in vermicompost amended soil. Minimum and maximum half-lives of tembotrione were recorded under 35 °C (15.7 days) and air-dry (33 days) conditions, respectively. Residues of tembotrione declined with time while that of TCMBA increased steadily up to 10-45 day in different treatments and declined thereafter. Residues of M5 were not detected in our experiments. Tembotrione persistence was negatively correlated with the organic carbon (%), moisture regimes, and temperature. A good correlation between soil microbial biomass carbon and degradation was found. A two-way ANOVA indicated significant differences between the treatments at 95% confidence level ( < 0.05).
Raw feedstock vs. biochar from olive stone: Impact on the sorption-desorption of diclosulam and tropical soil improvement
Gibbert AM, Guimarães T, da Silva EMG, da Silva LBX, Vilca FZ and Mendes KF
The addition of carbon-rich materials, such as raw feedstocks (RAW) and biochars, to agricultural soils is on the rise. This activity has many advantages, such as improving fertility, increasing water retention, and sequestering carbon. However, they can also increase the sorption of residual herbicides in the soil, reducing the effectiveness of weed control. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate soil improvement and the sorption-desorption process of diclosulam in soil unamended and amended with RAW from olive stone and their biochars produced in two pyrolysis temperatures (300 and 500 °C). Oxisol was used in this study, unamended and amended with RAW and biochars (BC300 and BC500) in a rate of 10% (w w). The sorption-desorption process was assessed by batch-equilibrium experiments and the analysis was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The addition of the three materials to the soil increased the contents of pH, organic carbon, P, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu, B, cation exchange capacity, base saturation and decreased H + Al. The unamended soil had (Freundlich sorption coefficient) values of diclosulam sorption and desorption of 1.56 and 12.93 mg L Kg, respectively. Unamended soil sorbed 30.60% and desorbed 13.40% of herbicide. Soil amended with RAW, BC300, and BC500 sorbed 31.92, 49.88, and 30.93% of diclosulam and desorbed 13.33, 11.67, and 11.16%, respectively. The addition of RAW and biochars from olive stone has the potential to change the soil fertility, but does not interfere with the bioavailability of diclosulam in weed control under field conditions, since the materials slightly influenced or did not alter the sorption-desorption of diclosulam.
Reduction of organic matter containing benzimidazole and toxicity in real livestock wastewater through advanced oxidation processes
Ortiz-Marín AD, Talavera-López A, Solis-Marcial OJ, Roé-Sosa A, Pérez-Estrada L and Amabilis-Sosa LE
Livestock wastewater (LWW) has a complex characteristic of high organic matter content, metals, nutrients, and pharmaceutical compounds. Advanced oxidation processes (AOP) are a potential option for treating this wastewater. This study evaluated real LWW and the performance of UV/HO and UV/peroxymonosulfate (UV/PMS) for its treatment. The experiments were conducted in a UV photoreactor (16 mW/m2, λ = 254 nm). The oxidant agents (Ox) tested were HO and PMS, each at low, medium, and high TOC/Ox molar ratios. A pretreatment based on chemical precipitation was implemented. Annually, the LWW showed total organic carbon (TOC) values of 859 ± 13.37 mg/L, 168.85 ± 1.62 mg/L of total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), and toxicity of 96% v/v. In the dry season, albendazole (ABZ) (95.3 ± 35.16 mg/L), Cu (4.3 ± 0.23 mg/L), Fe (3.8 ± 0.38 mg/L), and suspended solids (SS) (1015 ± 586.9 mg/L) were identified, so pretreatment was implemented. The UV/PMS process with the lowest molar ratio [TOC/Ox 1:0.75] removed significantly lower TOC concentrations ( < 0.05), but toxicity decreased entirely. The study of mineralization and toxicity provided insight into the changes in LWW during treatment with AOP. Furthermore, it contributed to establishing the technical basis for implementing efficient treatment processes.
Development of an advanced analytical technique for detecting multiple pesticide residues in vegetables through liquid chromatography tandem mass spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS)
Majumder S, Kumar A, Debnath S, Abhinay , Singh AN and Behera TK
A comprehensive LC-MS/MS method, which employs Positive Electrospray Ionization (PEI) and Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) was developed for the simultaneous determination of 35 pesticides belonging to various chemical classes in tomato, brinjal, chili, and okra samples. Extraction was facilitated using a modified QuEChERS method, which allows efficient sample analysis in a single run. Calibration curves for each pesticide exhibited linearity within the concentration range of 0.0025 to 0.1 µg mL, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.993 to 0.999. Mean recoveries at five fortification levels (0.01 to 0.5 µg kg) ranged from 80 to 90%, demonstrating satisfactory precision (RSD < 20%). The matrix effects, mitigated through an optimized cleanup process, were observed within the range of 6.42% to 19.52%. The developed method having the limit of quantification of 0.01 mg kg for all 35 pesticides, proved to be highly sensitive and rapid for multi-residue estimation in diverse vegetable samples. Subsequently, the method was used to analyze the market samples from Varanasi, India, which revealed the presence of pesticides like Chlorpyrifos, Chlorantraniliproleand Indoxacarb in tomato, brinjal, chili and okra. Therefore, the method could be considered as a robust tool for monitoring pesticide residues in vegetables, aiding in quality assessment and regulatory compliance in the agriculture sector.
Quantification of cresols in liquid smoke samples employing liquid-liquid extraction with low-temperature purification and analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
Pinheiro Vasconcelos MR, Alves Costa LM, Oliveira Silvério F and Pinho GP
Liquid smoke is a food additive and cresols are among its chemical constituents, potentially toxic to human health. Thus, the objective of this study was to develop a method to quantify cresols in liquid smoke. First, the liquid-liquid extraction with low temperature purification (LLE-LTP) was validated for cresols in water, as there are no cresol-free liquid smoke samples. Analyzes were performed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry in full scan mode. LLE-LTP was subsequently applied in five commercial samples of liquid smoke. Validation results showed that the proposed extraction method was selective for cresols, linear in the range of 0.5 to 35 mg L, limit of quantification of 0.5 mg L, recovery rate between 90% and 104% and relative standard deviation lower than 10%. The quantification of cresols in liquid smoke samples ranged from 3.0 to 38.3 mg L and the concentration of these chemical contaminants in liquid smoke remained constant for at least 21 days at 25 °C.
Heavy metal pollution in commonly consumed fish species: seasonal variations and health risks
Naz S, Rind KH, Afzal W, Ujan JA and Mohany M
This study examined the concentrations of seven heavy metals (Pb, Cu, Zn, Cr, Cd, Ni, and Mn) in the muscle tissue of six commonly consumed fish species (, , and ) from the River Indus in the Mianwali district Pakistan. Samples were collected during both pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons to assess the potential human health risks associated with these heavy metals. The levels of metals were measured using atomic absorption spectroscopic analysis. The results showed varying concentrations of heavy metals in the fish samples (mg/kg), ranging from 10.17-2.06 for Pb, 41.83-12.54 for Cu, 417.04-41.93 for Zn, 2.06-0.46 for Cr, 0.86-0.08 for Cd, 4.33-1.43 for Ni, and 50.16-8.74 for Mn. Notably, metal concentrations were generally higher during the pre-monsoon season, with Pb consistently exceeding standard limits in the muscle tissue of all fish species. ANOVA analysis revealed significant variations in heavy metal concentrations among different fish species. While the current consumption rate poses no significant health risks, ongoing monitoring of heavy metal concentrations in fish and their environmental sources is crucial to ensure consumer safety and sustainable aquatic ecosystems.