Pesticides are not only used on food but also on non-food crops, such as tobacco, to control a range of unwanted animal, plant, and microbial, fungal pests. The residue levels in tobacco leaves are ...expected to decline up to harvest, during drying, and when the leaves are further processed. Additional pesticides may also be applied to the finished product and residue levels may remain present even when the tobacco is burned. Human exposure to pesticide residues on tobacco occurs when residues remaining in cigarette smoke are inhaled. Based on this assumption, the objectives of this research were (i) to determine the level of pesticides residues in harvested tobacco leaves and (ii) to assess the risk of human exposure to these residues in tobacco smoke. Pesticide residues were detected in all analysed tobacco samples. These detected residues represent ten different active ingredients (AI), three of these AIs (thiodicarb, alachlor, and endosulfan) are no longer allowed in Europe. A 54.7% of these residues were quantifiable. Furthermore, it was found that with the use of solid-phase extraction sorbent (SPE) as adsorbent and n-hexane as solvent, higher recoveries of the pesticide residues in the tobacco smoke from the amount spiked can be obtained. It was also found that cigarette filters help to reduce the intake of residues of pesticides that may be present in cigarettes. Finally, the study concluded that both active smoking and passive smoking populations are exposed to pesticide residues in the tobacco smoke.
Mangroves are unique coastal ecosystems, located in tropical and subtropical regions. Yet, the functioning of these essential ecosystems is threatened by the presence of pollutants, including ...pesticides originating from agricultural activities. We investigated pesticide residues in the Guayas estuarine environment, since agricultural activities rapidly increased in the Guayas river basin over the past decades. A multi-residue analysis involving a selection of 88 pesticides was performed on the white meat and the hepatopancreas of the red mangrove crab (Ucides Occidentalis) at 15 sampling sites within the Guayas estuary along with water, sediment, and leaves samples. We found that 35 active compounds were present in the Guayas estuary, of which pyrimethanil was most commonly detected and had the highest concentrations in almost all compartments. Also, cadusafos was present in all studied compartments of the Guayas mangrove system and several prohibited pesticides (including carbendazim, carbofuran, and parathion) were detected. An ecotoxicological and probabilistic consumer risk assessment pointed out that current butachlor, carbendazim, and fludioxonil concentrations can cause adverse effects in aquatic organisms in the long term. Moreover, high potential acute and chronic risks of cadusafos residues on aquatic invertebrates and of diuron on algae in the Guayas wetlands were observed. Still, the exposure results indicated that the health risk for the consumers of the commercial red mangrove crab is low concerning cadusafos, chlorpyrifos, diuron, linuron, and pyrimethanil residues in crab tissues. The findings presented in this research can provide a useful basis for local water managers and environmental conservation groups to act and reduce the usage of pesticides, to avoid threatening aquatic and human health.
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•Thirty-five pesticides were detected in the Guayas mangroves.•Cadusafos had the highest Risk Quotient and Toxic Unit (15869 and 97 respectively).•Several prohibited pesticides were detected.•Cadusafos, diuron, and carbendazim pose the highest potential aquatic health risk.•The human health risk for the commercial mangrove crab consumers appeared to be low.
A study to quantify the toxicity and ecotoxicological pressure of pesticides in the Sancti Spíritus province, Cuba, was carried out between 2011 and 2014. A longitudinal descriptive work was designed ...for the study period to identify potential risks to the environment and also to human health associated with the use of pesticides in the country. The Spread Equivalents (ƩSeq) and Pesticide Occupational and Environmental Risk (POCER) indicators, as well as the Toxic Load (TL) methodology of Instituto Cubano de Sanidad Vegetal,were used to determine the toxicity and ecotoxicity of pesticide use. One hundred and twenty-fouractive ingredients corresponding to 62 chemical families were applied in the province during the study period. Organophosphates, triazoles, sulfonylurea, pyrethroids, inorganic compounds (such as copper), carbamates, dithiocarbamates, neonicotinoids, aryloxyphenoxypropionates, and organochlorines predominated due to their use frequency. The use of toxic pesticides, and the lack of personal protection equipment, among others, made workers, residents, and applicators the toxicological modules with the highest risk of exposure. On the other hand, aquatic organisms, and the persistence of the pesticides in the soil and in groundwater, are the modules with the highest ecotoxicological pressure. By using the POCER and ƩSeq indicators, a more accurate toxicity andecotoxicity assessment for certain pesticides can be performed in Cuba, in comparison to the one obtained when using only the TL equation currently employed in the country. In addition, substituting the most toxic pesticides (e.g., parathion, endosulfan, bifenthrin, copper oxychloride, mancozeb, paraquat, diquat, and ametryn) with less toxic ones (e.g., cypermethrin, tebuconazole, triadimenol, and bispyribac-sodium) could help reduce synthetic pesticide pressure on humans and the environment. Keywords: ecotoxicity, occupational hazards,pesticide exposure, pesticide toxicity, toxicity
Se realizó un estudio para cuantificar la toxicidad y la presión ecotoxicológica de los plaguicidas sintéticos en la provincia de Sancti Spíritus (Cuba) entre 2011 y 2014. Este trabajo puedeayudar a desarrollar políticas y prácticas de gestión para reducir los peligros del uso de plaguicidas sintéticos en el país. A través de un estudio longitudinal descriptivo,se identificaron los riesgos potenciales para el medioambiente y la salud humanaasociados con el uso de plaguicidas. Para determinar la toxicidad y ecotoxicidaddel uso de plaguicidas,se utilizaron los indicadores de aplicaciones equivalentes (ƩSeq) y de riesgos laborales y medioambientales (POCER, por su sigla en inglés),además dela metodología de carga tóxica (TL, por su sigla en inglés) del Instituto Cubano de Sanidad Vegetal. Durante el periodo de estudio,124 ingredientes activos correspondientes a 62 familias químicas fueron aplicados. Por su frecuencia de uso,predominaron los organofosforados, triazoles, piretroides, compuestos inorgánicos (como el cobre), carbamatos, ditiocarbamatos, neonicotinoides, ariloxifenoxipropionatoy organoclorados. El uso de plaguicidastóxicosy la falta deequipos de protección personal, entre otrosaspectos,hicieron que los trabajadores, los residentes y los aplicadoresfueran los módulos humanos con el mayor riesgo de exposición. Por otro lado, los módulos de mayor presión ecotoxicológica son los organismos acuáticos, la persistencia en el suelo y el agua subterránea. Con el uso delosindicadoresPOCER y ƩSeq, se puede realizar una evaluación más precisa de la toxicidad y la ecotoxicidaden Cuba, en comparación conla obtenidaal utilizar solo la ecuación TL, como se haceactualmente en el país. La sustitución de los plaguicidas más tóxicos (paratión, endosulfán, bifentrina, oxicloruro de cobre, mancozeb, paraquat, diquat y ametrina) por otros menos tóxicos (cipermetrina, tebuconazol, triadimenol y bispiribac-sodio) podría ayudar a reducir la presión de los plaguicidas sintéticos sobre los seres humanos y el medioambiente.
A study to quantify the toxicity and ecotoxicological pressure of pesticides in the Sancti Spíritus province, Cuba, was carried out between 2011 and 2014. A longitudinal descriptive work was designed ...for the study period to identify potential risks to the environment and also to human health associated with the use of pesticides in the country. The Spread Equivalents (ƩSeq) and Pesticide Occupational and Environmental Risk (POCER) indicators, as well as the Toxic Load (TL) methodology of Instituto Cubano de Sanidad Vegetal, were used to determine the toxicity and ecotoxicity of pesticide use. One hundred and twenty-four active ingredients corresponding to 62 chemical families were applied in the province during the study period. Organophosphates, triazoles, sulfonylurea, pyrethroids, inorganic compounds (such as copper), carbamates, dithiocarbamates, neonicotinoids, aryloxyphenoxypropionates, and organochlorines predominated due to their use frequency. The use of toxic pesticides, and the lack of personal protection equipment, among others, made workers, residents, and applicators the toxicological modules with the highest risk of exposure. On the other hand, aquatic organisms, and the persistence of the pesticides in the soil and in groundwater, are the modules with the highest ecotoxicological pressure. By using the POCER and ƩSeq indicators, a more accurate toxicity and ecotoxicity assessment for certain pesticides can be performed in Cuba, in comparison to the one obtained when using only the TL equation currently employed in the country. In addition, substituting the most toxic pesticides (e.g., parathion, endosulfan, bifenthrin, copper oxychloride, mancozeb, paraquat, diquat, and ametryn) with less toxic ones (e.g., cypermethrin, tebuconazole, triadimenol, and bispyribac-sodium) could help reduce synthetic pesticide pressure on humans and the environment.
Pesticides are broadly utilized in crop cultivation and could end up in wastewater of vegetable- and potato companies during water-consuming processing steps. To gain insight into the presence of ...pesticide residues in (waste)water of these industries, water was analysed and monitored from three vegetable- and two potato processing companies in Belgium. During one year samples were collected of water before and after primary/secondary treatment (i.e. influent and effluent) and after tertiary treatment. Next to water, also (processed) carrot and potato products were analysed. Results show that boscalid (maximum: 18.32 μg/L) and terbuthylazine (maximum: 87.99 μg/L) are predominantly present in the vegetable industry and chlorpropham (maximum: 8.80×106 μg/L) and terbuthylazine (maximum: 3.37×105 μg/L) in the potato industry. The conventional treatment techniques seem to be insufficient for the removal of pesticides. Concentrations were even higher in the effluent than in the influent. Also, tertiary treatment techniques as ultra-filtration and reverse osmosis fail to reduce all pesticides below the European potable water limit of 0.1 μg/L. To meet this standard, the development and validation of new removal techniques are essential. Regarding product samples, almost no pesticide residues exceeded the MRL. Chlorpropham concentrations were statistically confirmed to be higher in potatoes and wastewater sampled when stored potatoes are processed.
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•Pesticide residues through different seasons were monitored in wastewater & products.•45 residues are quantified over all samples of vegetable/potato processing companies.•Terbuthylazine, chlorpropham & boscalid are present in the highest concentrations.•Conventional treatment is insufficient for the removal of pesticides in wastewater.•Pesticides are still present after reverse osmosis, even above 0.1 μg/L.
Pesticide residues in food can lead to harmful toxic effects when exposed. Some of these compounds have a common Mode of Action and thus elicit a similar biological response. This paper considers the ...triazoles, a class of widely used fungicides exhibiting the same short-term (acute) and long-term (chronic) response in humans. We examined Belgian pesticide residue data from 2011-2014 and coupled these with the results of the Belgian food consumption survey of 2004. Cumulative probabilistic risk assessment was done using the Monte Carlo Risk Assessment 8.0 web application. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a guidance document that proposes both optimistic and pessimistic scenarios for dietary exposure assessment. Other than those two, a third, more balanced, scenario was simulated and showed an exposure right in between the EFSA scenarios. In the optimistic scenario, the foods with the highest measured residues in the residue data contributed the most to the total health risk. In the balanced and pessimistic scenarios, the highest contribution to the total health risk was made by active ingredients with a high sampling rate and/or a high consumption rate. No significant trends were observed in the health risk through 2011 to 2014, and the exposure distribution showed no health risks for the extreme consumers, with one exception in 2012.
Pesticide use has increased in the Lake Tana sub-basin due to increased agricultural activity, potentially endangering nontargeted organisms. To assess its potential impact on fish health and ...fish-consuming human populations, pesticide concentrations in the fillet and liver tissue of three fish species, namely
Labeobarbus megastoma
,
Labeobarbus tsanensis
, and
Oreochromis niloticus
, were investigated in Lake Tana. Fish samples were taken from the lake near the rivers of Ribb and Gumara, which flow through agricultural areas where considerable amounts of pesticides have been applied. A total of 96 fish samples were collected. Liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) revealed the presence of ten pesticides. Pyrimethanil was frequently detected in 96% of liver and 65% of fillet samples at a median concentration of 33.9 µg kg
−1
and 19.7 µg kg
−1
, respectively. The highest concentration of pyrimethanil was found in
L. megastoma
(1850.0 µg kg
−1
).
Labeobarbus megastoma
also had the highest concentration of oxamyl (507.0 µg kg
−1
) and flazasulfuron (60.1 µg kg
−1
) detected in the liver tissue. The highest concentration of carbaryl (56.5 µg kg
−1
) was found in the liver tissue of
O. niloticus
. Fish tissue samples from the two study sites contained pyrimethanil, oxamyl, carbaryl, and flazasulfuron. Only pyrimethanil showed a statistically significant difference between the two sites and the species
L. megastoma
and
L. tsanensis
. The amounts of pesticides found in the fish species pose no direct risk to the health of fish consumer human population. However, the results show that the lake ecosystem needs immediate attention and regular monitoring of the rising pesticide usage in the lake watershed.
Background
Vegetables and rice produced in Cuba may contain residue of pesticides that exceed the maximum residue limits (MRLs). Pesticide residues on crop samples from Sancti Spíritus province were ...analyzed. Based on these residue data, a risk assessment of consumer exposure was conducted.
Methods
Samples collected during the 2017, 2018, and 2019 periods were analyzed using UPLC-MS/MS and GC/ECD chromatography techniques. A deterministic risk assessment was performed, using consumption data collected by the authors. Also, a probabilistic risk assessment was worked out with @RISK for the Monte Carlo simulation.
Results
A broad range of pesticides were detected in the samples. Most of the detected active ingredients were insecticides and fungicides. A considerable part of the detected pesticide residues exceeded the EU and Cuban MRLs. However, the deterministic risk assessment revealed that the consumer risk of pesticide exposure is low. Only in the maximum exposure scenario children and adults were exposed to methamidophos residues in tomatoes higher than the acceptable daily intake.
Conclusions
When a more realistic consumption (50th percentile) and higher (95th percentile) consumption pattern for tomatoes was assumed, the deterministic risk assessment found no chronic risk for children and adults being exposed to methamidophos present in the tomato samples. Furthermore, the probabilistic risk assessment concerning methamidophos exposure in tomato for children and adult strata showed no risk. To perform in the future a more accurate risk assessment for Cuban consumers it is important to have more detailed consumption data and an expanded dataset of the residues in different crops.
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