Risk Assessment of Insecticides Used in Tomato to Control Whitefly on the Predator Macrolophus basicornis (Hemiptera: Miridae)

The generalist mirid predator Macrolophus basicornis may contribute to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) of Bemisia tabaci in tomato crops. It is important to know the compatibility of the chemicals used to control this pest with this promising biological control agent. Seven insecticides were tested to investigate their toxicity to the predator. For four of the products, the LC50 for adults were determined. Buprofezin, cyantraniliprole and spiromesifen did not cause lethality and were classified as harmless. Acetamiprid, bifenthrin, etofenprox + acetamiprid and pyriproxyfen + acetamiprid caused acute toxicity and were classified as harmful. LT50 for all harmful insecticides were relatively low, ranging from 1.8 to 3.2 days. Moreover, these four insecticides have low LC50, with acetamiprid (0.26 mg a.i. L−1) as the lowest, followed by bifenthrin (0.38 mg a.i. L−1), etofenprox + acetamiprid (4.80 mg a.i. L−1) and pyriproxyfen + acetamiprid (8.71 mg a.i. L−1). However, the calculated risk quotient (RQ) values demonstrated that these insecticides were mostly ecologically safe for this predator, except for acetamiprid, classified as slightly to moderately toxic. The present study can contribute to the use of M. basicornis as a biological control agent on tomato crops and to compatible use with the insecticides tested, according to IPM strategies.

Insight Into The Aquatic Toxicity And Ecological Risk of Bisphenol B, And Comparison With That of Bisphenol A

As one of the alternatives of 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane (bisphenol A, BPA), 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)butane (bisphenol B, BPB) has not gained sufficient concerns so far, due to the limited concentration and toxicity data available. In this study, the acute toxicity of BPB to three aquatic organisms, i.e., Tetradesmus obliquus, Daphnia magna and Danio rerio, was investigated, and it showed that Daphnia magna was the most sensitive organism with the half effective concentration (EC50) of 3.93 mg/L. Thereout, the screened Daphnia magna was exposed to BPB for 21 days to explore the chronic toxicity. Results indicated that BPB restricted the body length of parent Daphnia magna and reduced the total number of broods and neonates. The no-observed effect concentration of BPB to Daphnia magna was as low as 0.01 mg/L, which was two orders of magnitude lower than that reported 0.86–5.00 mg/L of BPA. Furthermore, the ecological risk of BPB was quantitatively assessed using the risk quotient (RQ) method. Obviously, although the environmental concentrations and detectable rate of BPB were much lower than that of BPA, its ecological risk was not necessarily lower. Hence, BPB should not be ignored in the future environmental monitoring and management.

Toxicity of Antiretrovirals on the Sea Urchin Echinometra lucunter and Its Predicted Environmental Concentration in Seawater from Santos Bay (Brazilian Coastal Zone)

Antiretrovirals (ARVs) have been detected in aquatic ecosystems throughout the world; however, studies focused on assessing their ecotoxicological effects on marine aquatic organisms are still rare. In the present study, the predicted environmental concentration (PEC) of 13 ARVs was estimated for surface seawater from Santos Bay, Brazil, according to the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) guidelines. The results indicated that all ARVs need to be assessed for their ecological effects, considering that they all exceeded the EMEA guideline limits (PEC > 0.01 µg L−1). In this sense, three ARVs (namely atazanavir, nevirapine and efavirenz) were selected for the acute and chronic tests with sea urchin (Echinometra lucunter). Furthermore, the Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) for these three ARVs was also performed by calculating the risk quotient. The acute and chronic toxicity results showed inhibitory concentrations (IC) for the fertilization (IC50; 1 h; range: 11.46–84.61 mg L−1) and for the embryo–larval development (IC50; 42 h; range: 0.52–0.97 mg L−1) of the sea urchin, respectively. Moreover, the ERA showed that these three ARVs are potentially hazardous for aquatic life in Santos Bay, raising concerns about the continuous introduction of ARVs in aquatic ecosystems. The data presented may contribute to the provision of subsidies for the development of monitoring public policies that aim to reduce the introduction of ARVs into the aquatic environment.

Chronic toxicity and environmental risk assessment of antivirals in Ceriodaphnia dubia and Raphidocelis subcapitata

Antiviral drugs are a class of medications used for treating viral infections. Due to their widespread use, especially in cases of pandemics and limited human metabolism, antivirals have been detected in multiple environmental matrices. This study aims to evaluate the chronic effects of acyclovir, efavirenz, lamivudine and zidovudine using Ceriodaphnia dubia and Raphidocelis subcapitata. The results with R. subcapitata showed the following toxicities: zidovudine (IC50 = 5.442 mg L−1) < acyclovir (IC50 = 3.612 mg L−1) < lamivudine (IC50 = 3.013 mg L−1) < efavirenz (IC50 = 0.034 mg L−1). The results of the chronic bioassay with C. dubia demonstrated that zidovudine is the least toxic (EC50 = 5.671 mg L−1), followed by acyclovir (EC50 = 3.062 mg L−1), lamivudine (EC50 = 1.345 mg L−1) and efavirenz (EC50 = 0.026 mg L−1). Both species have been shown to be sensitive to efavirenz. A risk quotient (RQ) was calculated, and efavirenz had an RQ greater than 1 for both species, and lamivudine had an RQ greater than 1 for C. dubia, representing a high ecological risk for these organisms. Antivirals pose a significant environmental risk to aquatic organisms and should be taken into consideration in future monitoring of water sources. HIGHLIGHT Evaluation of the ecotoxicity of acyclovir, efavirenz, lamivudine and zidovudine. The most toxic antiviral for Ceriodaphnia dubia and Raphidocelis subcapitata was efavirenz. Results suggest potential risk to environmental and public health.

Analisis Risiko Kesehatan Akibat Paparan Particulate Matter 2,5 (PM2,5) Dalam Rumah Tinggal di Perumahan X Kawasan Industri Semen

Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis risiko kesehatan terhadap paparan Particulate Matter 2,5 (PM2,5)di dalam rumah tinggal yang berada di kawasan industri semen. Penelitian dilakukan di Blok B dan Blok D Perumahan X. Pengambilan sampel PM2,5 menggunakan Low Volume Sampler (LVS) dan metode gravimetri untuk mengetahui konsentrasi PM2,5, serta pengukuran suhu dan tekanan udara menggunakan Pocket Weatherman . Analisis risiko kesehatan berdasarkan Pedoman Analisis Risiko Kesehatan Lingkungan (ARKL) Direktorat Jenderal PP dan PL Kementerian Kesehatan tahun 2012 dengan melakukan wawancara dan kuesioner dengan jumlah responden sebanyak 46 penghuni rumah. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan konsentrasi PM2,5 di Blok B dan Blok D berkisar antara 8,87 sampai 23,72 µg/m3 dengan konsentrasi tertinggi berada di Blok D. Konsentrasi tersebut masih memenuhi baku mutu Permenkes RI No. 1077 tahun 2011. Hasil perhitungan ARKL menunjukkan risiko realtime berkisar antara 0,0014 sampai 0,4529 dan risiko lifetime berkisar antara 0,0680 sampai 0,6794. Hal ini menunjukkan bahwa risiko realtime dan risiko lifetime semua responden di Blok B dan Blok mempunyai nilai Risk Quotient (RQ) <1 yang berarti paparan PM2,5 tersebut dikatakan aman dan tidak memiliki efek kesehatan yang merugikan terhadap penghuni rumah di Blok B dan Blok D Perumahan X. AbstractThis research aims to analyze the health risks of exposure to Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5) in residential houses in the cement industrial area. The research was conducted in Block B and Block D, Housing X. Sampling of PM2.5 used Low Volume Sampler (LVS) and the gravimetric method to determine the concentration of PM2.5 while measuring temperature and air pressure using Pocket Weatherman. Health risk analysis based on the Guidelines for Environmental Health Risk Analysis (EHRA) of the Directorate General of PP and PL of the Ministry of Health in 2012 by conducting interviews and questionnaires with a total of 46 respondents. The results showed that the concentration of PM2.5 in Block B and Block D ranged from 8.87 to 23.72 g/m3 with the highest concentration in Block D. The concentration still met the quality standard of the Minister of Health RI No. 1077 in 2011. The results of the EHRA calculation show that the realtime risk ranges from 0.0014 to 0.4529, and the lifetime risk ranges from 0.0680 to 0.6794. It shows that the realtime risk and lifetime risk of all respondents in Block B and Block D have a Risk Quotient (RQ) value <1, which means that PM2.5 exposure is said to be safe and has no adverse health effects on residents of houses in Block B and Block D.Keywords: Block B, Block D, Cement Industry, EHRA, PM2.5

Trace Detection and Quantitation of Antibiotics in a South African Stream Receiving Wastewater Effluents and Municipal Dumpsite Leachates

One of the major concerns in the consumption of antibiotics is the discovery of antibacterial resistant genes due to prolonged exposure which makes their presence in environmental samples a priority. In this study, we screened 52 antibiotics along a South African stream polluted with wastewater effluents and municipal dumpsite leachates. Of these antibiotics, 15 were detected in the stream while 3 sulfonamides (sulfamethizole, sulfamethazine, sulfamethoxazole), a fluoroquinolone (flumequine) and a diaminopyrimidine (trimethoprim) were further quantified. The concentrations of sulfamethizole, sulfamethazine, sulfamethoxazole ranged from not detected to 0.133 µg L−1, flumequine ranged from 0.222 to 0.686 µg L−1, while trimethoprim was up to 0.0618 µg L−1. The highest concentrations were recorded at the point source discharge with most antibiotics not detected further downstream. The current study has further confirmed wastewater effluents and dumpsite leachates as pathways of antibiotics into the environment. Only the persistent unsanctioned antibiotic, flumequine had its risk quotient above 0.1 making it an antibiotic of environmental concern. Multiresidue studies are still limited in Africa and the current study offers a platform for a research paradigm shift with more studies expected to emerge providing an improved overview of the release of antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals into Africa’s vulnerable surface water systems.

Occurrence and health risk assessment of perfluorinated substances from water in residential areas around fluorine chemical industry, China

To identify the contamination status and assess the health risk of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in surface and ground water are of great significance recently. Eighteen individual PFASs were analyzed in thirty-three surface/ground water samples from fluorine industry in one period of park-A (park A) and two periods of park B. All the short chain PFASs (C < 8) and chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate acid (F-53B) in the park A and B were detected with 100%. The first three detected substances of perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were the predominant substances. The contamination status in wet season (WS) is stronger than in dry season (DS) in park B. Total concentration of PFASs(∑PFASs) in park A presented the increasing tendency following the groundwater flow direction whereas this rule was limited to reflect in all periods of park B. Applying different relative source contribution (RSC) of 100% and 20% to assess this risk of different aged group bodies from PFASs, the result was that all PFASs (4 ≤ C ≤ 7 or 9 ≤ C ≤ 12) while perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and PFOA (C = 8) were identified to the low risk quotient (RQ) contribution. Mixed RQmix value mainly relies on the PFOA and PFOS with a larger contribution rate of 80–90%. All assessed cases (Case 1, Case2, Case3 and Case4) to all aged groups reveal the infants were to be vulnerable to PFASs influence, followed by the children, teenagers and adults, respectively.

Bio-Tolerance Potential and Environmental Risks Assessment of Oreochromis Niloticus and Lpomoea Aquatica in Agodi Reservoir, Nigeria

The concentration of nine heavy metals in Oreochromis niloticus and Ipomoea aquatica inhabiting Agodi reservoir, Oyo State, Nigeria were investigated for twelve months. The concentrations of the metals were carried out using PG990 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The Ecological Risk Quotient (ERQ) was calculated using standard methods while the tolerability was determined with Box Plot analysis. The metal bioaccumulation in O. niloticus and I. aquatica followed the order Mn>Fe>Zn>Cu>Co>Pb>Cd>Cr>Ni and Fe>Zn>Mn>Cu>Pb>Cd>Co>Cr>Ni respectively. The results revealed O. niloticus to bioaccumulate the metals more than I. aquatica. Most of the examined metals were higher than the safety limit for the metals concentration in O. niloticus and I. aquatica. Also, I. aquatica had higher tolerability for heavy metals than O. niloticus. In O. niloticus, metal concentration, as well as ERQ, was higher in the wet season while no particular order was observed for I. aquatica. The ERQ result revealed that Cd, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu and Pb exhibited a high level of ecological risk to both the aquatic flora and fauna as the ERQ values were above the risk limit of one (1). Thus, there is a significant environmental risk associated with heavy metals in the water body.

Disinfection tackling the COVID-19 pandemic causes disinfection by-products (DBPs) accumulation and threatens aquatic ecosystems

Abstract To fight against the coronavirus infectious disease-2019 (COVID-19), chlorine-based disinfectants are extensively or even over used for water, surface and personal care decontamination. The risks of disinfection by-products (DBPs) have been alerted to cause serious secondary pollution; however, there is still lack of evidence. This study collected 110 water samples from nine lakes and two rivers in Wuhan during the COVID-19 pandemic and comprehensively analyzed the occurrence of eighteen DBPs. Trihalomethanes, halonitromethanes, halogen acetonitriles and nitrosamines had a high detection frequency and were 0.99-14.26, ND-4.62, ND-1.09 and 0.0414-0.0861 μg/L, respectively, all lower than the maximum contamination level (MCL) suggested by China and USA. Haloacetic acids were detected in all lakes and Yangtze River and ranged from 33.8 to 856.1 μg/L, much higher than the MCL. Haloacetic acids and halogen acetonitriles accounted for 74.2-95.1% of the total cytotoxicity (0.38-3.62×105); halonitromethanes (94.0-98.7%) contributed to the majority of genotoxicity (0.52-5.17×104). Dichloroacetic acid exhibited significant ecological risks to green algae in two lakes and Yangtze River (risk quotient >10), and all the other DBPs showed negligible risks (risk quotient <0.01) to fish, daphnid or green algae. Correlation and redundancy analysis identified strong correlations between total organic carbon, conductivity, NH3-N, turbidity and DBPs. DBP composition and the fluorescence indices of dissolved organic matters together categorized all lakes into two types. Type-I lakes contained all DBP categories, driven by total organic carbon and secondarily formed by residual active chlorine with natural organic matters; Type-II lakes and Yangtze River only had high levels of haloacetic acids and small amounts of trihalomethanes, explained by the primary formation of DBPs in sewage. Our findings for the first time uncovered the significant accumulation and risks of DBPs in lakes and rivers of Wuhan during the COVID-19, provided the evidence of secondary pollution from intensive disinfection activities with chlorine-based disinfectants, evaluated the potential the ecological risks of DBPs in Wuhan and along Yangtze River, and raised our re-consideration of disinfection strategy in the pandemics and post-COVID-19 era.