Mexican rural communities suffer significant impacts on the health of their population due to the application of pesticides that contaminate local air, water, soil, and food. Prolonged exposure to these toxic substances affects the long-term health of the population, especially children, who are extremely vulnerable to damage to their physical and neurocognitive development. This problem is analyzed in the context of industrial and extractive agriculture, which focuses on monocultures for national and export markets within the framework of a lax and permissive behavior of the Mexican state that protects neither the health of workers nor the rights of children to a healthy life. This article presents the results of a case study in a rural locality in a region of intensive agriculture. Two urine samples were taken from 180 schoolchildren, ages 3-14, to analyze their exposure to pesticides in a mass chromatograph; the samples were supplemented with a survey of their families and an ethnographic study.

Cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii Glover) is a harmful pest that affects cotton crops in Xinjiang, China. Afidopyropen is a new type of insecticide that exerts a strong control effect on piercing-sucking pests. In this work, Highperformance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to assess afidopyropen residues on different cotton parts following foliar spraying and root application. The effects of agent retention on physiological indices of cotton aphids and preventive effects were investigated. The results showed that different application methods had a strong influence on afidopyropen residues, most of which were in cotton roots, with fewer in stems and leaves. Enzyme activity analysis showed that the carboxylesterase activity of A. gossypii was significantly increased under different application methods. Foliar spraying and root application (hydroponics) of afidopyropen had rapid, potent effects against A. gossypii, while root application (soil cultivation) did not have a significant effect, but had a positive effect by day 14. Elucidation of the effects of the two application methods to the physiological indices and control of A. gossypii provide a theoretical basis for the development and promotion of integrated water-pharmaceutical technologies for afidopyropen spraying and drip irrigation in cotton fields in Xinjiang and elsewhere.

Mato Grosso is the largest consumer of pesticides in Brazil, and although their role in phytosanitary control is evident, environmental contamination is a concern due to their intensive use. Therefore, identifying the behavior of pesticides in the environment can assist in risk management, and the Environmental Risk Index (ERI) is an indirect way of knowing the potential of these compounds. This study was aimed at evaluating the ERI of the most sold insecticides in Mato Grosso used for the control of lepidopteran pests. The parameters evaluated were persistence in the soil, leaching, volatility, toxicological profile and recommended dose. Our findings reported on 24 insecticides, which totaled an annual amount of 23,046,348 kg of active ingredients, with acephate at the top of the ranking with 8,974,413 kg sold in 2020. This insecticide, despite being widely used, had the lowest ERI due to low persistence, leaching and volatility, and its critical factor was animal toxicity. Malathion, methoxyphenozide, chlorantraniliprole, flubendiamide, and beta-cyfluthrin had the highest ERI, with toxicological profile and persistence in the environment as critical factors. In general, all compounds exhibited medium to very high levels of toxicity, indicating the need to manage risks associated with insecticide use and select those with lower impact, to minimize damage to agroecosystems.

Magnaporthe oryzae causes a fungal disease that poses a serious risk to global food security. Nanoagrochemicals are perceived as sustainable, economical, and environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional pesticides. Plant immune activators can be applied as the active ingredients of nanopesticides to control diseases in agriculture, but their use is limited and corresponding research is lacking. In this study, a nanodelivery system (PBZ@CaCO3@SG) for the on-demand release of a plant immune activator (probenazole; PBZ) was prepared using nano-CaCO3 after coating with sodium alginate-gelatin (SG). In vitro, at 48 h, the release rate reached 97.9% and 88.4% at pH 4.5 and 6.0, respectively, which greatly exceeded that under neutral conditions (pH 7.4), with acid-responsive release characteristics. Moreover, it responded quickly to the acidic microenvironment generated during M. oryzae infestation and rationally released PBZ, effectively improving plant resistance to M. oryzae and minimizing disease. Notably, M. oryzae infection was markedly reduced, by 60.6%, after PBZ@CaCO3@SG treatment. Mechanistically, PBZ@CaCO3@SG enhanced both physical barrier formation and systemic acquired resistance in rice, enhancing resistance to M. oryzae. It also showed good biosafety for both microbial communities and earthworms in the soil. This comprehensive study revealed multiple mechanisms by which PBZ@CaCO3@SG interacts with plants and pathogens, inhibits damage, and maintains nontarget biosafety, emphasizing its great potential for plant disease management.

Multiple pesticides often coexist in soil, potentially leading to interactions among their components, these may detrimentally impact soil organisms. This study assessed the potential risks posed by simultaneous exposure to atrazine (ATR) and phoxim (PHO) on enzyme and transcription levels in earthworms (Eisenia fetida). The results revealed that ATR exhibited higher acute toxicity towards E. fetida compared to PHO, and their combined exposure resulted in a synergistic acute effect. Furthermore, low concentration combined exposure significantly stimulated catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activities, which lead to more severe oxidative damage. Elevated expression levels of translationally controlled tumor protein (tctp) and calreticulin (crt) genes were observed in most exposed groups compared to the control. The synergistic effects of ATR and PHO on earthworms observed in this study may pose ecological risks to the soil ecosystem; thus, more attention should be paid to the joint effects of different pesticides.

Pesticide contamination has become a major environmental concern with organophosphates such as chlorpyrifos emerging as major pollutants posing significant risks to both ecosystems and human health. Chlorpyrifos is widely used in agriculture to control pests, however due to its persistence, its accumulation in soils can lead to long-term environmental damage. The objective of this study was to isolate and characterize chlorpyrifos-degrading bacteria from a tobacco field exposed to intensive pesticide use in T & uuml;rkiye. To achieve this, a selective enrichment strategy was employed to promote the growth of chlorpyrifos-degrading microorganisms. Two distinct experimental setups were established to target both normally growing and slower-growing bacteria: the first involved a 4-week incubation with weekly subculturing as described in the literature, while the second applied an 8-week incubation with biweekly subculturing. At the end of the enrichment period, bacterial loads were compared between the two groups. Four of the nine bacterial isolates were obtained from the newly tested long-term setup. Among all isolates, members of the genus Pseudomonas exhibited the best adaptation to the prolonged enrichment conditions. Additionally, isolates belonging to the genera Klebsiella, Sphingobacterium, and Peribacillus were isolated from the normally growing group. Two isolates (AB4 & AB15), identified as Sphingobacterium thalpophilum, were determined to be novel chlorpyrifos degraders. This is the first reported study from T & uuml;rkiye focusing on the biodegradation of chlorpyrifos by native soil bacteria. The findings revealed that various ecological areas, constitute potential sources for new microbial metabolic processes and these bacterial strains can be used in bioremediation studies.

To effectively contribute to climate change mitigation, agronomists are increasingly focused on minimizing the application of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides while ensuring that crop yield and quality are not compromised. Plant biomass and organic fertilizers are known to improve soil quality, boost plant growth, and suppress diseases. However, their overall effectiveness remains limited, hence the need for further research to enhance their agricultural performance. This study aims to explore the potential application of two natural sources (manure digestate and crop Artemisia dubia) for crop fertilization and protection. During the growing season, winter wheat was fertilized twice (21-25 BBCH and 30-35 BBCH) with synthetic, organic (pig manure digestate), and combined synthetic-organic fertilizers. Artemisia dubia biomass was incorporated before sowing and planted in strips. The soil chemical composition, crop overwintering, weediness, and diseases were assessed after two years of the respective treatments. The results showed that the organic carbon content increased by 1-5% after fertilizing winter wheat with pig manure digestate and combining fertilizers (organic and synthetic). Additionally, fertilizer or pesticide use had a significant effect on the soil pH process. Combining synthetic and organic fertilizers increased the amount of mobile phosphorus in the soil by 38%. In conclusion, combining synthetic fertilizers with organic fertilizers is the most effective approach to maintain healthy soil conditions and prevent damage to sprouts in the soil. Overall, our findings offer more opportunities for organic and sustainable agricultural processes by integrating pig manure digestate and Artemisia dubia biomass as a natural approach to minimizing synthetic fertilizer and pesticide use.

Chlorpyrifos (CHP) contamination affects agricultural land and poses significant risks to plants and humans. Chitosan-oligosaccharide (COS) enhances plant resilience under stress and boosts the activity of enzymes metabolizing exogenous substances. This study aimed to explore the potential and mechanism of COS in mitigating CHP phytotoxicity and reducing CHP accumulation through both pot and field experiments. The results indicated that CHP exposure caused oxidative stress and decreased photosynthesis by 18.5 % in wheat. COS up-regulated the expression of antioxidant enzyme genes in CHP-stressed plants, resulting in a 12.1 %-29.4 % increase in antioxidant enzyme activity, which resulted in an 11.3 %-12.8 % reduction in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and an 11.5 %-14.7 % reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) content in leaves and roots, respectively. Additionally, COS increased chlorophyll content by 6.6 % by regulating genes related to chlorophyll metabolism, enhancing photosynthesis by 13.6 %. COS also reduced CHP uptake and accelerated its metabolism by upregulating CYP450, GST, and lignin biosynthesis-related genes. Wheat treated with COS exhibited a 26.7 %-28.7 % reduction in grains' CHP content, resulting in a lower health risk index (HRI). These findings provide novel insights into the potential of COS in alleviating CHP phytotoxicity and reducing its accumulation.

Atrazine (ATR), a widely used herbicide, poses significant environmental and health risks due to its high solubility and adsorption in soil. ATR exposure can lead to nephrotoxicity in humans and animals. Curcumin (Cur), an active compound in Curcuma species, is renowned for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, with potential to mitigate chronic disease risks. We hypothesized that the addition of Cur could alleviate renal impairment associated with ATR exposure and carried out experiments using mice as subjects. This study investigates whether Cur can attenuate ATR-induced nephrotoxicity in mice by modulating mitophagy and apoptotic pathways. Our findings illustrate that consumption with Cur attenuates nephrotoxicity induced by ATR, as evidenced by lowered serum concentrations of uric acid (UA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine (CRE), established biomarkers of renal injury. Moreover, Curcumin enhances renal antioxidant defense mechanisms in ATR-exposed mice, as indicated by elevated levels of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), alongside reduced levels of malondialdehyde (MDA). Histopathological and electron microscopy analyses further corroborate these findings, showing reduced organelle damage, particularly mitochondrial ridge breakage and vacuolization, and increased autophagic lysosomes. Cur further enhances PINK1/Parkin-mediated autophagy, as evidenced by elevated levels of PINK1, Parkin, LC3BII, and P62 compared to ATR-treated mice. Moreover, Cur mitigates the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, indicated by the down-regulation of apoptosis-related genes (Cytochrome C (Cyto-C), Caspase3, Caspase9) and the proapoptotic marker (Bax), along with the up-regulation of the anti-apoptotic marker (Bcl-2) at both transcriptional and translational levels compared to ATR-treated mice. In summary, Cur demonstrates nephroprotective properties against ATR-induced injury through the enhancement of mitochondrial autophagy and display of antiapoptotic actions, underscoring its curative potency as a treatment for nephrotoxicity caused by ATR.

Nanotechnology, which involves manipulating matter at the atomic and molecular scales to produce structures and devices ranging from 1 to 100 nm, is increasingly being applied in agriculture. Nanoscale materials possess distinct optical, electrochemical, and mechanical properties that enable the smart, targeted delivery of pesticides, fertilizers, and genetic materials to plants, as well as rapid sensing and on-site monitoring of plant health, soil fertility, and water quality in a digital format. This review explores the application of nanotechnology in agriculture, examining the challenges and benefits related to all aspects of crop production, with a particular focus on regulatory issues. Key findings indicate that nanotechnology can improve crop production and reduce the environmental footprint of agriculture through precise input management. However, several critical issues need to be addressed, including the limited knowledge of the long-term environmental impacts associated with agricultural nanotechnology and the ambiguity of current regulations. This underscores the need for further research to elucidate its impact on soil, water, and environmental and human health, to inform evidence-based regulations. (c) 2024 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.