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The worldwide use of the carbamate insecticide carbofuran has caused considerable concern about its environmental fate. Degradation of carbofuran by Sphingobium sp. strain CFD-1 is initiated via the hydrolysis of its ester bond by carbamate hydrolase CehA to form carbofuran phenol. In this study, another carbofuran-degrading strain, Sphingobium sp. CFD-2, was isolated. Subsequently, a cfd gene cluster responsible for the catabolism of carbofuran phenol was predicted by comparing the genomes of strains CFD-1, CFD-2, and Novosphingobium sp. strain KN65.2. The key genes verified to be involved in the catabolism of carbofuran phenol within the cfd cluster include the hydroxylase gene cfdC, epoxide hydrolase gene cfdF, and ring cleavage dioxygenase gene cfdE and are responsible for the successive conversion of carbofuran phenol, resulting in complete ring cleavage. These carbofuran-catabolic genes (cehA and the cfd cluster) are distributed on two plasmids in strain CFD-1 and are highly conserved among the carbofuran-degrading sphingomonad strains. The mobile genetic element IS6100 flanks cehA and the cfd gene cluster, indicating the importance of horizontal gene transfer in the formation of carbofuran degradation gene clusters. The elucidation of the molecular mechanism of carbofuran catabolism provides insights into the evolutionary scenario of the conserved carbofuran catabolic pathway. IMPORTANCE Owing to the extensive use of carbofuran over the past 50 years, bacteria have evolved catabolic pathways to mineralize this insecticide, which plays an important role in eliminating carbofuran residue in the environment. In this study, the cfd gene cluster, responsible for the catabolism of carbofuran phenol, was predicted by comparing sphingomonad genomes. The function of key enzymatic genes in this gene cluster was identified. Furthermore, the carbamate hydrolase gene cehA and the cfd gene cluster are highly conserved in different carbofuran-degrading strains. Additionally, the horizontal gene transfer elements flanking the cfd gene cluster were investigated. These findings help elucidate the molecular mechanism of microbial carbofuran degradation and enhance our understanding of the evolutionary mechanism of the carbofuran catabolic pathway.

s Plant-parasitic nematodes infect the roots of crops which bring rigorous economic loss to food industry across the globe. Several plant protection agents are being used but they cause severe negative environmental and health impacts. Recently, organic matter has become an important green alternative for several pesticides including nematicides. In the present study, identification and management of stylet bearing nematodes associated with Malus pumila from different locations of Khanpur, Pakistan, have been presented. Soil samples were collected from the rhizosphere of infected M. pumila and isolated using Baermann funnel extraction technique. Collected specimens were killed, fixed and mounted. After identification, cow dung (organic) and carbofuran (inorganic) were applied after taking the first soil samples and soil samples were recollected and analyzed after 3 months of applications. Ten species of nematodes; Helicotylenchus pseudorobustus, Helicotylenchus dihystera, Helicotylenchus vulgaris, Meloidogyne javanica, Meloidogyne incognita, Aphelenchus avenae, Pratylenchus penetrans, Filenchus sheri, Psilenchus hilarulus and Tylenchus semipenetrans were identified from different locations. Results of amendments revealed that carbofuran was found more effective because of its intense toxic properties, whereas nematode decline rate was slow in case of organic amendments. Being an insecticide, carbofuran killed maximum nematodes but it is highly toxic. If the time period is increased, comparable results can be achieved by applying cow dung, which makes it an environmentally friendly option for the protection of plants against nematodes.

Field studies were conducted on the application of Leucaena leucocephala leaf extracts as an alternative to carbofuran a synthetic nematicide, while possible residues of carbofuran in tomato fruits were also analysed. Acetone, methanol and petroleum ether fractions of the leaves of L. leucocephala were applied at 200 mg/mL in variants of 100 mL, 150 mL and 200 mL to a naturally nematode infested field. Comparison was made with carbofuran a synthetic insecticide and nematicide. Samples of tomato fruits from carbofuran treated and untreated beds were extracted with ethyl acetate for residual pesticide analysis to ascertain the exceedance of the maximum residue limit (MRL). Results revealed that pesticide residue was significantly (p = 0.05) higher in plots treated with carbofuran compared with standard MRL for carbofuran in tomatoes. Crude extracts of L. leucocephala were as effective as carbofuran, while the fraction was however significantly better in producing higher numbers of fruits and reduced nematode population in root and soil of tomato plants.

The infestation with root knot nematode Meloidogyne spp. is a key issue in agriculture. Conventional control methods are based on the use of synthetic nematicides, which comes with severe environmental problems. In this study, n-phenyl imide and n-phenyl phthalamic acid were synthesized and reacted independently with Enantia chlorantha crude extract–manganese chloride complex. The effects of the resulting organic compounds were appraised against the root knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White 1919) juveniles and eggs in two laboratory experiments. The most active compound was n-phenyl phthalamic acid (PN/TLMA) with 4% egg hatch over a 9-day observation after treatment as against distilled water which recorded 100% egg hatch at 9 days after treatment. n-Phenyl phthalamic acid showed 100% juvenile mortality at 10 days of observation compared to carbofuran dissolved in water (CBFN/water) and carbofuran dissolved in hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (CBFN/HPCD) while no outstanding (P < 0.05) difference was recorded between the effects of other organic compounds and carbofuran in both solvents. The different rates of treatment applications were not appreciably (P

Phosphate-solubilising bacteria are an important component of sustainable agriculture but their number and performance are reduced due to the presence of pesticides in soils. The potato requires a high amount of phosphorus making it a fertilizer-demanding crop. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim to develop pesticide-tolerant phosphate-solubilising bacterial inoculants for improving growth and phosphorus content in potato. Phosphate-solubilising bacteria were isolated from potato rhizosphere and screened for pesticide tolerance, phosphate solubilisation in the presence of pesticides and growth promotion of potato in pesticide-amended soils. Nineteen phosphate-solubilising bacteria isolated from potato rhizosphere showed phosphate solubilisation ranging from 115 to 747 µg ml−1 with significant difference among the isolates. Out of 19 isolates tested for tolerance against two commonly used pesticides in potato, two isolates showed tolerance up to 7.5 μl ml−1 (3 times the recommended dose) of chlorpyrifos and 0.75 g ml−1 (2 times the recommended dose) of carbofuran. These two pesticide-tolerant bacterial isolates also showed phosphate-solubilisation in the presence of chlorpyrifos and carbofuran, although the phosphate-solubilising ability decreased significantly with increased pesticide concentrations. The isolates were identified as Arthrobacter oxydans PR1PSB2 and Bacillus flexus PR2PSB1 based on phenotypic features, biochemical tests, and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation-time of flight mass spectroscopy (MALDI-TOF–MS). The bacterial treatments Arthrobacter oxydans PR1PSB2 and Bacillus flexus PR2PSB1 alone or in combined application exhibited a significant increase in the growth parameters, phosphorus (P) content, and soil available P over the uninoculated control under greenhouse conditions in potato in the presence of pesticides. However, the plant growth promotion and P content decreased with an increase in pesticide concentrations. Pesticide-tolerant phosphate-solubilising Arthrobacter oxydans and Bacillus flexus from potato are reported for the first time.

A series of chalcones (1-14) were synthesized, characterized (using IR and 1H NMR techniques), and evaluated with an objective to manage rice root-knot nematode (RRKN) (Meloidogyne graminicola) both under pluronic gel and field conditions. Out of these fourteen compounds, 1-(4-fluoro-phenyl)-3-phenyl-propenone (13) and 1,3-diphenyl-propenone (14) showed promising and dose dependent activity at 10, 20, and 40 mg L-1. A significant reduction in penetration of second stage juveniles (J2s) in rice roots was observed in compounds 13 (9.5-12.0 J2s/plant) and 14 (10.5-13.4 J2s/plant) compared to control plants (PB1121) (13.5-23.6 J2s/plant) in pluronic gel study. The results of field trials indicated that 14, showed significantly (P ≤ 0.05) better plant growth on 28 days after sowing (DAS) compared to 13. Both 13 and 14 reduced gall formation significantly than carbofuran 3 G @1 kg a.i./ha. However, lower concentrations were less effective in field in reducing the gall formation. Also, a significant reduction in the number of galls was observed when soil was drenched with 14 @ 40 mg L-1. However, root dipping was not as effective as soil drenching. The study revealed that both the chalcones have the potential for effective management of RRKN in fields, and can be a better alternative to carbofuran.

Slow decline disease caused by Tylenchulus semipenetrans is a major threat to global citrus production. Identification of suitable bio-agents that can be applied through a drip irrigation system by growers becomes inevitable for successful citrus production. Hence, field experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of different liquid bio-inoculants, such as Bacillus subtilis, Purpureocillium lilacinum, and Trichoderma viride delivered through drip irrigation system on acid lime trees naturally infected with T. semipenetrans. They were applied at 4 L/ha, and their effect was compared with that of the spot application of carbofuran 3G at 100 g per tree. All tested bio-inoculants substantially suppressed the population density of T. semipenetrans in soil and acid lime roots. Among the bio-inoculants, P. lilacinum with 54.9–74.4% and 53.4–74.3% reductions in population in soil and root, respectively, performed best, followed by B. subtilis and T. viride. The effect of P. lilacinum was comparable to that of the chemical standard check carbofuran in location I, but P. lilacinum surpassed carbofuran in location II. Survival in soil and colonization on acid lime roots by P. lilacinum was higher than by B. subtilis and T. viride. The egg mass parasitization by P. lilacinum was also 7.1–7.5 times higher than by T. viride. The suppression of T. semipenetrans by P. lilacinum led to an increase in the number of fruits (19.0–23.3%), fruit weight (20.2–22.3%), and fruit yield (35.4–40.3%) in acid lime trees. The cost–benefit ratio by P. lilacinum was also higher (1: 2.6–1: 3.0), whereas it was lower in carbofuran treatment (1: 2.3—1: 2.4). It is concluded that the delivery of liquid P. lilacinum at 4 L/ha through a drip irrigation system was highly effective and economical for the management of acid lime trees infected with T. semipenetrans under field conditions.

Agriculture activities have increased the concentration of pesticides and metals in the environment. The excessive use of pesticides can generate an environmental impact and contribute to the development of human diseases. This study aimed to determine the presence of pesticides and metals in water samples collected in the Brazilian rural area in two different periods (before and after pesticide application) and to evaluate the alternative bioassays Lactuca sativa, Allium cepa, and Caenorhabditis elegans to monitoring toxicity in human drinking water samples. Eight sites in the rural area were selected and water samples were collected in two different periods of the year (before and after pesticide application). The presence of the pesticides was determinated by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and metals by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The potential toxicity of the water samples was performed with three different alternatives in vivo models (L. sativa, A. cepa, and C. elegans). Fifty-seven pesticides were analyzed and, according to the results, the most found ones were clomazone, atrazine, tebuconazole, metconazole, pyrimethanil, and carbofuran-3-hydroxide, which is a metabolic degradation product of insecticide carbofuran. The most detected metals were Cu, Cr, Mg, Fe, and Mn. The assays with L. sativa and A. cepa showed alterations in the period after pesticide application, while C. elegans presented changes in both periods compared to the same collection sites. These results indicate that bioassays, especially C. elegans, could be complementary and useful tools for monitoring the toxicity in drinking water samples.

Carbofuran is a broad‐spectrum synthetic pesticide. Its exposure to non‐target mammals affects the biological system through the induction of oxidative stress. Since oxidative stress is a major contributing factor to cellular autophagy and senescence, our present investigation determined the impacts of carbofuran‐induced oxidative stress on cellular autophagy and senescence. A transmembrane protein, Spinster homolog 1 (Spns1), is involved in autophagic lysosomal metabolism. Its mutation accelerates the cellular senescence and shortens the lifespan. Using a transgenic zebrafish line, expressing fluorescent microtubules‐associated protein 1 light chain 3 (EGFP‐LC3) at the membrane of the autophagosome, we found that carbofuran affects autophagic lysosomal biogenesis in wild‐type zebrafish and exacerbates autophagic defect in spns1‐mutant zebrafish. In real‐time mortality study, carbofuran has shortened the lifespan of wild‐type fish. Nrf2 is a stress‐responsive transcription factor that regulates the expression of antioxidant genes (such as gstp1) in the prevention of oxidative stress‐mediated cellular damage. To assess the effect of carbofuran on Nrf2 signalling, we established a dual‐monitoring transgenic zebrafish line, expressing gstp1 promoter‐driven EGFP and mCherry‐tagged Neh2 domain of Nrf2. Our results suggested that the exposure of carbofuran has down‐regulated both Nrf2 and Gstp1 expressions. Overall, carbofuran affects cellular autophagy and accelerates senescence by enervating the Nrf2 signalling.

Highly efficient adsorbent was prepared for the removal of carbofuran and imidacloprid pesticides from wastewater. The silica monolith anchored graphene oxide composite was synthesized by the modified Fischer esterification protocol. The composite showed improved adsorption capacity for the removal of pesticides from wastewater. Graphene oxide was synthesized using the modified Hummer’s method, while the silica monolith was prepared via sol–gel method. The composite was characterized via X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infra-red, Brunauer Emmett and Teller (BET/BJH) analysis, zeta potential, and FESEM imaging. Different adsorption parameters such as pH, contact time, adsorbate and adsorbent concentration, and temperature were optimized for the adsorption of pesticides. The equilibrium and kinetic models were applied to the adsorption process of the pesticides. Qe of the composite as found to be 342.46 mg g−1 for imidacloprid and 37.15 mg g−1 for carbofuran. The adsorption process followed the pseudo 2nd order kinetic model for carbofuran (R2~0.9971) and imidacloprid (R2~0.9967). The Freundlich isotherm best fitted to the adsorption data of the pesticides with R2 value of 0.9956 for carbofuran and 0.95 for imidacloprid. The resultant adsorbent/composite material came out with very good results for the removal of pesticides.

Fast and reliable determination of enzyme inhibitors are of great importance in environmental monitoring and biomedicine because of the high biological activity and toxicity of such species and the necessity of their reliable assessment in many media. In this work, a flow-through biosensor has been developed and produced by 3D printing from poly(lactic acid). Acetylcholinesterase from an electric eel was immobilized on the inner walls of the reactor cell. The concentration of thiocholine formed in enzymatic hydrolysis of the substrate was monitored amperometrically with a screen-printed carbon electrode modified with carbon black particles, pillar[5]arene, electropolymerized Methylene blue and thionine. In the presence of thiocholine, the cathodic current at −0.25 V decreased because of an alternative chemical reaction of the macrocycle. The conditions of enzyme immobilization and signal measurements were optimized and the performance of the biosensor was assessed in the determination of reversible (donepezil, berberine) and irreversible (carbofuran) inhibitors. In the optimal conditions, the flow-through biosensor made it possible to determine 1.0 nM–1.0 μM donepezil, 1.0 μM–1.0 mM berberine and 10 nM to 0.1 μM carbofuran. The AChE biosensor was tested on spiked samples of artificial urine for drugs and peanuts for carbofuran. Possible interference of the sample components was eliminated by dilution of the samples with phosphate buffer. Easy mounting, low cost of replaceable parts of the cell and satisfactory analytical and metrological characteristics made the biosensor a promising future application as a point-of-care or point-of-demand device outside of a chemical laboratory.

Pesticides play a pivotal role in modern agricultural practices and effective domestic pest control. Despite their advantages, pesticides pose a great danger to humans and animals due to their toxicity. Pesticides, particularly carbamates, are extensively used all over the world in crop protection and domestic pest control, however, also causing morbidity and mortality on a larger scale, which is of great significance in both clinical and criminal justice management.Carbamates are derived from a carbamic acid (NH

Structural modification of different carbon-based nanomaterials is often necessary to improve their morphology and optical properties, particularly the incorporation of N-atoms in graphene quantum dots (GQDs). Here, a clean, simple, one-step, and eco-friendly method for N-doping of GQDs using gamma irradiation is reported. GQDs were irradiated in the presence of the different ethylenediamine (EDA) amounts (1 g, 5 g, and 10 g) and the highest % of N was detected in the presence of 10 g. N-doped GQDs emitted strong, blue photoluminescence (PL). Photoluminescence quantum yield was increased from 1.45, as obtained for non-irradiated dots, to 7.24% for those irradiated in the presence of 1 g of EDA. Modified GQDs were investigated as a PL probe for the detection of insecticide Carbofuran (2,2-Dimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-7-yl methylcarbamate) and herbicide Amitrole (3-amino-1,2,4-triazole). The limit of detection was 5.4 μmol L−1 for Carbofuran. For the first time, Amitrole was detected by GQDs in a turn-off/turn-on mechanism using Pd(II) ions as a quenching agent. First, Pd(II) ions were quenched (turn-off) PL of GQDs, while after Amitrole addition, PL was recovered linearly with Amitrole concentration (turn-on). LOD was 2.03 μmol L−1. These results suggest that modified GQDs can be used as an efficient new material for Carbofuran and Amitrole detection. Furthermore, the phototoxicity of dots was investigated on both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. When bacterial cells were exposed to different GQD concentrations and illuminated with light of 470 nm wavelength, the toxic effects were not observed.

The presence of pesticide residues in Dendrobium officinale (D. officinale), a commonly used herbal medicine, has attracted much attention in recent years. Therefore, this study presents the levels of 141 pesticide residues in forty D. officinale samples, which were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). And we used a deterministic estimate model to assess chronic and acute dietary exposure risk, as well as the cumulative risks for adults, children, and specific groups of consumers. Furthermore, the residual risk of individual pesticides was sorted by adapting the matrix-ranking scheme. In 92.5% of the samples, 43 pesticides were detected, of which difenoconazole had the highest detection frequency. Multiple residues were detected in 85.0% of the samples, and one sample contained even up to 17 pesticides. The chronic hazard quotient (HQc) and the acute hazard quotient (HQa) were far below 100%, and both cumulative chronic and acute hazard indices (HI) did not exceed 100%. The risk scoring scheme showed that four pesticides were considered to pose a comparatively potential high risk, including difenoconazole, carbofuran, fipronil, and emamectin benzoate. The results indicated that the occurrence of pesticide residues in D. officinale could not pose a serious health problem to the public.

Carbofuran is a carbamate pesticide, a broad-spectrum, high-efficiency, low-residue, and highly toxic insecticide, acaricide, and nematicide, widely used in agriculture. Carbofuran is most harmful to birds, and birds or insects killed by furan poisoning can be killed by secondary poisoning after being foraged by raptors, small mammals, or reptiles. In this paper, an UPLC-MS/MS method was developed for the determination of carbofuran and its metabolite, 3-hydroxycarbofuran, in duck liver. Liver tissue was first ground into a homogenate and then passed through ethyl acetate liquid-liquid extraction processing samples. Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode was used for quantitative analysis, m/z 222.1 → 165.1 for carbofuran, m/z 238.1 → 180.9 for 3-hydroxycarbofuran and m/z 290.2 → 198.2 for an internal standard. The standard curves of carbofuran and 3-hydroxycarbofuran in duck liver were within a range of 2–2000 ng/g, where the linearity was good, the lower limit of quantification was 2 ng/g. The intra-day precision of carbofuran and 3-hydroxycarbofuran was

Field experiments were conducted to study the effect of different liquid bio-products such as neem seed kernel extract (NSKE), azadirachtin and humic acid delivered through drip irrigation system on acid lime trees naturally infested with citrus nematode, Tylenchulus semipenetrans. All the bio-products were applied at 4 L/ha twice at 30 days interval and their effect was compared with carbofuran 3G at 100 g/tree. All the tested bio-products significantly suppressed T. semipenetrans density in soil and acid lime roots. Among them, NSKE was superior that reduced T. semipenetrans population by 56.8–58.1% in soil and 46.4–56.2% in root. Azadirachtin was the next followed by humic acid. The effect of NSKE was comparable to the chemical standard check carbofuran in location I, but NSKE surpassed carbofuran in location II. Suppression of T. semipenetrans infestation and infection by NSKE lead to improvement in the number of fruits (21.3–22.3%) and fruit weight (17.4–20.8%) in acid lime trees. NSKE delivery through drip system resulted in 35.8–37.9% more fruit yield. The benefit-cost ratio was also higher in NSKE (1:3.7–1:4.8) where as it was lesser in carbofuran treatment (1:1.3–1:3.0).

Commercial exploitation of the coffee crop is one of the most important activities in the world’s agricultural sector. One of the main phytosanitary problems affecting the crop is the presence of Meloidogyne incognita. Several measures have been tested for the management of this pathogen, albeit with low efficiency. The objective of this work was to quantify the damage and losses and to manage M. incognita race 1 with Pochonia chlamydosporia and Trichoderma harzianum biological nematicides, comparing them to a chemical nematicide. The experiment was carried out in a commercial area naturally infested by the nematode and cultivated with the conilon coffee variety ‘Vitória INCAPER 8142’, clone V02. The treatments were tested with Carbofuran nematicide and with biological nematicides composed of P. chlamydosporia Pc-10 and T. harzianum ESALQ 1306. The biological products were applied alone or in combination. The lowest NPF (final nematode population) occurred in plants treated with P. chlamydosporia and Carbofuran. P. chlamydosporia was the most effective biological agent in the management of M. incognita. There was a reduction in production with an increase in the nematode population. The highest application costs of management methods for M. incognita race 1 per hectare were for three and two applications of Carbofuran and three applications of P. chlamydosporia + T. harzianum. The treatments with lowest application costs were one application of T. harzianum and one application of P. chlamydosporia. It was concluded that all treatments were efficient for the management of M. incognita race 1, causing a decrease in the roots and soil population. A exploração comercial da cultura do café é uma das atividades mais importantes do setor agropecuário mundial. Um dos principais problemas fitossanitários da cultura é a presença de Meloidogyne incognita. Várias medidas têm sido testadas para o manejo desse patógeno, porém, com baixa eficiência. O objetivo deste trabalho foi quantificar os danos e as perdas e manejar M. incognita raça 1 com nematicidas biológicos à base de Pochonia chlamydosporia e Trichoderma harzianum. O experimento foi conduzido em uma área comercial naturalmente infestada pelo nematoide e cultivada com a variedade de café conilon ‘Vitória INCAPER 81421’, clone V02. Foram testados os tratamentos: nematicida Carbofurano; nematicidas biológicos à base de P. chlamydosporia Pc-10 e T. harzianum ESALQ 1306. Os produtos biológicos foram aplicados isoladamente ou associados. As menores populações finais de nematoides ocorreram em plantas tratadas com P. chlamydosporia e Carbofurano. P. chlamydosporia foi o agente biológico mais eficaz no manejo de M. incognita. Houve redução de produção com o aumento da população do nematoide. Os maiores custos de aplicação dos métodos de manejo para M. incognita raça 1 por hectare foram para três e duas aplicações de Carbofuran e três aplicações de P. chlamydosporia + T. harzianum. Os tratamentos com menores custos de aplicação foram uma aplicação de T. harzianum e uma aplicação de P. chlamydosporia. Conclui-se que todos os tratamentos foram eficientes para o manejo de M. incognita raça 1, acarretando diminuição da população do nematoide nas raízes e no solo. &nbsp

Carbofuran is a pollutant compound derived from the pesticide Furadan 3GR which is widely used in agriculture. Various methods of carbofuran degradation have been carried out, one of which is the conventional electrochemical method. This study used an electrochemical peroxidation process to degrade Carbofuran in the pesticide Furadan 3GR. This study aims to determine the optimum conditions (time, Na 2 SO 4 concentration, and volume addition of H 2 O 2 ) for electrochemical peroxidation and to compare the effectiveness of electrochemical and electrochemical peroxidation methods by measuring the parameter of carbofuran COD reduction. The significance of the electrochemical peroxidation method and the conventional electrochemical method was compared as a preliminary test. The COD reduction of Carbofuran using traditional electrochemical methods and electrochemical peroxidation was 45.76% and 88.70%, respectively. Batch carbofuran electrochemical peroxidation process was accomplished to ascertain the optimum conditions under various operation times, the concentration of Na 2 SO 4 , and the additional volume of H 2 O 2 . The largest COD reduction of 93.78% was obtained at 10 minutes, 75 mM Na 2 SO 4 , and 2 mL H 2 O 2 . The UV-Vis spectrophotometric absorption of Carbofuran at a wavelength of 274 nm was significantly reduced from 1.377 to 0.131 at optimum conditions. The IR spectrum measurement results indicate a reduction in absorbance for the N-H group (3383 cm-1) and the C=O group (1643 cm-1) at optimum conditions. Overall, the electrochemical peroxidation process proved to be an appropriate technique for COD reduction of Carbofuran in Furadan 3GR pesticides.

Raw buffalo, cow and goat milk collected from different locations of Northern India has been analyzed for suspected pesticides viz. azimsulfuron, cypermethrin, thiabendazole, crotonolactone, fluoxastrobin, aldicarb and carbofuran. Buffalo milk tested positive for azimsulfuron (4.51 ng/ml), cypermethrin (7.21 ng/ml) and thiabendazole (4.57 ng/ml). Cow’s milk did not show the presence of cypermethrin and thiabendazole, however, azimsulfuron (0.86 ng/ml), crotonolactone (4.73 ng/ml) and fluoxastrobin (0.54 ng/ml) were determined. Milk of the goats registered the presence of carbafuron (7.69 ng/ ml), fluoxastrobin (5.41 ng/ml) and azimsulfuron (5.28 ng/ml). Since all the milching cattle are herbivorous, these pesticides entered animal through food chain. The consumption of milk containing these pesticides even in traces may be hazardous to human population of Northern India. Concurrent presence of these pesticides may be more hazardous due to their synergistic manifestations. New synthetic molecules like azimsulfuron, fluoxastrobin and crotonolactone may pose severe public health problems.

BACKGROUND Inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in soil can promote the uptake of nutrients and xenobiotics by plants. In this study, the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (including Glomus intraradices and Glomus mossea) on the growth of maize, the uptake of carbosulfan and the control efficacy on Spodoptera frugiperda were investigated through maize seed coating. RESULTS Results from the pot experiment showed that carbofuran reduced the mycorrhizal colonization of AM fungi in the early stage of the experiment. The inhibiting effect disappeared in 21-49 DAP, whereas the mycorrhizal colonization rate under the G. intraradices treatment was maintained at ≈90%. Compared with noninoculated treatment, the fresh weights of roots in G. intraradices and G. mosseae treatments increased by 20-41% and 10-23%, respectively. Mycorrhizal treatment could significantly increase the transmission rates (root/soil and leaf/stem) and the carbosulfan accumulation in maize. During the harvest period, the control efficacy against S. frugiperda in mycorrhizal treatment was significantly higher than that in noninoculated treatments (P

BACKGROUND Coating seed with pesticides is an effective way to control plant pests, however, factory-based coating processes may carry a potential risk to operational workers of chemical exposure. To study the risk, carbofuran and tebuconazole were used to coat corn seed and their subsequent distribution on the bodies of workers was measured at manufacturers XFS and LS (Shanxi, China). Clothing was collected from workers during operations and analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS At XFS, dermal exposure to carbofuran was 4.83, 3.31 and 1.48 mg kg-1 , and exposure to tebuconazole was 6.88, 5.16 and 1.72 mg kg-1 for coating, packing and transport workers, respectively. At LS, dermal exposure to carbofuran was 2.32, 0.46 and 0.55 mg kg-1 , and exposure to tebuconazole was 1.69, 0.46 and 0.70 mg kg-1 , for coating, packing and transport workers, respectively. The level of pesticide exposure was significantly higher for seed-coating workers than for packing and transport workers. The main area of exposure was the hands for all workers and the lower limbs for packers; exposure was relatively uniform for pesticide handlers. Occupational risk was assessed based on margin of exposure (MOE). In seed-coating, the MOE was greater than 100 for tebuconazole, indicating no potential risk, but ranged from 0.25 to 2.88 for carbofuran, indicating the risk of a health impact. CONCLUSION The level of exposure varied depending on type of operation undertaken and body parts of workers' body, but the risk of a health impact was highly associated with pesticide toxicity. This provides a guideline for workers in pesticide manufacturing to ensure safe operation of the seed-coating process. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Safety issues on the residual effect of pesticides and their metabolites on fruits and vegetables are of utmost importance. Synthetic pesticides remain in fruit and vegetables after harvest causing great health hazards to the consumers. Field studies were conducted on the evaluation of Leucaena leucocephala leaves as an alternative to the use of synthetic nematicide, while possible residues of carbofuran in tomato fruits were also analysed. Acetone, methanol and petroleum ether fractions of the leaves of L. leucocephala were applied at 200 mg/mL in variants of 100 mL, 150 mL and 200 mLto a naturally nematode infested field. Comparison was made with carbofuran a synthetic nematicide. Samples of tomato fruits from carbofuran treated and untreated beds were extracted with ethyl acetate for residual pesticide analysis to ascertain the exceedance of the maximum residue limit (MRL). Results revealed that pesticide residue was significantly (P=0.05) higher in plots treated with carbofuran compared with standard MRL for carbofuran in tomatoes. Crude extracts of L. leucocephala were as effective as carbofuran, while the fraction was however significantly better in producing more numbers of fruits and reduced nematode population in root and soil.

The field experiment was conducted during rabi 2018-2019 at Sorghum Improvement project, MPKV, Rahuri to asses different pest management components against major pests of rabi sorghum. Maximum plant population per plot was observed in plots treated with seed treatment with Imidacloprid 70 WS @ 3 g/kg of seed. The lowest per cent of dead hearts caused due to shoot fly (11.97%) were recorded in T2 where the plots treated with seed treatment with imidacloprid 70 WS @ 3 g/kg. The lowest per cent of dead hearts caused due to stem borer (0.47%) were recorded in treatment of whorl application of Carbofuran 3G @ 8 kg/ha at 35 DAE i.e., T2. The least number of aphids were recorded in the treatment, T6: dimethoate 30% EC @ 1 ml/liter (1.48 aphid/cm2/leaf). Effectiveness of various pest management components on the grain and fodder yield of sorghum indicated that, significantly highest grain and fodder yield (36.20 and 63.00 q/ha, respectively) was obtained from plot treated with imidacloprid 70 WS @ 3 g/kg of seed.

A trial was conducted under green house condition to study the efficacy of some chemicals as soil fumigation and soil application on plant growth characters and reproduction of M. incognita infecting bell pepper. In this study, chemicals viz. metham sodium at 20 ml/m2, 30 ml/m2, 40 ml/m2, fluensulfone at 5 g/m2, 10 g/m2, 15 g/m2 and carbofuran at 20 g/m2 were applied and suitable control was also maintained for comparison. Observations on plant growth characters (shoot and root length, shoot and root weight) and nematode reproduction factors (number of galls per 5g root, number of egg masses per 5g root, nematode population/200 cc soil) and yield kg/plant were recorded. Results showed that metham sodium @ 40ml/m2 was best treatment to improve the plant growth characters, yield and reducing nematode reproduction on bell pepper.

The weak fluorescence of graphene quantum dots upon visible-light excitation limits their applications. The paper reports the synthesis of boron-doped and serine and histidine-functionalized graphene quantum dots (B–Ser–His-GQDs). The resulting B–Ser–His-GQD shows the strongest yellow fluorescence emission upon visible-light excitation at 485 nm. The fluorescence intensity is more than five-fold that of the maximum blue fluorescence emission produced by ultraviolet light excitation at 360 nm. The B–Ser–His-GQD was used as an optical probe for fluorescence detection of carbofuran. In the absence of carbofuran, the B–Ser–His-GQD is strongly adsorbed onto Ti3C2 nanosheets, resulting in rapid fluorescence quenching via fluorescence resonance energy transfer. In the presence of carbofuran, the target binds with carbofuran aptamer DNA/assist duplex strand DNA to produce target-based trigger DNA/carbofuran composites, which triggers DNA cycling and forms Y-shaped double-stranded DNA. The formed Y-shaped DNA cannot be adsorbed onto the Ti3C2 nanosheet, indicating strong fluorescence emission of B–Ser–His-GQDs. By the DNA cycling, one target molecule results in the formation of many Y-shaped DNA molecules and realizes significant signal amplification. The peak fluorescence intensity increases linearly with the increase in carbofuran concentration in the range of 1.0 × 10−13–1.0 × 10−7 M with a detection limit of 3.4 × 10−14 M. The sensitivity is more than that in all reported methods for the detection of carbofuran. The proposed analytical method was successfully applied in the fluorescence detection of carbofuran in cucumber and cabbage.

A study was conducted to assess the effect of individual and combined application of Trichoderma viride and other organic amendments on plant growth and nematode multiplication parameters in comparison with chemical, carbofuran 3G and untreated check for management of root-knot nematodes under polyhouse in Bihar. Maximum improvement in the plant growth parameters was observed with combined application of T. viride @ 10 g/pot + neem cake @ 100 g/pot. Carbofuran 3G @ 2 kg a.i./ha was found most effective in controlling root knot nematodes. T. viride @ 10 g/pot + neem cake @ 100 g/pot increased crop yield by 77 %, compared to 60 % with carbofuran. Neem cake had increased the efficiency of the biocontrol agent, which might be partially due to reduction in nematode population by the action of toxicity of fungal bio agents and partly to the fact that neem cake additive served as manure for management of M. incognita.

To produce a sensitive monoclonal antibody (mAb) for the simultaneous detection of carbofuran, benfuracarb, carbosulfan and 3-hydroxy-carbofuran, 2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-7-benzofuranmethanamine (DDB) was conjugated to bovine serum albumin (BSA) to prepare the immunogen DDB-BSA and mice were immunized. Coating antigens were prepared by conjugating DDB and 5-methoxy-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-3-acetic acid (MDA) to BSA and ovalbumin (OVA), respectively. Furthermore, the effect of different antibody–antigen pairs on the sensitivity of ELISA and LFIA methods for the detection of carbofuran was investigated. After the immunization, a high-affinity mAb 13C8 was obtained. The ability of the coating antigen to compete with carbofuran for binding antibodies was found to be significantly different between ELISA and LFIA methods. With the antibody–antigen pair 13C8-MDA-OVA, the IC50 values of the ELISA and QD-LFIA methods for carbofuran were 0.18 ng/mL and 0.67 ng/mL, respectively. The cross-reactivity (CR) values of the two methods for benfuracarb, carbosulfan and 3-hydroxy-carbofuran ranged from 72.0% to 83.7%, while, for other carbamate pesticides, the CR values were less than 1%. The spiked recoveries of carbofuran in vegetables by the QD-LFIA method were 83–111%, with a coefficient of variation below 10%, and the test results of the actual samples were consistent with the HPLC-MS method. Overall, this study provides key materials for the development of immunoassays for carbofuran and its analogues, and the antibody–antigen pair selection strategy established in this study provides useful insights for the development of sensitive immunoassays for other compounds.

Toxic residues of the insecticide carbofuran in farmland is an urgent problem, and high concentrations of carbofuran have been found in the rhizoshperic soil of maize treated with seed coating agents 120-180 days after planting. Using an enrichment co-culture method, we identify a bacterial strain obtained from these carbofuran-contaminated rhizosphere soils as Leclercia adecarboxylata MCH-1. This strain exhibited a significant ability to degrade both carbofuran and 3-keto carbofuran, with total degradation of 55.6 ± 4.6% and 75.7 ± 3.4%, respectively, 24 h following start of co-culture. Further activity screening revealed that the inoculation of maize roots with L. adecarboxylata MCH-1 promoted maize seedling growth. Quantitative analysis demonstrated that this bacterial strain had the ability to synthesize the phytohormone IAA. Simultaneously, the concentration of IAA in the rhizospheric soil increased following inoculation of maize roots with L. adecarboxylata MCH-1. Moreover, the concentrations of plant specialized metabolites, including phenolics, terpenoids, and alkaloids, decreased in maize seedlings and were elevated in the rhizospheric soil after maize roots had been inoculated with the MCH-1 strain. Interestingly, the growth of the strain MCH-1 was improved by co-culture with root exudates obtained from the rhizospheric soil, specifically 3-hydroxybenzoic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, and zealexin A

The environmental risks of pesticides found in surface waters of an important agricultural basin in Brazil were estimated by adopting two approaches: individual pesticides risk quotients (RQ) and concentration addition model for pesticide mixtures (∑RQs) contained in each water sample. Monitoring was carried out in the Mogi Guaçu River basin, Brazil, from October 2017 to May 2018. Four sampling points were selected in the Mogi Guaçu River and seven in its tributaries A multiresidue method with solid-phase extraction and subsequent analysis by UPLC-ESI-QqQ-MS/MS was developed to quantify 19 pesticides. Herbicides, except for simazine, presented the highest detection frequencies with values above 70%. Tebuthiuron was found in all 55 analyzed samples, presenting the highest concentration (6437 ng L

A precise, accurate, simple and low cost reverse phase high performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous quality assessment of commonly used insecticide carbofuran and fipronil in its technical and formulated products. The chromatographic parameters, i.e. mobile phase composition, wavelength and flow rate of developed method was optimized in such a way that the HPLC was carried out at 280 nm by using a mobile phase, which contains 80 parts acetonitrile and 20 parts water by volume (ACN:H2O, 80:20) flowing at a rate of 1.0 mL/min. A linear relationship (R2 > 0.999) was shown by calibration curve plotted in the concentration ranged from 30-800 mg/L. The limit of detection (LODs) were found to be 14.5 mg/L and 20.9 mg/L and limit of quantification (LOQs) were recorded to be 43.9 mg/L and 63.2 mg/L for both carbofuran and fipronil respectively. The developed method’s accuracy was exhibited by recovery percentage (96.0-100.8) % of water samples spiked with 100, 300 and 600 mg/L of carbofuran and fipronil, respectively. The developed RP-HPLC method is therefore simple, cheap, rapid and can be proficiently used for the simultaneous identification and quantification of carbofuran and fipronil in its technical and formulated products.

Toxicology division of Forensic Science Labs (FSLs) frequently receives samples containing insecticides. Due to pendency of medico legal cases, biological samples are often stored for some time i.e from the time of collection until analysis. The role of temperature and putrefaction that may inevitably interfere with analysis results which is often ignored in such cases. In the present study, an attempt has been made to produce evidences by differentiating Thin Layer Chromatographic (TLC) results of the insecticides- Carbofuran and Carbaryl (1-naphthyl methylcarbamate) as a direct consequence of changes in the preservation methods of samples. Research must be extensively done taking into consideration of the factors like temperature, humidity, duration of time etc. so as to support studies on better preservation methodologies of Forensic samples. Keywords: Insecticides, Carbofuran, Carbaryl, Toxicology, Temperature, Putrefaction, Chromatography

Carbofuran is a carbamate pesticide, widely used in agricultural practices to increase crop productivity. In mammals, carbofuran is known to cause several untoward effects, such as apoptosis in the hippocampal neuron, oxidative stress, loss of memory and chromosomal anomalies. Most of these effects are implicated with cellular senescence. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the effect of carbofuran on cellular senescence and biological ageing. Spinster homolog 1 (Spns1) is a transmembrane transporter, regulates autolysosomal biogenesis and plays a role in cellular senescence and survival. Using senescence‐associated β‐galactosidase staining, we found that carbofuran accelerates the cellular senescence in spns1 mutant zebrafish. The yolk opaqueness, a premature ageing phenotype in zebrafish embryos, was accelerated by carbofuran treatment. In the survival study, carbofuran shortened the life span of spns1 mutant zebrafish. Autophagy is the cellular lysosomal degradation, usually up‐regulated in the senescent cells. To know the impact of carbofuran exposure on autophagy progress, we established a double‐transgenic zebrafish line, harbouring EGFP‐tagged LC3‐II and mCherry‐tagged Lamp1 on spns1 mutant background, whereas we found, carbofuran exposure synergistically accelerates autolysosome formation with insufficient lysosome‐mediated degradation. Our data collectively suggest that carbofuran exposure synergistically accelerates the cellular senescence and affects biological ageing in spns1 defective animals.

The presence and use of carbamate and organophosphate pesticides with agricultural and urban purposes in Colombia has been justified for pest control. However, these substances pose a national problem because of their toxic nature, which is associated with accidental poisoning or even with homicides or suicides related to acute fatal poisoning. This study aims to develop and to validate an analytical methodology for the determination of the aldicarb, carbofuran and methamidophos pesticides in blood through liquid chromatography--tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS-MS). To this end, the method for extracting pesticides from the blood was developed, the conditions of LC were defined, the instrumental system MS-MS was optimized and the bioanalytical methodology was validated. This methodology proved to be selective, precise, accurate and linear in the concentration range from 0.10 to 5.0 µg/mL, with a limit of detection of 0.020 µg/mL for aldicarb and carbofuran and 0.050 µg/mL for methamidophos, recovery between 90% and 102%, and stability at room temperature and in the autosampler between 80% and 120%. The analytical methodology was applied to 34 forensic cases. Carbofuran was found at a concentration ranging from 0.020 to >5.0 µg/mL, aldicarb was found at a concentration ranging from 0.10 to 2.5 µg/mL and methamidophos was found at a concentration >5.0 µg/mL. In 62% of the cases, the pesticides under study were used to commit suicide. Necropsy findings of pesticide poisoning are non-specific. Therefore, toxicological blood analysis provides significant information at the forensic level, and the analytical method validated represents a sensitive, fast and reliable analysis with little solvent consumption of a small sample amount, so it is suitable for routine application in fatal pesticide poisonings.

The present investigation was conducted at College of Agriculture, V. C. Farm, Mandya, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore during Kharif 2019. Attack of shoot fly in foxtail millet causes significant loss of yield at the early stage of crop growth. Delay in the use of insecticide leads to high loss of yield. The most economical and easiest method for the management of shoot fly is seed treatment. In the present study eight different seed treatment chemicals and one standard check with soil application of carbofuran 3G at 33 Kg ha-1 were evaluated against infestation of shoot fly in foxtail millet. The observations were recorded on per cent dead heart from 14 to 35 days after sowing (DAS) at weekly interval. The data on per cent dead heart revealed that, among the different treatments clothianidin 50WG @ 1 g Kg-1 recorded significantly least per cent dead heart (14.84%) compared to rest of the treatments at 35 DAS. The grain and fodder yield were also significantly higher in case of seed treatment with clothianidin 50WG @ 1 g Kg-1 (15.07 and 24.31 q ha-1) followed by thiamethoxam 25WG @ 2 g Kg-1 (14.32 and 22.19 q ha-1). Cost economics of different seed treatment chemicals revealed that clothianidin 50WG @ 1 g Kg-1 recorded highest net returns with maximum cost benefit ratio (1:2.57).

An analytical method for the accurate determination of carbamate pesticides, carbaryl, carbendazim, and carbofuran, in vegetables was established based on the isotope dilution liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (ID-LC/MS/MS) technique as a candidate reference method. For sample clean-up, a Carb/LC-NH2 solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridge was employed to ensure an efficient recovery and color removal from the vegetable samples. Isotope analogues, 13C6-carbaryl, carbendazim-d4, and 13C6-carbofuran, were used as internal standards, respectively. This method was validated by measuring samples fortified with the three target analytes into vegetable samples and prepared homogeneous Korean cabbage powder samples in this laboratory. All results of the measured values agreed with the fortified values within their uncertainties. Repeatability and reproducibility of the method were both approximately 2%. As commercially available CRM contains only carbendazim, its content was analyzed by the developed method. The measured value of carbendazim in CRM was (0.0724 ± 0.0013) mg/kg agreeing with the certified value (0.074 ± 0.004) mg/kg. These validation data indicate the developed ID-LC/MS/MS method is reproducible, repeatable and reliable to be as a candidate reference method for accurate determination of carbamate pesticides in vegetables.

The recently introduced chalcid pest known as the Blue Gum Chalcid (BGC) (L. invasa) is currently one of the major insect pests of Eucalyptus tree species in Ethiopia. A research was conducted in Kalu district, South Wollo, Eastern Amhara, Ethiopia, the main objective of which was to evaluate the effectiveness of synthetic insecticides, hoeing and water showering options against BGC. Two parallel experiments were conducted in the nursery and in the field. Eucalyptus camaldulensis, E. saligna, E. viminalis, E. citrodora and E. globulus were considered in the nursery at Chorisa. One to three-year old E. camaldulensis plantations were considered at Tikuro plantation site. At the nursery, seven treatments and at the field 10 treatments were tested in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications from January to February 2019, where treatments were applied 3 times at 15-day intervals. Results from the 1-year old plantation revealed that application of Dimethoate 40%, Carbofuran 3G and Dimethoate 40% + hoeing followed by Carbofuran 3G + hoeing and Thiamethoxam 25WG were effective in checking the BGC insect pest infestation. In the 3-year old plantation, Carbofuran 3G significantly reduced the infestation followed by Dimethoate 40%. At the nursery, Dimethoate 40% and Carbofuran 3G reduced the infestation followed by Carbofuran 3G + Dimethoate 40% and thiamethoxam 25WG. Water showering and hoeing did not reduce BGC infestation in all cases at the field plantations. Treatments that received synthetic insecticides and hoeing had low infestation, the reason for which was the insecticide rather than the hoeing, because the hoeing alone didn’t differ from the control. Application of Dimethoate 40% and Carbofuran 3G with hoeing and weeding activities were recommended to manage and limit BGC insect pest infestations.

SummaryThe prevalent pesticide carbofuran was banned in the European Union (EU) in 2008; however, the extent of its actual elimination from the environment has been little studied. The presence of this pesticide in the livers of the protected raptors the white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) and the common buzzard (Buteo buteo) was monitored in Poland from 2008 to 2019 using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry analysis and data from government institutions. Carbofuran residues were detected in the liver samples of the analysed raptors throughout the period studied. In total, carbofuran was detected in the livers of 33% of the eagles and 54% of the buzzards; concentrations were in the ranges of 11–699 and 14–1890 μg kg–1 of dry matter, respectively. Effective measures to eliminate banned pesticides from the market more efficiently are required.

A field experiment was conducted to determine the dissipation kinetics of carbofuran and its metabolite (Carbofuran 3-OH) in the soil and their terminal residue in sugarcane. The experimental plots were subjected to application of carbofuran 3G (1.0 kg a.i./ha) at the time of planting and 60 days after planting of sugarcane variety CoN 07072 grown with recommended agronomic practices. The soil samples were periodically collected at 0 (2 hrs.), 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 30, 60 and 90 days after last application of carbofuran. QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) based extraction method adopted to quantify the residues of carbofuran on LC-MS/MS (Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry) from soil, sugarcane juice and leaves were found accurate, sensitive and precise enough. Residues of carbofuran and total carbofuran (Carbofuran + Carbofuran 3-OH) were observed upto 30 days after application and reached below quantification level at 60 days after application in sugarcane grown soil. Carbofuran and total carbofuran followed the first order dissipation kinetics with the half life of 4.18 and 4.17 days, respectively in the experimental soil. Sugarcane leaves and juice contains the residues of carbofuran below quantification limit at the time of harvest of sugarcane.

Introduction: Increased rates of pesticide misapplication and follow-on concerns on public health have become subjects of countless distress. The occurrence of pesticides in soils could result in modifications in soil physical, chemical as well as biological properties hence the need for ways to reduce such impacts. Research Gap: Insufficient literatures on extensive identification of pesticides’ degraders from non-impacted soils. Existing literatures are restricted to a particular microbial group (bacteria or fungi). Aim: The study aimed at isolating, characterizing and testing bacteria, moulds, yeasts and actinomyces from soil for the biodegradation of pesticides. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at the Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun and Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, Lagos, Nigeria/ four months. Methodology: Carbofuran and Paraquat degrading microorganisms were isolated from a non-pesticides impacted soil using mineral salt medium (MSM). The MSM composed in grams per liter: K2HPO4, 4.8; KH2PO4, 1.2; NH4NO3, 1.0; MgSO4 7H2O, 0.2; Ca(NO3)2 .4H20, 0.4, and Fe(SO4)3, 0.001 supplemented with 2 mM Carbofuran or Paraquat as the only carbon source. The ability of the microbial isolates to utilize Carbofuran and Paraquat was screened on MSM containing 150 part per million of the pesticides as the only carbon source. The isolates were identified using the analytical profile index (API), microscopic and macroscopic characteristics. Results: Bacterial species identified were Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Kocuria, Enterobacter, Chryseobacterium, Corynebacterium, Acinetobacter, Paenibacillus, Lerclercia and Proteus. Actinomyces were Actinomyces isrealii, Actinomyces naeslundi, Actinomyces viscosus 1, Actinomyces meyeri and Actinomyces viscosus 2. Yeast isolates were Candida stellatoidea, Candida krusei and Saccharomyces cerevisiae while moulds were Talaromyces, Cladosporium carionii and Curvularia species. Conclusion: These findings indicated that Carbofuran and Paraquat degrading organisms are readily extant in soils and can be used to facilitate the removal of these pesticides from such polluted environments.

Cholinergic syndrome is a common topic at western medical universities yet rarely observed in clinical practice. The treatment involves muscarinic antagonists, acetylcholinesterase reactivation, seizure control, and supportive measures. Here we report a case of a 52-year old Caucasian male who attempted suicide by ingesting a purple crystal powder that turned out to be a mixture of carbofuran and chlormephos. At clinical examination, the patient presented with salivation, perspiration, diarrhoea, bradypnoea, loss of consciousness, and epileptic seizures. Laboratory tests showed low plasma cholinesterase, and we started obidoxime along with supportive intensive care treatment. He was later transferred to the psychiatry department for further diagnostics and treatment.

To assess the dietary exposure risks of pesticide residues in snow fungus for the general population and young children, 91 snow fungus samples were collected from major production areas in Fujian Province, China and the presence of 44 pesticides was determined. A total of thirteen pesticides were detected; 65.9% of the samples contained one or more pesticide residues. The most frequently found pesticide was carbofuran, followed by acetamiprid and then imidacloprid. Data obtained were used for chronic, acute, and chronic cumulative dietary exposure risk assessments. The chronic hazard quotient (cHQ) was extremely low for both the general population and young children. The %ADI values of cumulative dietary exposures to organophosphorus pesticides and carbamates ranged from 0.53% to 1.49%, and did not exceed their corresponding ADIs. However, the acute dietary risks from all 13 pesticides, especially carbofuran and methamidophos, were of concern due to the relatively high acute hazard quotient. The risk ranking scheme showed that carbofuran could pose a high risk to snow fungus consumers. Finally, suggestions are made about the potential use in snow fungus cultivation of the pesticides with detected residues.

Background: Pesticides are increasingly used in agriculture and households, but they are also considered a major pollutant to the environment. Carbofuran (CAR; 2,3-dihydro-2,2- dimethylbenzofuran-7-yl methylcarbamate) is a widely used pesticide due to its effectiveness on soybean aphids. Objectives: A simple and green method was suggested for the extraction and determination of CAR in different matrices. Methods: A diazotization reaction involving the use of the drug compound metoclopramide was utilized in this study. A red dye product, which was formed from the diazotization coupling between CAR and diazotized metoclopramide (DMCP), was extracted using cloud point extraction with the nonionic surfactant Triton X-114 and measured at a wavelength of 515 nm. Results: The linearity of the extracted method was over a concentration range of 0.1-0.5 µg/mL (r2 = 0.996) for CAR with a detection limit of 0.064 µg/mL and enrichment factors of about 148 folds for CAR. The mean recovery percentage was in the range of 99-102% for water and soil samples with precision (RSD%) of less than 0.4%. Conclusion: The described method was effectively utilized in the simultaneous extraction of CAR from water and soil samples.

Increasing application of pesticides and their toxicity made it essential to develop reliable and accurate methods of their trace quantification. This research was aimed to develop an electrochemical nanocomposite sensor based on molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for selective and sensitive determination of carbofuran. The proposed sensor was made based on incorporation of carbofuran MIP in the carbon paste. The square wave voltammetric (SWV) method was applied for the electrochemical measurements. The experimental design was then used to optimize parameters affecting the sensor response according to selected experimental domain. The obtained linear range after optimization of the parameters was from 1 × 10–9 to 1 × 10–6 M. The calculated detection limit was 3 × 10–10 M. Under optimized extraction and determination conditions, the proposed modified sensor indicated the considerable sensitivity and selectivity to determine carbofuran in some real samples (human urine, tap and river water) without any special sample pre-treatment before the analysis.

The root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita causes losses in tomato production, making new methods/products to control this parasite desirable. Garlic essential oil (GEO) is potentially useful for controlling M. incognita. Here, GEO was obtained by hydrodistillation, dissolved in water and used against M. incognita in vitro. At 63 μg mL−1, this oil was more active against M. incognita eggs and second-stage juveniles (J2) than the nematicide Carbofuran at 173 μg mL−1. The main components of the oil, according to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, are diallyl trisulphide (66.7%) and diallyl disulphide (21.3%), which presented lethal concentrations to 50% (LC50) J2 equal to 36.2 ± 1.7 and 134.4 ± 19.4 μg mL−1, respectively, while the LC50 for Carbofuran was 151.6 ± 2.1 μg mL−1. When the J2 submerged in a solution of the oil at 250 μg mL−1 were used to infest tomato plants, the number of galls and eggs of M. incognita in the roots were reduced to values statistically equal to those obtained when J2 were submerged in a solution of Carbofuran at 415 μg mL−1. The vapour of the oil was also as active in vitro against M. incognita eggs and J2 as the fumigant nematicide Dazomet. The infectivity and reproduction of M. incognita in tomato plants cultivated in substrate inoculated with eggs of the nematode and treated with 0.2 mL of oil per L of substrate were statistically equal to those observed when the oil was replaced by 0.25 g of Dazomet per L of substrate. These findings confirm the activity of GEO and its components against M. incognita, suggesting its potential as a new fumigant nematicide to control the nematode in tomato plants.