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Recent studies have shown that neonicotinoids in pollen and honey (collected by honeybees) are likely to pose risks to honeybees. However, data on the integrated residue and spatial-temporal variation of neonicotinoids from noncrop plants, the principle sources of pollen for honey bees, are very limited, especially in China. In this study, we employed a novel assessment method based on the relative potency factor to calculate the integrated residue of seven neonicotinoids in pollen and honey samples collected from noncrop plants in 12 stations of Zhejiang province in three consecutive months. The integrated concentration of neonicotinoids (IMI RPF) ranged from no detected (ND) to 34.93 ng/g in pollen and ND to 8.51 ng/g in honey. Acetamiprid showed the highest detection frequency of 41.7%, followed by clothianidin (33.3%) and dinotefuran (22.2%). The highest IMI RPF occurred in April for stations in the fringe areas of Zhejiang province, whereas for stations in the central areas of Zhejiang province, the IMI RPF in May was relatively higher than the other two months. In terms of spatial change, the pollution variation of pollen samples in Lin'an—Tonglu—Pujiang was relative highly polluted—lightly polluted—highly polluted. For honey samples, spatial variation showed a single trend, and peak values were found in Wenzhou, which may be attributed to the local climate and farming practices. This fundamental information will be helpful to understand the effects of neonicotinoids on honeybees foraging habits. Image 1 • Residues and compositions of neonicotinoids in pollen and honey samples were investigated. • The integrated concentration of neonicotinoids were evaluated by relative potency factors. • The temporal and spatial trends of neonicotinoids were studied in Zhejiang, China. The residue, composition and spatial-temporal variation of seven neonicotinoids in pollen and honey from noncrop plants were integrated and assessed in Zhejiang, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungicides have been extensively used around the world in agriculture due to their effectiveness of sterilization. Recent evidences have shown that fungicides would exert a negative effect on gut microbiota and result in gut microbiota dysbiosis and metabolism disorder on non-target organisms and even humans. However, research on residues and potential health risks of fungicides in daily consumed vegetables has received less attention compared to insecticides. In this study, we studied three widely applied fungicides, procymidone, dimethomorph, and azoxystrobin, in China. We collected 551 samples of 10 different vegetables in 11 cities from Zhejiang province during 2015–2017. Three fungicides were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The average apparent recoveries of three fungicides ranged from 84.2% to 110% with the relative standard deviations lower than 10%. The LOD values of procymidone, dimethomorph, and azoxystrobin was 2, 0.09, and 1 μg/kg, respectively. The levels of procymidone, dimethomorph, and azoxystrobin in those vegetables ranged from ND-875, ND-238, and ND-76 μg/kg, respectively. The highest mean concentrations of procymidone, dimethomorph, and azoxystrobin were found in eggplant (68 μg/kg), spinach (16.4 μg/kg), and kidney bean (4 μg/kg), respectively. Tomato (62.6% of samples), eggplant (44.3% of samples), and cucumber (41.6% of samples) were most frequently detected with fungicides. Solanaceous fruit vegetables have the highest detection rate than other vegetables, and fungicides were most frequently detected in winter. The mean concentrations of three fungicides in different vegetables were all below the maximum residue limits for the national food safety standards of China, and the health risks resulting from consuming those vegetables in adults and children were all within the safe ranges. The data provided here clarify the distributions of fungicides in commonly consumed vegetables and their potential health risks. Image 1 • 551 vegetables were detected during the three years (2015–2017). • Fungicide levels and detection rates were higher in winter. • The highest detection rate was observed in solanaceous fruit vegetables. • Distributions of three fungicides in different cities of Zhejiang province. • Human health risks posed by fungicide in vegetables were assessed. Three widely applied fungicides (procymidone, dimethomorph, and azoxystrobin) were analyzed in 551 samples of 10 different vegetables in 11 cities from Zhejiang province, China during 2015–2017. The health risks resulting from consuming those vegetables in adults and children were all within the safe ranges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pesticides represent one of the largest intentional inputs of potentially hazardous compounds into agricultural soils. However, as an important vegetable producing country, surveys on pesticide residues in soils of vegetable production areas are scarce in China. This study presented the occurrence, spatial distribution, correlation between vegetable types and pesticides, and ecological risk evaluation of 94 current-use pesticides in 184 soil samples from vegetable production areas of Zhejiang province (China). The ecological risks of pesticides to soil biota were evaluated with toxicity exposure ratios (TERs) and risk quotient (RQ). The pesticide concentrations varied largely from below the limit of quantification to 20703.06 μg/kg (chlorpyrifos). The situation of pesticide residues in Jiaxing is more serious than in other cities. Soils in the vegetable areas are highly diverse in pesticide combinations. Eisenia fetida suffered exposure risk from multiple pesticides. The risk posed by chlorpyrifos, which exhibited the highest RQs at all scenarios, was worrisome. Only a few pesticides accounted for the overall risk of a city, while the other pesticides make little or zero contribution. This work will guide the appropriate use of pesticides and manage soil ecological risks, achieving green agricultural production. [Display omitted] • 184 soil samples in 6 cities were collected to identify 94 current-use pesticides. • 79% of the tested pesticides were detected over limit of quantitation. • The situation of pesticide residues in Jiaxing is more serious than in other cities. • Soils in the vegetable areas are highly diverse in pesticide combinations. • Eisenia fetida suffered exposure risk from multiple pesticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are organic pollutants that are persistent and undegradable in the environment. To investigate their residual concentrations, spatial and temporal distributions, and the relationship with the crops planted, 12 individual OCPs in 687 soil samples from Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Jiangxi provinces of southeast China were examined. The detection frequencies of OCPs in the studied areas were 1.89%–64.9%. The concentrations of dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethanes (DDTs), hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), and endosulfans ranged from 0.01 to 5659 μg/kg, 0.03–3.58 μg/kg, and 0.05–3235 μg/kg, respectively. Jiangsu was mainly contaminated by p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDD and endosulfan sulfate, Zhejiang was more polluted by OCPs except δ-HCH, and Jiangxi was more vulnerable to the contamination of OCPs except o,p'-DDE. The partial least-squares discrimination analysis (PLS-DA) model with RX2 36.3–36.8% revealed that compounds with similar chemical properties tended to appear in the same year and month. All crop lands were polluted by DDTs and Endosulfans. The highest concentrations of DDTs and Endosulfans were found in citrus and vegetable fields, respectively. This study offers new insight into the layout and partitioning of OCPs in agricultural land and into insecticide management on public health and ecological safety. [Display omitted] • 687 soil samples in 6 consecutive years were collected to identify OCPs. • p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDD were the most frequently detected. • Coastal area and lake district were more concentrated of OCPs. • Chemical properties might influence the temporal distribution of OCPs. • DDTs and Endosulfans were the primary pollutants in agricultural soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]