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The Impact of Agricultural Pesticides on Human Health and the Environment

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2018) | Viewed by 25487

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health of Tropical Medicine, Suite 2100, 1440 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
Interests: the impact of toxic chemicals on human health and the environment:accumulation in food chain organisms and degradation; water and sanitation and effects of agricultural pesticides in developing nations

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are organizing a Special Issue on “The Impact of Agricultural Pesticides on Human Health and the Environment” in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. The venue is a peer-reviewed scientific journal that publishes articles and communications in the interdisciplinary area of environmental health sciences and public health. For detailed information on the journal, we refer you to https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph.

The United Nation recently projected that the world population will reach 11.2 billion people by the year 2100. More food is needed to be produced to match this growth. Improvement of agriculture by several means to produce more food tends to increase food security. One of these methods is the use of agricultural pesticides (insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, etc.) to improve crop yields. Pesticides can enter our food chain through residues on treated crops, fruits, seafood and others.

Most of developed counties have approved new laws to reduce the use of these agricultural pesticides. This is driven by the public health concerns by consuming foods containing pesticide residues.

This Special Issue is open to any subject area related to assessing the impact of agricultural pesticides on our health and the environment. This in turn will inform decision makers to issue policies for the improvement of public health.

The listed keywords suggest just a few of the many possibilities.

Prof. Dr. Assaf A. Abdelghani
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Environment
  • Human Health
  • Toxicity/Toxicological Testing
  • Accumulation
  • Depuration
  • Biodegradation
  • Biotransformation
  • Soil and sediment Sorption
  • Physical movement
  • Surface and Ground Water contamination
  • Chronic/Long Term Health Effects
  • Food Chain/Seafood
  • Organophosphorus and Organochlorine compounds
  • Agrochemicals
  • Herbicides
  • Insecticides
  • Fungicides

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 305 KiB  
Article
A Cross-Sectional Investigation of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Biomarkers among Conventional and Organic Farmers in Thailand
by Pornpimol Kongtip, Noppanun Nankongnab, Mathuros Tipayamongkholgul, Ariya Bunngamchairat, Jutharak Yimsabai, Aranya Pataitiemthong and Susan Woskie
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(11), 2590; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15112590 - 20 Nov 2018
Cited by 29 | Viewed by 4959
Abstract
Pesticide exposure has been implicated as a risk factor for developing a wide range of adverse health issues. Some examples are metabolic syndromes, including diabetes. This study investigated the relationship between current occupational use of pesticides and metabolic and cardiovascular biomarker levels among [...] Read more.
Pesticide exposure has been implicated as a risk factor for developing a wide range of adverse health issues. Some examples are metabolic syndromes, including diabetes. This study investigated the relationship between current occupational use of pesticides and metabolic and cardiovascular biomarker levels among organic and conventional farmers in Thailand. In total, 436 recruited farmers were divided into two groups: conventional farmers (n = 214) and organic farmers (n = 222). Participants, free of diabetes, were interviewed and submitted to a physical examination. Serum samples were collected for clinical laboratory analyses, i.e., serum glucose and lipid profiles (triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoproteins, and low-density lipoproteins). Potential risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and heavy exercise were significantly different between the two groups. There were significant differences in terms of the years of pesticide use, pesticide use at home, sources of drinking water, and distance between the farmers’ homes and farms between the groups. After adjusting for confounders, current conventional farmers had significantly higher abnormal body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, body fat percentage (% body fat), triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein values as compared to organic farmers. Conventional farmers had higher risk of many metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors as compared to organic farmers, putting them at higher risk of metabolic diseases in the future. Full article
17 pages, 6076 KiB  
Article
The Rapid Degradation of Lambda-Cyhalothrin Makes Treated Vegetables Relatively Safe for Consumption
by Rousseau Djouaka, Murielle Farrelle Soglo, Michael Olugbenga Kusimo, Razack Adéoti, Armand Talom, Francis Zeukeng, Armand Paraïso, Victor Afari-Sefa, May-Guri Saethre, Victor Manyong, Manuele Tamò, Jeff Waage, Jo Lines and George Mahuku
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(7), 1536; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15071536 - 20 Jul 2018
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 6334
Abstract
Lambda-cyhalothrin (λ-cyhalothrin) is the most commonly used pyrethroid insecticide for vegetable farming in Benin. This insecticide is misused and overused by farmers, and hence may pose health hazards to consumers. We monitored λ-cyhalothrin residues in lettuce and cabbage from farms at the market [...] Read more.
Lambda-cyhalothrin (λ-cyhalothrin) is the most commonly used pyrethroid insecticide for vegetable farming in Benin. This insecticide is misused and overused by farmers, and hence may pose health hazards to consumers. We monitored λ-cyhalothrin residues in lettuce and cabbage from farms at the market gates in Cotonou and Parakou using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis techniques. These residues were also monitored on samples directly from farms (on-farm sampling) for 14 days post-treatment. Potential factors such as photolysis and hydrolysis involved in λ-cyhalothrin degradation were also screened. Results revealed that the level of λ-cyhalothrin residue concentrations in lettuce from Houeyiho decreased from 4.2 mg/kg on Day 1 to about 0.2 mg/kg on Day 7. On Day 9, analyzed lettuces were all λ-cyhalothrin free. In contrast, even 14 days after treatment of cabbage from Bawera (Parakou), we still recorded the presence of λ-cyhalothrin residues in analyzed samples. For samples from market gates, λ-cyhalothrin residues were found in lettuce from two markets out of the nine surveyed in Cotonou. Interestingly, none of these contaminated samples had residues above the maximum residue limit for lettuce (MRL = 0.5 mg/kg). Similarly, in Parakou, samples from all five surveyed vegetable markets were contaminated with λ-cyhalothrin residues at concentrations below the MRL for cabbage (MRL = 0.2 mg/kg). We conclude that λ-cyhalothrin residues in lettuce and cabbage from farms and markets in Parakou and Cotonou are within the MRL, and hence are relatively safe for consumption. Full article
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17 pages, 2732 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Producers’ Exposure Level to Pesticides, in Kouka and Toussiana (Burkina Faso)
by Diakalia Son, Fabrice K. B. Zerbo, Schémaeza Bonzi, Bruno Schiffers, Irénée Somda, Bruno Schiffers and Anne Legreve
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(2), 204; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15020204 - 25 Jan 2018
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 6090
Abstract
To assess producers’ exposure level to pesticides in vegetable production in Burkina Faso, a study was carried out in 2016 and 2017 among 30 tomato producers in the municipalities of Kouka and Toussiana. Eighteen (18) commercial formulations were identified, with more than 50% [...] Read more.
To assess producers’ exposure level to pesticides in vegetable production in Burkina Faso, a study was carried out in 2016 and 2017 among 30 tomato producers in the municipalities of Kouka and Toussiana. Eighteen (18) commercial formulations were identified, with more than 50% of pesticides destined for cotton production. Eleven active substances have been identified and the most frequently used are λ-cyhalothrin (35%), acetamiprid (22%) and profenofos (13%). The most commonly used chemical families are pyrethroids (28%) and organophosphates (18%). The study revealed a low level of training for producers, a high use of pesticides according to the Frequency Treatment Indicator, and a very low level of protection used by producers. The Health Risk Index shows that active substances such as methomyl, λ-cyhalothrin and profenofos present very high risk to operators’ health. Based on the UK-POEM model, the predictive exposure levels obtained varied from 0.0105 mg/kg body weight/day to 1.7855 mg/kg body weight/day, which is several times higher than the Acceptable Operator Exposure Level. However, the study also shows that exposure can be greatly reduced if the required Personal Protective Equipment is worn. Producers’ awareness and training on integrated pest management are necessary to reduce the risks linked to the pesticides use in Burkina Faso. Full article
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994 KiB  
Article
Optimization of the Use of His6-OPH-Based Enzymatic Biocatalysts for the Destruction of Chlorpyrifos in Soil
by Olga Senko, Olga Maslova and Elena Efremenko
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2017, 14(12), 1438; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14121438 - 23 Nov 2017
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 6005
Abstract
Applying enzymatic biocatalysts based on hexahistidine-containing organophosphorus hydrolase (His6-OPH) is suggested for the decomposition of chlorpyrifos, which is actively used in agriculture in many countries. The application conditions were optimized and the following techniques was suggested to ensure the highest efficiency [...] Read more.
Applying enzymatic biocatalysts based on hexahistidine-containing organophosphorus hydrolase (His6-OPH) is suggested for the decomposition of chlorpyrifos, which is actively used in agriculture in many countries. The application conditions were optimized and the following techniques was suggested to ensure the highest efficiency of the enzyme: first, the soil is alkalinized with hydrated calcitic lime Ca(OH)2, then the enzyme is introduced into the soil at a concentration of 1000 U/kg soil. Non-equilibrium low temperature plasma (NELTP)-modified zeolite is used for immobilization of the relatively inexpensive polyelectrolyte complexes containing the enzyme His6-OPH and a polyanionic polymer: poly-l-glutamic acid (PLE50) or poly-l-aspartic acid (PLD50). The soil’s humidity is then increased up to 60–80%, the top layer (10–30 cm) of soil is thoroughly stirred, and then exposed for 48–72 h. The suggested approach ensures 100% destruction of the pesticide within 72 h in soils containing as much as 100 mg/kg of chlorpyrifos. It was concluded that using this type of His6-OPH-based enzyme chemical can be the best approach for soils with relatively low humus concentrations, such as sandy and loam-sandy chestnut soils, as well as types of soil with increased alkalinity (pH 8.0–8.4). Such soils are often encountered in desert, desert-steppe, foothills, and subtropical regions where chlorpyrifos is actively used. Full article
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