Search Results (197)

The health of the honey bee (Apis mellifera) is threatened by a variety of biotic and abiotic stressors, among which pesticide exposure remains a major factor. Acetamiprid is a neonicotinoid still authorized in the European Union despite the known toxic effects exerted on honey bees. To date, its impact on queens’ health remains largely unexplored although colony survival is strongly dependent on the reproductive success of the queen. In this study, we evaluated the effects of a 7-day sublethal exposure to acetamiprid (20 μg/L) on the ovarian structure using histological and immunohistochemical approaches. The histological analysis revealed structural alterations in the ovaries of exposed queens, including disorganization of the germarium and vitellarium, cytoplasmatic vacuolization in the interstitial connective tissue, oocyte degeneration and pyknotic nuclei in nurse cells, indicative of apoptosis. In addition, immunohistochemical analysis revealed increased expression of HSP70 and HSP90, indicating a disruption of cellular proteostasis and cellular stress. These findings suggest that sublethal short-term exposure to acetamiprid may directly affect the queen bee reproductive apparatus. Full article

To explore an alternative detection approach for the pesticide imidacloprid (IMI), this study repurposed the quinoline-benzimidazole fluorescent probe DQBM-B—previously developed for Co²⁺ recognition—and investigated its detection performance and interaction mechanism toward IMI in the aggregated state. The optimal working conditions of the probe were determined by optimizing key detection parameters, and the sensing performance and matrix compatibility were evaluated through selectivity tests and proof-of-concept spiked cucumber extract analysis. The DQBM-B aggregates interact with IMI synergistically through intermolecular hydrogen bonding and π–π stacking, which enrich IMI at the aggregate surface to create a local enrichment layer. The observed fluorescence quenching arises from the synergistic contribution of static quenching (due to ground-state complex formation) and the inner filter effect (IFE). Under the optimal conditions, the system exhibited a detection limit of 0.75 μmol L⁻¹ for IMI with favorable anti-interference ability. The matrix effect evaluation in cucumber extract demonstrated good recovery and precision, demonstrating the feasibility of the aggregation-regulated IFE strategy in complex food matrices. This study expands the application scope of the DQBM-B probe from metal-ion sensing to pesticide detection and provides a metal-free, aggregation-regulated strategy for the fluorescence detection of neonicotinoid pesticides. Full article

The widespread use of thiamethoxam, a neonicotinoid pesticide, poses increasing risks to environmental and food safety, highlighting the urgent need for rapid, selective, and biomass-derived analytical platforms. In this study, fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) were synthesized from rice straw via a water-based hydrothermal approach and subsequently functionalized with a biopolymer-based molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for the selective detection of thiamethoxam. The synthesized CDs exhibited strong blue fluorescence with a maximum emission wavelength at 455 nm. Integration of the CDs with a thin MIP layer generated specific binding cavities complementary to thiamethoxam, significantly enhancing selectivity toward the target analyte over structurally related neonicotinoids. The resulting CD@MIP sensor demonstrated rapid and concentration-dependent fluorescence quenching, with a wide linear detection range from 1 to 500 nM and a limit of detection of 9.15 nM. An imprinting factor of 3.54 confirmed the selective recognition capability of the imprinted system. The developed sensing platform was successfully validated using real environmental water samples, achieving recovery values between 100% and 102% with relative standard deviations ranging from 0.9% to 2.5%, thereby demonstrating good accuracy and reproducibility. Overall, this work presents a biomass-derived and efficient fluorescent sensing platform for monitoring pesticide residues, with promising applications in environmental monitoring and food safety analysis. Full article

Dietary pesticide exposure is a growing public health concern, particularly for children in agricultural regions. This study assessed the occurrence and concentration of neonicotinoids and other pesticide residues in foods frequently consumed by preschool children (4–5 years) in an agroindustrial zone of Jalisco, Mexico, and estimated their weekly dietary exposure (DE). Thirty-one food samples representing 18 items were collected from retail sites identified through seven-day dietary records completed by 23 families. Samples were analyzed by LC/ESI-MS/MS covering 236 compounds; exposure was estimated considering raw and cooked consumption patterns and processing factors. Residues were detected in 87% of samples, yielding 34 distinct compounds, including 5 neonicotinoids; imidacloprid was the most frequently detected. Strawberry, raspberry, apple, grape, and tomato showed the highest residue loads; seven samples exceeded MRLs set by the EU, USA, or Mexico. Raw food consumption accounted for 96% of total estimated exposure, with pyrimethanil, boscalid, propamocarb, and imidacloprid as principal contributors. These findings confirm that children in this population face repeated, simultaneous exposure to multiple pesticides through diet, underscoring the need for stronger food safety monitoring, harmonized regulatory limits, and cumulative risk assessment frameworks for vulnerable populations. Full article

Background: Imidacloprid, a widely used neonicotinoid insecticide, is routinely applied to control pests in Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus, a crucial medicinal herb producing Astragali Radix. However, the early short-term transcriptional and metabolic responses of its seedlings under imidacloprid gradient stress remain poorly characterized. Methods: In this study, 80-day seedlings were subjected to three foliar spray treatments: blank control (CK), the recommended imidacloprid concentration (2000-fold dilution, 475 mg·L⁻¹), and an excessively high concentration (500-fold dilution, 1900 mg·L⁻¹). Leaf samples were harvested 24 h post-treatment for untargeted ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS) metabolomics (6 biological replicates) and RNA-seq transcriptome sequencing (3 biological replicates). Results: The low- and high-dose treatments induced 1076 and 860 differential metabolites and 6818 and 7283 differentially expressed genes, respectively. Flavonoids, saponins, terpenoids, amino acid metabolites, and energy-related pathways were prominently affected. KEGG enrichment indicated activation of flavone/flavonol biosynthesis, phenylpropanoid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, MAPK signaling, cutin/suberin/wax biosynthesis, and ABC transporter pathways, whereas high-dose exposure was associated with stronger changes in genes related to DNA replication and cell wall remodeling. Integrated network analysis highlighted CHS, PAL, MYC2, KCS, and ABCG40 as candidate regulators linking stress signaling, secondary metabolism, and metabolite transport. Conclusions: Seedlings of A. membranaceus var. mongholicus exhibit dose-dependent acute responses to imidacloprid. Moderate pesticide exposure primarily activates defensive secondary metabolism, whereas excessive dosage triggers genome-wide transcriptional reprogramming. This work identifies key metabolic pathways and hub genes, offering candidate molecular markers for investigating pesticide stress adaptation in medicinal Astragalus and guiding standardized pesticide application in cultivation. Full article

Neonicotinoid insecticides (NEOs) are widely used neuroactive pesticides, but biomonitoring evidence among older adults remains limited. This multicenter cross-sectional study characterized urinary exposure profiles of NEOs and their metabolites among 419 older adults from South China. Ten urinary NEO biomarkers, including six parent compounds and four metabolites, were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. NEOs were frequently detected in urine samples; except for thiacloprid and acetamiprid, with detection frequencies of 81.67% and 65.48%, respectively, all other compounds were detected in more than 90% of participants. Among the parent NEOs, clothianidin had the highest median concentration (1.402 μg/L), followed by dinotefuran (1.240 μg/L) and thiamethoxam (0.888 μg/L). The main metabolite was N-desmethyl-acetamiprid (1.643 μg/L). Looking at the overall composition, dinotefuran, clothianidin, thiamethoxam, and N-desmethyl-acetamiprid were the biggest contributors to the total urinary NEO burden, though their shares varied by region and recruitment center. Correlation analysis pointed to common co-exposure patterns, especially between thiamethoxam and clothianidin, and between imidacloprid and its metabolites. In exploratory analyses, N-desmethyl-thiamethoxam showed a positive correlation pattern, with significant positive correlations with glucose, glycated hemoglobin, triglycerides, and alanine aminotransferase (all q < 0.01). CLO was positively correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (q < 0.05). These findings indicate widespread co-exposure to multiple NEOs among older adults in South China and highlight the need for longitudinal studies to clarify exposure sources, temporal variability, and potential health implications. Full article

Although thiamethoxam is frequently used in sugarcane production in Guangxi, China as a systemic insecticide and bioactivator, little is known about its field control effectiveness and residue dissipation across commercially significant genotypes grown in the region. In this study, we have addressed this gap by assessing the residue dynamics and borer control effectiveness of thiamethoxam in three significant sugarcane types (GT 40, Haizhe 22, and ROC22). Three application doses (Low: 750 mL/hm²; Medium: 1500 mL/hm²; High: 2250 mL/hm²) were sprayed as a soil drench along with urea for field and greenhouse studies. Over the course of 75 days, residues in juice and leaf tissues were measured using LC-MS/MS, and stem borer damage and control effectiveness were recorded. Thiamethoxam residues in juice peaked at 45 days after treatment (DAT), with ROC22 exhibiting the highest concentration (11.07 mg/kg). All treated plots continued to have thiamethoxam residues above the Chinese maximum residue limit (MRL) of 0.3 mg/kg at 75 DAT, suggesting an inadequate pre-harvest interval. Leaf residues remained a long-term reservoir for more than 56 days and were an order of magnitude greater. While the low dose demonstrated increased efficacy over time, the medium and high doses produced statistically equal borer control (50–75% efficacy), exhibiting a saturation effect. There were notable varietal differences: Haizhe 22 achieved steady control with fewer residues, while ROC22 was most vulnerable and needed greater doses. These results demonstrate that a 75-day pre-harvest period is insufficient for consumer safety, requiring additional experiments for longer intervals for susceptible cultivars. The ideal economic threshold is determined to be the middle dose (1500 mL/hm²), which balances environmental load, chemical input, and efficacy. To enable precision application techniques suited to certain sugarcane genotypes, future research should concentrate on clarifying the genetic basis of varietal uptake discrepancies. Full article

Little is known about how nicotinic signalling in human astrocytes may contribute to the functional neurotoxicity of compounds related to tobacco alkaloids and neonicotinoid pesticides. We generated a single-cell Ca²⁺-imaging assay in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived astrocytes, and profiled functional expressions of some neurotoxicologically relevant receptors. Responses to pharmacological tool compounds indicated the expression of nicotinic, muscarinic, purinergic, glutamatergic receptors and voltage-gated Na⁺/Ca²⁺ channels. Closer investigation of the nicotinic system, e.g., using the alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR)-selective positive allosteric modulator PNU-120596 and alpha7-preferring agonist (AR-R17779) demonstrated that Ca²⁺ signals elicited by nicotine and neonicotinoids are dominated by alpha7 nAChRs and depend on the downstream activation of L-type Ca²⁺ channels and tetrodotoxin-sensitive Na⁺ channels. Crosstalk of nAChR activation/desensitization was not observed for the inflammatory response elicited by TNF or for activation of glutamatergic or purinergic signalling. However, pre-stimulation of nAChR by neonicotinoids significantly blunted the response to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Comparative experiments in the human neuronal cultures (LUHMES cells) revealed similar potency ranges and pharmacological fingerprints for several neonicotinoids and their human-relevant metabolites descyanothiacloprid and desnitroimidacloprid. The pesticide metabolites showed a high potency, compared with their respective parent compounds. After this basic system characterization, the hitherto data-poor pesticides cycloxaprid and flupyradifurone were comparatively profiled in astrocytic and neuronal test systems. They showed the typical features of alpha7 nAChR agonists. The disruption of cholinergic signalling in astrocytes suggests that neonicotinoids affect not only neurons in human brains. Therefore, future neurotoxicity screening approaches may need to consider astrocyte toxicity. Full article

Imidacloprid (IMI), the commonly used neonicotinoid pesticide, has emerged as a persistent aquatic contaminant due to its high solubility and stability, posing risks to non-target organisms and ecosystem health. In this study, a MnZnFe₂O₄/SrWO₄ ferrite–tungstate nanocomposite was synthesized via a hydrothermal process and its ability to photocatalytically degrade IMI under UV light was assessed. SEM, XRD and FT-IR were used to characterize the composite to confirm its structural and morphological features. Photocatalytic performance was systematically investigated by examining the effects of operational factors, including initial pollutant concentration, catalyst dosage, pH, and irradiation time. The MnZnFe₂O₄/SrWO₄ nanocomposite exhibited significantly enhanced activity, achieving up to 87% degradation of IMI within 30 min at pH 9, outperforming individual components (SrWO₄: 37%; MnZnFe₂O₄: 75%) under identical conditions. The degradation kinetics followed a pseudo-first-order model consistent with the Langmuir–Hinshelwood mechanism. Effective interfacial charge transfer between the ferrite and tungstate phases, which suppresses electron-hole recombination and increases the production of reactive species, is responsible for the enhanced performance. Furthermore, the composite demonstrated good stability and reusability across several cycles, indicating its practical applicability. Overall, the results demonstrate the potential of MnZnFe₂O₄/SrWO₄ nanocomposites as efficient and sustainable photocatalysts for removing imidacloprid and similar organic contaminants from aqueous systems. Full article

Neonicotinoids are among the most widely used classes of insecticides worldwide. However, growing evidence links their exposure to metabolic disturbances, including DNA damage, endocrine disruption, and hepatic dysfunction. In this study, transcriptomic analyses were applied to investigate the gene expression changes induced by two neonicotinoids, clothianidin and thiacloprid. Our results revealed distinct treatment-driven transcriptional signatures, characterized by the upregulation of gene sets enriched in pathways associated with mitochondrial regulation, neuronal signaling, and neurodegeneration-related molecular processes, alongside the downregulation of genes involved in core metabolic processes. In addition, neonicotinoid exposure modulated gene sets associated with xenobiotic detoxification, immune response, cell proliferation, and cell adhesion. Notably, clothianidin and thiacloprid induced compound-specific transcriptional profiles, despite sharing a common mechanism of action. Furthermore, combined exposure resulted in gene expression patterns that differed from those observed with individual treatments. Together, these findings demonstrate that neonicotinoids can elicit divergent molecular responses, highlighting the importance of compound-specific toxicological assessment in non-target species. Full article

Neonicotinoid pesticides are a typical category of emerging hazardous micropollutants, and chlorine (Cl₂) is a widely used disinfectant that readily induces the chlorination of organic micropollutants. This study systematically investigated the chlorination kinetics and transformation pathways of a representative neonicotinoid pesticide (clothianidin, CLO) and evaluated the cytotoxicity variation via Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell assays. CLO chlorination followed second-order kinetics, with a first-order dependence on both CLO and Cl₂ concentrations, and the apparent rate constant (k_app) value was measured to be 1.758 × 10⁻⁴ μM⁻¹ h⁻¹, at a pH of 7.0. The CLO chlorination initially accelerated and then retarded with the increase in pH. The same tendency was involved in the yield of disinfection byproducts (i.e., trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids). Dissolved organic matter was also a crucial factor inhibiting the chlorination of CLO. The reaction of CLO⁺ with HOCl was more prevalent than between CLO⁺ with ClO⁻, wherein HOCl likely exerts electrophilic attack either after 2-nitroguanidine hydrolysis or directly at the nitrogen sites of secondary amines. Cell exposure results revealed that the chronic cytotoxicity of CLO decreased significantly after chlorination. This study helps to the mechanistic understanding of neonicotinoid transformation during water disinfection, and provides a valuable reference for the control of neonicotinoid pesticides in drinking water. Full article

Intensive pesticide application sustains global agriculture but poses poorly characterized risks to complex soil ecosystems. Here, we quantitatively evaluated pesticide residues and utilized high-resolution environmental DNA (eDNA) metagenomics to decode multi-trophic community responses across a typical major grain-producing region located in China. Among 39 targeted pesticides, 26 were detected with total concentrations ranging from 27.9 to 478.8 ng/g. While herbicides and fungicides dominated the residual mass, insecticides posed the most severe ecological threat. Notably, the neonicotinoid imidacloprid exhibited high-risk levels (RQ = 1.78 ± 1.49) at >61.1% of the sampling sites. eDNA profiling and Procrustes analyses revealed a clear trophic-dependent sensitivity gradient (p < 0.01). Lower-trophic microbial communities were significantly altered in composition; pesticide stress was strongly associated with profound non-target suppression on keystone plant-beneficial bacteria (e.g., Nocardioides). Concurrently, the fungal eDNA profiles indicated that the soil mycobiome harbored an alarming 34.7% of potential phytopathogenic fungi (e.g., Aspergillus and Colletotrichum), intrinsically driving the massive fungicide reliance. In contrast, higher-trophic soil metazoa (Rotifera, 40.4%) and weed communities (e.g., Digitaria sanguinalis) exhibited significant spatial stability, reflecting robust environmental buffering and herbicide-driven ecological escapes. Furthermore, co-occurrence networks decoupled target from non-target toxicities, uniquely revealing that persistent herbicide metabolites (desethylatrazine) induce prolonged legacy toxicities on specific soil fauna. Collectively, this study unveils the deep, cross-kingdom ecological disruptions caused by current pesticide regimes, underscoring the urgency of integrating eDNA biomonitoring to guide precision pest management and safeguard soil health in vital agricultural hubs. Full article

A comprehensive ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method was developed for the simultaneous quantification of 50 pesticide biomarkers across nine current-use chemical classes in human urine. These classes include organophosphorus insecticides (which encompass dialkyl phosphates and specific metabolites), pyrethroid insecticides, fungicides, neonicotinoid insecticides, herbicides, insect repellents, organochlorine pesticide metabolites, and plant growth regulators. The method employs solid-phase extraction (SPE) for sample preparation, requiring only 0.2 mL of urine. Chromatographic separation was optimized using a Hypersil Gold AQ column, achieving a total run time of 18 min. Mass spectrometric detection utilized polarity switching in electrospray ionization mode with multiple reaction monitoring. Method validation demonstrated satisfactory linearity (R² > 0.99), high sensitivity with limits of detection ranging from 0.01 to 0.88 ng/mL, and extraction efficiencies between 85% and 113%. Precision and accuracy were within acceptable ranges, with relative standard deviations generally below 15%. The method’s robustness was confirmed through participation in external quality assessment schemes. Application to real samples revealed significant inter-individual variability in pesticide biomarker concentrations, with total measured biomarker levels ranging from 89 to 1242 ng/mL across the 10 individuals analyzed. This method offers comprehensive coverage of current-use pesticide chemical classes, including 30 biomarkers from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) biomonitoring program, and demonstrates improved sensitivity and broader analyte coverage compared to existing methods. The developed assay provides a valuable tool for large-scale biomonitoring studies and environmental health research. Full article

Despite the undisputable ecosystem importance of honeybees, human activities have a substantial impact on their health. Since foraging is directly linked to a wide range of crops and bee-attracting flowers, plant protection products are at the forefront of chemical scrutiny, along with contamination of pollen, nectar, beehive components and water by other xenobiotics. In this study, a non-targeted Liquid Chromatography-High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (LC-HRMS) screening was applied to 25 honeybee samples collected after reported death incidents in Greece. This approach led to the tentative annotation of over 50 compounds across various chemical classes, including pesticides, PFAS candidates not included in the EFSA “PFAS-4”, pharmaceuticals, antibiotics, industrial chemicals, and natural product constituents. In parallel, targeted pesticide residue analysis using liquid and gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS) was performed, covering more than 250 active substances and providing direct quantitative results, revealing 11 active substances in concentrations ranging from <limit of quantification (LOQ) to 0.95 mg/kg, overlapping substantially with the HRMS detection. Overall, this study does not allow concrete causal attribution of mortality to specific chemicals; however, it documents complex co-occurrence patterns (pesticides together with other xenobiotics and plant bioactives), not excluding sublethal and mixture-toxicity effects. Quantified pesticide concentrations were below acute LD50-based thresholds, yet selected samples combined neonicotinoid/pyrethroid/fungicide signatures and other contaminants, supporting the need for mixture-toxicity frameworks and effect-based follow-ups. Full article

Neonicotinoids are widely used pesticides that have caused a catastrophic decrease in bee and bumblebee populations worldwide. In addition to insects, neonicotinoids induce toxic effects in other species, including lizards, birds, and mammals. Previous studies have shown that gestational exposure to thiacloprid promotes transgenerational effects in the testes and thyroid. In this project, we described the epigenetic effects of thiacloprid on prostate tissue in directly exposed F1 and non-directly exposed F3 outbred Swiss male mice. We used paraffin sections for morphological analysis and frozen tissue for immunofluorescence analysis, RT–qPCR, and protein analysis. We purified histones and analyzed them through Western blot. We used ChIP–qPCR for histone H3K4me3 occupancy analysis. A tendency to increase in epithelial hyperplasia in F1 but not in F3 prostate was detected. Elevated levels of phosphorylated histone H3 at serine 10, a marker of mitosis, in both the F1 and F3 prostates were noted. A significant increase in the level of the Ki-67 marker of proliferation was detected in the F1 but not in the F3 anterior prostate. Hox gene expression was upregulated in the F1 and downregulated in the F3 prostate. The changes in gene expression were positively associated with histone H3K4me3 alterations at the promoters of the Hoxa and Hoxb13 genes. We determined that regions of Hox genes that play important roles in prostate development had altered DNA methylation in the sperm of F1 and F3. These alterations in DNA methylation were negatively related to gene expression. This is an observational study, as it was part of our previous research on the effects of thiacloprid on the testis and thyroid. Our analysis revealed that gestational exposure to thiacloprid induced an increase in cell proliferation in the prostates of directly exposed F1. Some persistent epigenetic alterations in the prostate of F3 males were not associated with phenotypic changes. Full article