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In order to investigate organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) concentrations in maize and estimate the health risk to consumers, a total of 55 samples were collected from Yushu, one of the most important maize production areas. The concentrations of the eleven detected OPs in maize were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with flame photometric detector (GC-FPD). The results showed that OPs concentrations of all maize were not higher than maximum residue limit (MRL), 67.3% of samples below MRL and only in 32.7% of samples was not found OPs. The mean concentrations obtained for the eleven OPs in μg kg-1were as follows: omethoate (0.8), quinalphos (0.8), phorate (0.7), dimethoate (0.7), parathion-methyl (0.6), isocarbophos (0.6), diazinon (0.5), fenitrothion (0.5), and malathion (0.5), with parathion (0.5) and fenthion (0.3). Phorate (16.4%), dimethoate (16.4%) and quinalphos (16.4%) had the highest frequency in the eleven OPs. 29.1% samples contained two or more kinds of OPs, while 38.2% samples detected one kind of OPs. The target hazard quotients (THQ) values were all less than one and the total acute hazard index (aHI) values for adults and children were 0.051 and 0.121, respectively indicating that consumer may not pose significant chronic and acute health risk through maize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current study, experimental (UV-visible, Fourier transform infrared [FTIR], 1H-NMR and scanning electron microscope) and computational (UV-visible, FTIR, 1H-NMR, HOMO-LUMO, steric and geometric parameters) analyses of acephate, glyphosate, monocrotophos and phorate were performed for the first time. Computational studies were performed at the HF/6-311G(d,p) level of theory. It was found that experimental values of UV-visible, FTIR, 1H-NMR and geometric data were in very good agreement with the computational ones. The current study may assist future studies, like spectral analysis, pesticide(s) detection, surface behaviour and decomposition analysis of top selling titled pesticides of world market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. It has been demonstrated that the ingestion of foods containing quercetin protects against the toxicity of single pesticides. The aim of this study is to make a comprehensive elaboration about the protective effect of quercetin against multi-organophosphorous pesticides induced nephrotoxicity by measuring indices in rat kidney, urine and serum. Rats were divided into six groups (n = 10/group): control, two different doses of quercetin, pesticide mixture (PM), and different doses of quercetin plus PM-treated groups. 2. The following parameters were significantly changed in PM-treated groups compared with the control (p < 0.01). In kidney, malondialdehyde level raised; catalase, superoxide dismutase activities and glutathione levels were decreased. Comet assay of nephrocytes showed that the proportion of DNA in the tail and tail length increased. In urine, β2-microglobulin, retinol-conjugated protein levels andN-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase activity showed increasing response; meanwhile uric acid level was decreased. In serum, creatinine and urea nitrogen levels were increased. However, the anomaly changes of indexes mentioned above in PM-treated group were alleviated when simultaneously administrated with 50 mg/kg body weight/day quercetin (p < 0.05). 3. From the present findings, it can be evaluated that quercetin may protect against adverse effects resulted from multi-organophosphorous pesticides with significant high levels of uptake in man provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of organic matter and clay contents on headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) determination of triazine and organophosphorus pesticides in different soils was studied. The results of the study showed that content of soil organic matter dominantly participated in sorption of triazines (simazine, atrazine and prometryn) to soil, while sorption of organophosphorus pesticides (phorate and tebupirimfos) could not be explained only by contents of dominant soil sorption components (soil organic matter and clay). Sorption of all pesticides studied to different soil types was similar at their lower concentrations while the influence of soil composition was expressed at higher concentration levels. Except for phorate, the obtained sorption trends were different from those obtained by direct SPME mode (DM-SPME) and exhaustive liquid-solid extraction (LSE) method. These results indicated that most likely co-extractants from the analyzed medium complicated evaporation and diffusion of the pesticides to the PDMS fiber during HS-SPME sampling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five pesticide formulations registered for use in Canada containing organophosphate-insecticide active ingredients azinphos-methyl, chlorpyrifos, diazinon, malathion and phorate were subjected to treatment by membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology. The target active ingredients were introduced to the MBR at ppm level concentrations. The biodegradation of these compounds was analyzed daily using selected ion monitoring gas chromatography−mass spectrometry (GC/MS-SIM) following extraction of the analytes using solid-phase extraction (SPE). Amounts measuring 83 % to 98 % of the target analytes were removed with steady-state concentrations being reached within 5 days of their introduction. The dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, and total heterotrophic bacterial population were monitored daily to ensure optimal conditions for biodegradation. The quality of the effluent from the MBR was assessed daily through spectrophotometric methods. Measurements were conducted for the concentration of ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, total and reactive phosphorus, as well as the chemical oxygen demand (COD) of the effluent. This study demonstrated that the MBR technology is feasible and efficient for treatment of organophosphate pesticides without introducing additional chemical additives. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The degradation of 15 organophosphorus insecticides was studied in drinking, ground, and surface waters under different laboratory-controlled and environmental conditions. Surface waters originated from rivers Savinja (near the city of Celje) and Kamniska Bistrica (at the spring), which both belong to the Danube river basin. Groundwater was collected from wells (70 m deep) in Ljubljana, which are the direct source of drinking water for the capital. These matrices were selected on the basis of their different chemical composition and microbial activity. Major factors influencing the degradation were determined, such as temperature, oxygen, sunlight, pH, and type of water. The degradation of atrazine, present in many water sources in Slovenija, was followed simultaneously as a reference under the same conditions. The degradation kinetics was followed by gas chromatography with mass-selective detection, which also allowed the identification of some degradation by-products, such as oxon analogues paraoxon, dyfoxon, malaoxon, phenyl-methyl sulfoxide, fenthion sulfone, phorate sulfoxide, and phorate sulfone. The results show that the half-lives of the selected organophosphorus insecticides varied from 4 to 192 days or more, depending on the water source and experimental conditions. As a result, kinetically constants and half-lives were calculated for every tested insecticide, and major degradation products were determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phorate (O,O-diethyl S-ethylthiomethyl phosphorodithioate) dissolved in aqueous solution was almost completely decomposed by ozonation to form various species within 10 minutes of reaction time for the experimental conditions examined in this research. The generation rate of sulfate was found to be fairly independent of solution pH value. However, the formation of phosphate and carbonate was more favorable for alkaline solutions where hydroxyl free radical is the primary oxidative species. The reaction rates increased with initial gaseous ozone concentrations, indicating the reaction was mass transfer-controlled within the experimental range of this research. Combining the analytical results by various instruments, including gas chromatograph equipped with an electron ionization detector (GC-EID), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), ion chromatography (IC), and total organic carbon (TOC), the temporal sequence of phorate ozonation was proposed in this study. The oxidation of sulfur atoms on the phosphorus-sulfur double bond or carbon-sulfur-carbon bond by ozonation was found to occur at first to form sulfate and various intermediates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In laboratory incubation studies with three soils of varying physicochemical characteristics, phorate was more persistent in nonflooded (60% water holding capacity) soils than in flooded soils. Phorate sulphoxide was recovered as the only metabolite of phorate in nonflooded soils while three metabolites (diethyl dithiophosphate, triethyl dithiophosphate and an unidentified metabolite) were formed in flooded soils. Study indicates that in nonflooded soils phorate is degraded via oxidation while in flooded soils hydrolysis is the major degradation process. Degradation of phorate was accelerated by an increase in incubation temperature. Preexposure or repeated application of soils to phorate slightly decreased the persistence of phorate or its metabolites. Decreased persistence of phorate and its metabolites formed in nonsterile soils compared to sterile soils suggested the role of microorganisms in their transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carrot rust fly damage levels at different distances from the crop edge into the carrot field were studied. Overall root damage was up to 40% at crop edge, but was 0- 5% at 30 m into the field. Application of phorate granules at reduced-rate only around the edges of carrot fields (10 m-strip), controlled larval damage effectively, requiring approximately 10% of the recommended rate (i.e. 0.22 kg a.i./ha) (i.e. the midfield remaining untreated). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two field experiments were conducted in 1993- 94 to investigate the efficacy of the insecticides phorate, diazinon and furathiocarb at field rates and at a range of lower rates for the control of carrot fly larval damage. Phorate granules drilled with the seeds effectively controlled the first generation larvae, even at one third the recommended rate (0 .73 kg a.i./ha); recommended (2 .2 kg a.i./ha) and half rate were equally efficient in controlling second generation larvae. Third generation damage (the most important economically) was not significantly reduced by any rate of phorate granules applied at drilling. Phorate applied as mid- or late-season granules gave better control of second-generation damage, even athalf rate, than did fullrate at drilling. The furathiocarb seed-coated treatment at 4% (40 g a.i./kg seed) controlled the first generation damage, but had no significant effect on the second generation. Furathiocarb seed coated at2% (20 g a.i./ha) did not prevent either first or second generation damage. This crop was harvested before third generation damage occurred. A diazinon midseason spray controlled third generation damage at field rate (0 .8 kg a.i./ ha) but not at half, one third and one eighth field rates. Prospects for the reduction of insecticide rates in New Zealand carrot crops are discussed with reference to these and other methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]