Yiqiang Li

Oxidative stress and gene expression of earthworm (Eisenia fetida) to clothianidin

Neonicotinoid insecticides have become the most widely used pesticides in the world. Clothianidin is a novel neonicotinoid insecticide with a thiazolyl ring that exhibits excellent biological efficacy against a variety of pests. In the present study, the oxidative stress and genotoxicity of clothianidin on earthworms were evaluated. Moreover, the effective concentrations of clothianidin in artificial soil were monitored during the whole exposure period. The results showed that clothianidin was stable in artificial soil and that the residue concentrations were 0.094, 0.476, and 0.941mg/kg after 28 d of exposure, which represented changes no more than 10% compared to the concentrations on the 0th day. Additionally, both the concentration of and exposure time to clothianidin had a substantial influence on biomarkers in earthworms. At 0.5mg/kg and 1.0mg/kg, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were greatly enhanced, causing changes in antioxidant enzyme activities, damage to biological macromolecules and abnormal expression of functional genes. Additionally, the present results showed that superoxide dismutase (SOD), DNA damage and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) may be good indicators for environmental risk assessment of clothianidin to earthworms.

Residue analysis and risk assessment of tebuconazole in jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill)

In this study, a sensitive and reliable analytical method, based on a modified Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe procedure, was established for determination of tebuconazole in jujube. After extraction with acetonitrile, the samples were cleaned up by dispersive solid-phase extraction with primary secondary amine, and determined by high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. At fortification levels of 0.01, 0.1 and 2.0 mg kg-1 , the average recoveries of tebuconazole in jujube were in the range 97.6-101.9%, with relative standard deviations of 1.5-3.5%. The dissipation and residual levels of tebuconazole in jujube under field conditions were investigated. Tebuconazole dissipated relatively slowly in jujube, with a half-life of 33.0 days. The terminal residue experiments of tebuconazole in jujube were conducted in four locations in China and the risk was evaluated using risk quotients (RQ). RQ values were found to be significantly lower than RQ = 1, indicating that the risk to human health of using the recommended doses of tebuconazole in jujube was not significant. This study could provide guidance for the safe and reasonable use of tebuconazole in jujube and serve as a reference for the establishment of limit of maximum residue in China.

Growth, reproduction and biochemical toxicity of chlorantraniliprole in soil on earthworms (Eisenia fetida)

Diamide insecticides have become the fourth most commonly used insecticide class in the world. Chlorantraniliprole (CAP) is a first-generation diamide insecticide with broad application potential. In this experiment, the eco-toxicity of CAP in soil at 0.1, 1.0, 5.0 and 10.0mg/kg on earthworms (Eisenia fetida) was evaluated during a 42 d exposure. More specifically, the environmental fate and transport of CAP between soil and earthworms was monitored during the exposure period. The present results indicated that the CAP contents of 0.1, 1.0, 5.0 and 10.0mg/kg treatments decreased to no more than 20% in the soil after 42 d of exposure. The accumulation of CAP in earthworms was 0.03, 0.58, 4.28 and 7.21mg/kg earthworm (FW) at 0.1, 1.0, 5.0 and 10.0mg/kg after 42 d of exposure. At 0.1mg/kg and 1.0mg/kg, CAP had no effect on earthworms during the exposure period. The weight of earthworms was significantly reduced at 5.0 and 10.0mg/kg at 28 and 42 days after CAP application. After the 14th day, CAP induced excess production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) at 5.0 and 10.0mg/kg, resulting in oxidative damage to biomacromolecules. We believe that CAP has a high risk potential for earthworms when used at 5.0 and 10.0mg/kg.

Residues of four triazole fungicides in tobacco leaves under field condition and during curing

Residues of four triazole fungicides (triadimefon, myclobutanil, tebuconazole and difenoconazole) in tobacco leaves under field condition and during curing were investigated. Following extraction with acetonitrile, the samples were cleaned up by a Florisil solid phase extraction column, and then determined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry in selected ion monitoring mode. The average recoveries of the four triazole fungicides were found in the range of 82.7–97.3% with relative standard deviations of 1.1–4.6% in green and cured tobacco leaves. The residues of triadimefon, myclobutanil, tebuconazole and difenoconazole in Shandong, Sichuan, Yunnan, Liaoning and Jiangxi were found in the range of 0.02–0.32 mg/kg, 0.41–4.93 mg/kg, 0.37–9.84 mg/kg and 0.25–4.85 mg/kg in cured tobacco leaves when measured 14 days after the last application. The residue levels of the four triazole fungicides in most cured tobacco samples were lower than that in green tobacco samples, indicating that high temperature degradation surpassed dehydration concentration during the curing process.

Enantioselective Bioaccumulation and Toxicity of the Neonicotinoid Insecticide Dinotefuran in Earthworms (Eisenia fetida)

The enantioselective bioaccumulation and toxicity of dinotefuran in earthworms were studied in this study. The results showed that S-dinotefuran accumulated faster than Rac-dinotefuran and R-dinotefuran in earthworms. The acute toxicity of S-dinotefuran was 1.49 and 2.67 times that of the Rac-dinotefuran and R-dinotefuran in artificial soil during 14 days of exposure. At 1.0 mg/kg, the three tested chemicals inhibited the growth and reproduction as well as induced oxidative stress effects in earthworms; however, the toxic effects induced by S-dinotefuran were the most serious. The transcriptome sequencing results showed that S-dinotefuran had stronger interactions to biomacromolecules and influences on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) than R-dinotefuran, which may be the main reason for enantioselectivities between the two enantiomers. The present results indicated that the risk of S-dinotefuran was higher than that of Rac-dinotefuran and R-dinotefuran in the soil environment to earthworms. Risk assessment of dinotefuran should be evaluated at the enantiomer level.

Residue behaviour and safety evaluation of fenaminstrobin in peanut field ecosystems

ABSTRACT A rapid, sensitive, and selective method using a quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe procedure in combination with high-performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry was developed for the analysis of fenaminstrobin in peanut and soil. The average recoveries in all samples fall within 88.1%–10%, having relative standard deviations of 2.5%–14%. The limits of quantitation of fenaminstrobin in peanut shell, peanut kernels, peanut plant, and soil were 0.005, 0.004, 0.01, and 0.002 mg kg−1, respectively. The field trial results show that the half-lives of fenaminstrobin in peanut plant and soil are 1.3–10 and 5.5–20 days, respectively. Residues in peanut kernels were found to be present at <0.004 mg kg−1 levels, based on good agricultural practices recommended by the manufacturer. The risk posed by fenaminstrobin exposure at the recommended dosage is negligible to humans, depending on the risk quotient.

Residue and dissipation of zinc thiazole in tobacco field ecosystem

ABSTRACT A high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet (HPLC-UV) detection method after derivatisation was developed for the first time for the novel fungicide zinc thiazole residue in tobacco samples. Field trials in two different locations were conducted to investigate the dissipation and residue of zinc thiazole in tobacco leaves and soil. The average recoveries of zinc thiazole were in the range of 82.5%–93.9% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 1.2%–9.1%. The zinc thiazole showed a rapid dissipation rate in fresh tobacco leaves with the half-lives of 1.1–1.6 days. The terminal residues of zinc thiazole in cured tobacco leaves and soil were 2.8–28.0 mg kg−1and <0.05 mg kg−1, respectively. The results could be used to establish the maximum residue limits (MRLs) and provide guidance for the scientific use of zinc thiazole in agriculture.