Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance thiram

Cost-Effective and Facile Fabrication of a Tattoo Paper-Based SERS Substrate and Its Application in Pesticide Sensing on Fruit Surfaces

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has been transformed into a useful analytical technique with significant advantages in relation to sensitive and low-concentration chemical analyses. However, SERS substrates are expensive and the analyte sample preparation is complicated; hence, it is only used in limited areas. We have fabricated a tattoo paper-based SERS substrate by using non-complicated inkjet printing. The sensitivity of the SERS substrate was increased by removing the carbon residues via exposure to ultraviolet light without damaging the substrate. Thus, low concentrations of pesticides (up to 1 μM thiram) were measured. The SERS substrate was attached to the curved surface of an apple to demonstrate its advantages, such as the flexibility and easy attachability of tattoo paper, and its feasibility was verified by measuring 1 μM thiram on the apple's surface. Due to its economic cost, simple usage, and rapid measurement, it will be helpful for the identification of both agricultural adulterants and food adulterants and for water-based pollutant detection. It will also possibly be helpful for medical purposes related to human body surfaces in the future.

Organic and Conventional Bean Pesticides in Development of Autochthonous Trichoderma Strains

Pesticides of chemical synthesis have mainly been used to control pests, diseases and adventitious plants up until now. However, it has been shown that some pesticides can remain in the soil for long periods of time, thus affecting the development of organisms in the rhizosphere as well as human health, which are two of the most noteworthy side effects. The aim of this research was to analyze the compatibility of autochthonous Trichoderma strains with different synthetic fungicides, acaricides, insecticides (including an entomopathogenic fungus) and herbicides. Sulfur encouraged the growth of all autochthonous strains assayed, and the combination Trichoderma-B. bassiana did not disturb their growth. So, the combination of the autochthonous Trichoderma strains with these organic pesticides will be a positive strategy to apply in the field to control pests and some diseases. Conventional pesticides modified the development of all autochthonous Trichoderma strains, demonstrating that not only do they affect weeds, fungus or pests but also rhizosphere microorganisms. In conclusion, conventional pesticides indiscriminately used to control pests, diseases and weeds could reduce the development of autochthonous Trichoderma strains, especially fungicides and herbicides.

[Collaborative Study of an LC-MS/MS Method for Determination of Chlorpropham in Feeds]

A collaborative study for validating the determination method of chlorpropham in feeds by LC-MS/MS was conducted in 13 laboratories using 2 kinds of formula feeds, oats, barley, wheat, and corn. The resulting trueness ranged from 75.3 to 87.0%, repeatability and reproducibility in terms of relative standard deviation (RSD_r and RSD_R) were within 7.3% and 33% respectively, and the HorRat values ranged from 0.39 to 1.5. The limit of detection and limit of quantitation of chlorpropham in feed ware 0.008 mg/kg and 0.003 mg/kg, respectively. This method was thus validated as useful for inspections of chlorpropham in feed.

Assessing pesticide, trace metal, and arsenic contamination in soils and dam sediments in a rapidly expanding horticultural area in Australia

Industrial horticulture can release pesticides and trace metals/metalloids to terrestrial and aquatic environments. To assess long-term and more recent land contamination from an expanding horticultural region, we sampled soils from chemical mixing, crop production, and drainage areas, as well as retention reservoirs (dam) sediments, from 3 blueberry farms with varying land-use history in subtropical Australia. Soils were analysed for 97 different pesticides and trace metal/metalloid contents. The most recent farm had fungicides propiconazole and cyprodinil contents that may compromise soil invertebrate survival and/or nutrient recycling (5-125 mg kg^-1). A site previously used to cultivate bananas had 6 dam sediment subsamples with arsenic contents over sediment quality guidelines (SQG); however, the soil content values were just below Australian health investigation levels (100 mg kg^-1). Arsenic is suspected to originate from pesticide application during previous banana cultivation in the region. Dam sediment cores at all sites had mercury contents over the SQG likely due to fungicides or fertiliser impurities. Mean contents of mercury from dam sediments (141 ± 15.5 µg kg^-1) were greater than terrestrial soils (78 ± 6.5 µg kg^-1), and sediment profiles suggest mercury retention in anoxic sediments. Soils in chemical mixing areas at two sites were contaminated with copper and zinc which were above the national soil ecological investigation levels. Based on toxicity data, distribution, persistence, and mobility, we identified the fungicide cyprodinil, mercury, and phosphorus as contaminants of the greatest concern in this intensive horticulture area of Australia. Additional sampling (spatial, chemical speciation, biotic) is required to support mitigation efforts of the emerging contamination in the rapidly expanding blueberry farms of this region of Australia.

Review of the existing maximum residue levels for thiram according to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005

According to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, EFSA has reviewed the maximum residue levels (MRLs) currently established at European level for the pesticide active substance thiram. Although this active substance is no longer authorised within the European Union, MRLs based on the use of thiram were established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (codex maximum residue limits; CXLs) and import tolerances were reported by Member States (including the supporting residues data). Based on the assessment of the available data, EFSA assessed the existing import tolerances, and a consumer risk assessment was carried out for thiram only. Although no apparent risk to consumers was identified, the import tolerances were not fully supported by data. Hence, the consumer risk assessment is considered indicative only and further consideration by risk managers is needed.

Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance prosulfuron

The conclusions of the EFSA following the peer review of the initial risk assessments carried out by the competent authority of the rapporteur Member State, France, for the pesticide active substance prosulfuron are reported. The context of the peer review was that required by Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the representative uses of prosulfuron as a herbicide on maize and sweet corn. Following the renewal of approval, prosulfuron has been renewed with the restriction that the use shall be limited to one application every 3 years. This assessment follows the request of the applicant to lift the restriction of the approval conditions. The reliable end points, appropriate for use in regulatory risk assessment, are presented. Missing information identified as being required by the regulatory framework is listed. Concerns are identified.

Environmentally relevant exposures of male mice to carbendazim and thiram cause persistent genotoxicity in male mice

Carbendazim and thiram are fungicides used in combination to prevent mold destruction of crops. Studies have demonstrated genotoxicity by these agents, but have not used concentrations below their water solubility limits in drinking water to test for persistence of genotoxicity due to chronic exposure. Ten 8-week old male Swiss-Webster mice were exposed to tap water, or nominal concentrations of 20 μM carbendazim, 20 μM thiram or 20 μM of both fungicides for 90 days (total of 40 mice). Five mice from tap water controls, carbendazim, thiram and combination-treated groups (20 mice total) had genotoxicity detected by comet assay of lymphocytes at the termination of the exposure period. The other 20 mice (4 treatment groups) were all switched to tap water and allowed a 45-day recovery period to check for persistence of DNA damage. The damage was compared with commercial control cells exposed to increasingly harsh treatment by etopside. Comet assay (mean % tail DNA + SE) of control mice (9.8 + 0.9) was similar to commercial control (CC0) cells (8.5 + 0.9). Carbendazim, thiram or the combination treatment caused similar mean % tail DNA with 33.0 + 2.9, 30.1 + 3.3 and 29.1 + 1.8, respectively, comparable with commercial cells slightly damaged by etopside (CC1 with 31.4 + 2.9) with no statistical change in water or food intake, body weight or liver or kidney weights. The key result was that a 45-day recovery period had no observable difference in the DNA damage as assessed by DNA % in comet tail with tap water controls and CCO control cells at 7.0 + 0.7 and 9.7 + 1.2 versus 27.5 + 1.9, 29.3 + 2.2 and 32.0 + 1.8, respectively, for carbendazim, thiram and combination treatments. It is of concern that the use of these agents in developing countries with little training or regulation results in water pollution that may cause significant persistent DNA damage in animal or human populations that may not be subject to repair.