Cloud point method applied to the extraction and preconcentration of thiabendazole pesticide from whole grape juice samples and amperometric detection by HPLC.

A cloud point method was developed and applied for the first time to extract and preconcentrate thiabendazole (TBZ) from commercial whole grape juice samples, with determination by high performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrochemical detection (HPLC/EC), using a cathodically pretreated boron-doped diamond electrode (BDD). The best conditions for extraction and preconcentration of TBZ by cloud point extraction (CPE) were performed at pH 6.0, by adding 1 mL of the surfactant Tergitol TMN-6 at 10% (mass-to-mass ratio), without heating (at 27 °C) and ultrasonic stirring time of (20 kHz) for 60 min. The HPLC/EC determination was duly validated in a C8 column, in mobile phase with a 69 : 31 ratio (V/V) of phosphate buffer (pH 7.0):ACN, at a flow rate of 1.2 mL min-1 and electrochemical detection with BDD electrode by applying 1.40 V × Ag/AgCl (3.0 mol L-1). Under these conditions, the procedure showed a preconcentration factor (FC) of 21.7, and limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) of 6.64 × 10-9 mol L-1 (or 1.33 µg L-1) and 1.66 × 10-8 mol L-1 (or 3.34 µg L-1), respectively. The method provided a percent recovery of 81% to 98%, with a coefficient of variation between 3% and 15%.

Rapid and specific detection of thiabendazole: enzymatic digestion-enabled fluorescent aptasensor.

Thiabendazole, a widely used broad-spectrum fungicide in agriculture, poses risks to human health. To monitor its presence in water, we propose a fluorescent aptasensor utilizing Escherichia coli exonuclease I (Exo I). The findings demonstrate a linear correlation between thiabendazole concentrations and digestion percentage, with a detection limit (LOD) exceeding 1 µM and a determination coefficient (R2) of 0.959. This aptamer-based fluorescence spectroscopy detection system holds promise for a rapid, specific, and sensitive analysis of thiabendazole in environmental waters and food matrices.

Effect of cattle and horse feces storage methods on Nematode egg viability and sensitivity for egg hatch test.

The aim of the present study was to validate methods of stool sample conservation for the egg hatch test (EHT). This study involved the use of a bovine naturally infected predominantly by Cooperia spp. and one equine naturally infected predominantly by cyathostomins characterized as susceptible to benzimidazoles in the EHT. Fecal samples were submitted to three treatments: aerobic methods (anaerobic storage in plastic bottles, anaerobic storage in vacuum-sealed bags or aerobic storage in plastic bags), under two temperature conditions (room temperature and refrigeration) analyzed at four different assessment times (48, 72, 96 and 120 h). As the standard test, an assay was also performed within 3 h. The tests were performed in triplicate for each drug concentration and with three experimental repetitions at one-week intervals. Two criteria were used for the storage methods: hatchability in the negative control group and sensitivity of the eggs to thiabendazole, comparing the EC50 and 95% confidence interval for each treatment to those of the standard test and the other repetitions. Bovine samples can be stored for up to 96 h and refrigerated vacuum storage can be used, ensuring hatchability of the negative control and sensitivity of the eggs to thiabendazole. For equine samples, no forms of storage were indicated due to the variation among the repetitions and the reduction in the sensitivity of the eggs to thiabendazole, which could result in a false positive detection of resistance.

Cobalt-Modified Black Phosphorus Nanosheets-Enabled Ferrate (VI) Activation for Efficient Chemiluminescence Detection of Thiabendazole.

The development of chemiluminescence-based innovation sensing systems and the construction of a sensing mechanism to improve the analytical performance of compounds remain a great challenge. Herein, we fabricated an advanced oxidation processes pretreated chemiluminescence (AOP-CL) sensing system via the introduction of cobalt-modified black phosphorus nanosheets (Co@BPNs) to achieve higher efficient thiabendazole (TBZ) detection. Co@BPNs, enriched with lattice oxygen, exhibited a superior catalytic performance for accelerating the decomposition of ferrate (VI). This Co@BPNs-based ferrate (VI) AOP system demonstrated a unique ability to selectively decompose TBZ, resulting in a strong CL emission. On this basis, a highly selective and sensitive CL sensing platform for TBZ was established, which exhibited strong resistance to common ions and pesticides interference. This was successfully applied to detecting TBZ in environmental samples such as tea and kiwi fruits. Besides, the TBZ detection mechanism was explored, Co@BPNs-based ferrate (VI) AOP system produced a high yield of ROS (mainly 1O2), which oxidized the thiazole-based structure of TBZ, generating chemical energy that was transferred to Co@BPNs via a chemical electron exchange luminescence (CIEEL) mechanism, leading to intense CL emission. Notably, this study not only proposed an innovative approach to enhance the chemical activity and CL properties of nanomaterials but also offered a new pathway for designing efficient CL probes for pollutant monitoring in complex samples.

Highly Sensitive and Wide-Range Detection of Thiabendazole via Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Using Bimetallic Nanoparticle-Functionalized Nanopillars.

Thiabendazole (TBZ) is a benzimidazole; owing to its potent antimicrobial properties, TBZ is extensively employed in agriculture as a fungicide and pesticide. However, TBZ poses environmental risks, and excessive exposure to TBZ through various leakage pathways can cause adverse effects in humans. Therefore, a method must be developed for early and sensitive detection of TBZ over a range of concentrations, considering both human and environmental perspectives. In this study, we used silver nanopillar structures (SNPis) and Au@Ag bimetallic nanoparticles (BNPs) to fabricate a BNP@SNPi substrate. This substrate exhibited a broad reaction surface with significantly enhanced surface-enhanced Raman scattering hotspots, demonstrating excellent Raman performance, along with high reproducibility, sensitivity, and selectivity for TBZ detection. Ultimately, the BNP@SNPi substrate successfully detected TBZ across a wide concentration range in samples of tap water, drinking water, juice, and human serum, with respective limits of detection of 146.5, 245.5, 195.6, and 219.4 pM. This study highlights BNP@SNPi as a promising sensor platform for TBZ detection in diverse environments and contributes to environmental monitoring and bioanalytical studies.

O-nitrobenzyl Caged Molecule Enables Photo-controlled Release of Thiabendazole.

Pesticides are essential in agricultural development. Controlled-release pesticides have attracted great attentions. Base on a principle of spatiotemporal selectivity, we extended the photoremovable protective group (PRPG) into agrochemical agents to achieve controllable release of active ingredients. Herein, we obtained NP-TBZ by covalently linking o-nitrobenzyl (NP) with thiabendazole (TBZ). Compound NP-TBZ can be controlled to release TBZ in dependent to light. The irradiated and unirradiated NP-TBZ showed significant differences on fungicidal activities both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, the irradiated NP-TBZ displayed similar antifungal activities to the directly-used TBZ, indicating a factual applicability in controllable release of TBZ. Furthermore, we explored the action mode and microcosmic variations by SEM analysis, and demonstrated that the irradiated NP-TBZ retained a same action mode with TBZ against mycelia growth.

The ABCG2 protein in vitro transports the xenobiotic thiabendazole and increases the appearance of its residues in milk.

Thiabendazole (TBZ) is a broad-spectrum anthelmintic and fungicide used in humans, animals, and agricultural commodities. TBZ residues are present in crops and animal products, including milk, posing a risk to food safety and public health. ABCG2 is a membrane transporter which affects bioavailability and milk secretion of xenobiotics. Therefore, the aim of this work was to characterize the role of ABCG2 in the in vitro transport and secretion into milk of 5-hydroxythiabendazole (5OH-TBZ), the main TBZ metabolite. Using MDCK-II polarized cells transduced with several species variants of ABCG2, we first demonstrated that 5OH-TBZ is efficiently in vitro transported by ABCG2. Subsequently, using Abcg2 knockout mice, we demonstrated that 5OH-TBZ secretion into milk was affected by Abcg2, with a more than 2-fold higher milk concentration and milk to plasma ratio in wild-type mice compared to their Abcg2-/- counterpart.

Discovery of Arylfluorosulfates as Novel Fungicidal Agents against Plant Pathogens.

A series of arylfluorosulfates were synthesized as fungicide candidates through a highly efficient sulfur fluoride exchange (SuFEx) reaction. A total of 32 arylfluorosulfate derivatives with simple structures have been synthesized, and most of them exhibited fungal activities in vitro against five agricultural pathogens (Rhizoctonia solani, Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum, Pyricularia oryzae, and Phytophthora infestans). Among the target compounds, compound 31 exhibited great antifungal activity against Rhizoctonia solani (EC50 = 1.51 µg/mL), which was comparable to commercial fungicides carbendazim and thiabendazole (EC50 = 0.53 and 0.70 µg/mL, respectively); compounds 17 and 30 exhibited antifungal activities against Pyricularia oryzae (EC50 = 1.64 and 1.73 µg/mL, respectively) comparable to carbendazim (EC50 = 1.02 µg/mL). The in vitro antifungal effect of compound 31 was also evaluated on rice plants against Rhizoctonia solani. Significant preventive and curative efficacies were observed (89.2% and 91.8%, respectively, at 200 µg/mL), exceeding that of thiabendazole. Primary study on the mechanism of action indicated that compound 31 could suppress the sclerotia formation of Rhizoctonia solani even at a very low concentration (1.00 µg/mL), destroy the cell membrane and mitochondria, trigger the release of cellular contents, produce excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), and suppress the activity of several related enzymes. This work could bring new insights into the development of arylfluorosulfates as novel fungicides.

Food and environmental safety monitoring platform based on Tb(III) functionalized HOF hybrids for ultrafast detection of thiabendazole and 2-chlorophenol.

Development of efficient and intelligent method for detecting harmful agrochemicals in resource-limited settings remains an urgent need to ensure food and environmental safety. Herein, a novel dual-emitting Tb3+-modified hydrogen-bonded organic framework (Tb@TBTC, TBTC is the ligand of HOF-TBTC.) with visible green fluorescence has been prepared through coordination post-synthetic modification. Tb@TBTC can be designed as a fluorescence sensor for the identification of two harmful carcinogenic pesticides, thiabendazole (TBZ) and 2-chlorophenol (2-CP) with high sensitivity, high efficiency and excellent selectivity. Tb@TBTC can also adsorb 2-CP with high adsorption rate. In realistic fruit juice and river water samples, the detection limits of Tb@TBTC toward TBZ and 2-CP are as low as 2.73 µM and 2.18 µM, respectively, demonstrating the feasibility in practical application. Furthermore, an intelligent real-time and on-site monitoring platform for 2-CP detection is constructed based on Tb@TBTC-agarose hydrogel films with the assistance of back propagation neural network, which can efficiently and accurately determine the concentration of 2-CP from fluorescence images through human-machine interaction. This work presents a facile pathway to prepare Tb@HOF fluorescent sensor for food and ecological environment safety, which is highly promising for preventing human disease and improving global public health.

Association of pesticide exposure with neurobehavioral outcomes among avocado farmworkers in Mexico.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: To date, few studies have focused on the health effects of pesticide exposure among avocado farmworkers. We examined the association of exposure to insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides with cognitive and mental health outcomes among these avocado workers from Michoacan, Mexico. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 105 avocado farmworkers between May and August 2021. We collected data on self-reported pesticide use during the 12 months prior to the baseline survey and estimated annual exposure-intensity scores (EIS) using a semi-quantitative exposure algorithm. We calculated specific gravity adjusted average concentrations of 12 insecticide, fungicide, or herbicide metabolites measured in urine samples collected during two study visits (8-10 weeks apart). We assessed participants' cognitive function and psychological distress using the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery and the Brief Symptom Inventory 18 (BSI-18), respectively. We examined individual associations of EIS and urinary pesticide metabolites with neurobehavioral outcomes using generalized linear regression models. We also implemented Bayesian Weighted Quantile Sum (BWQS) regression to evaluate the association between a pesticide metabolite mixture and neurobehavioral outcomes. RESULTS: In individual models, after adjusting for multiple comparisons, higher concentrations of hydroxy-tebuconazole (OH-TEB, metabolite of fungicide tebuconazole) were associated with higher anxiety (IRR per two-fold increase in concentrations = 1.26, 95% CI:1.08, 1.48) and Global Severity Index (GSI) (IRR = 1.89, 95% CI:1.36, 2.75) scores, whereas higher concentrations of 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPy, metabolite of chlorpyrifos) were associated with lower GSI scores (IRR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.56, 0.85). In BWQS analyses, we found evidence of a mixture association of urinary pesticide metabolites with higher anxiety (IRR = 1.72, 95% CrI: 1.12, 2.55), depression (IRR = 4.60, 95% CrI: 2.19, 9.43), and GSI (IRR = 1.99, 95% CrI: 1.39, 2.79) scores. OH-TEB and hydroxy-thiabendazole (metabolite of fungicide thiabendazole) combined contributed 54%, 40%, and 54% to the mixture effect in the anxiety symptoms, depression symptoms, and overall psychological distress models, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We found that exposure to tebuconazole and thiabendazole, fungicides whose effects have been rarely studied in humans, may be associated with increased psychological distress among avocado farmworkers. We also observed that exposure to chlorpyrifos may be associated with decreased psychological distress.

Analysis and experimental assessment of an optimized SERS substrate used to detect thiabendazole in apples with high sensitivity.

Pesticides that linger in the environment and ecosystems for an extended period can cause severe and dangerous health problems in humans. To detect pesticides in foods, the development of high-sensitivity and quick screening technologies was required. This research investigated the performance of Au@Ag NPs with varying thicknesses of the silver shell for detecting trace quantities of thiabendazole (TBZ) in apples using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The Au@Ag NPs were synthesized by coating 32 nm gold seeds with different thicknesses of silver shell ranging from 2.4 to 8.7 nm, achieved by adjusting the incorporation of AgNO3 and ascorbic acid. The optimized Au@Ag NPs with a 7.3 nm silver shell demonstrated outstanding SERS activity, high sensitivity, and a detection limit of 0.05 µg/mL for TBZ. The R2 values, representing the goodness of fit, were found to be 0.990 and 0.986 for standard and real TBZ samples, respectively, indicating a strong correlation between the measured signal and the TBZ concentration. The recovery analysis showed a reliable and accurate detection capability (96 to 105%), suggesting good reliability and accuracy of the SERS-based detection using the optimal Au@Ag NPs. Overall, this research highlights the potential of SERS with optimal Au@Ag NPs for rapid and effective monitoring of pesticides in the food industry.

Quantifying the effect of non-ionic surfactant alkylphenol ethoxylates on the persistence of thiabendazole on fresh produce surface.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the role of adjuvants in pesticide persistence is crucial to develop effective pesticide formulations and manage pesticide residues in fresh produce. This study investigated the impact of a commercial non-ionic surfactant product containing alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEOs) on the persistence of thiabendazole on apple and spinach surfaces against the 30 kg m-3 baking soda (sodium bicarbonate, NaHCO3 ) soaking, which was used to remove the active ingredient (AI) in the cuticular wax layer of fresh produce through alkaline hydrolysis. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) mapping method was used to quantify the residue levels on fresh produce surfaces at different experimental scenarios. Four standard curves were established to quantify surface thiabendazole in the absence and presence of APEOs, on apple and spinach leaf surfaces, respectively. RESULTS: Overall, the result showed that APEOs enhanced the persistence of thiabendazole over time. After 3 days of exposure, APEOs increased thiabendazole surface residue against NaHCO3 hydrolysis on apple and spinach surfaces by 5.39% and 10.47%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The study suggests that APEOs led to more pesticide residues on fresh produce and greater difficulty in washing them off from the surfaces using baking soda, posing food safety concerns. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Dual-emission carbon dots for ratiometric fluorescence sensing of thiabendazole in fruits.

Quantitative determination of pesticides in fruits and vegetables is essential for human healths. Herein, a new dual-emission carbon dots with high fluorescence stability at a pH range of 4-10 and a temperature range of 0-60 °C was synthesized. And a novel ratiometric fluorescence probe was proposed to detect thiabendazole (TBZ) residue with a wide linear range (0-1000 µM) and low detection limit (0.15 µM). The emission at 512 nm exhibited a special "turn-off" fluorescence sensing of TBZ due to internal filter effect, while that at 361 nm barely changed and worked as reference. Furthermore, the ratiometric fluorescence strategy was successfully applied for determining TBZ in fruits with good recoveries (96.73%-111.17 %, 93.29%-120.78 % and 96.28%-100.57 %, respectively). Notably, the constructed ratiometric fluorescence probe had comparable accuracy to HPLC in detecting unknown concentrations of TBZ in pear juice, demonstrating dual-emission carbon dots possess wide and promising applicability for fluorescence sensing pesticides in the future.

Integrated surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and convolutional neural network for quantitative and qualitative analysis of pesticide residues on pericarp.

Pesticide residue poses a significant global public health concern, necessitating improved detection methods. Here, a novel platform was introduced based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to detect ten distinct types of pesticides. Notably, the sensitivity of this approach is exemplified by detecting trace amounts of 50 pM (10 ppt) thiabendazole. The correlation between the characteristic peak intensity of coexisting pesticides and their concentrations displays an exceptional linear relationship (R2 = 0.9999), underscoring its utility for quantitative mixed pesticide detection. Additionally, qualitative analysis of five mixed pesticides was conducted leveraging distinctive peak labeling. Harnessing machine learning techniques, a model for classifying and predicting pesticides on pericarps was developed. Remarkably, the convolutional neural network achieved classification accuracy of 100 % and prediction accuracy of 99.62 %. This innovative approach accurately identifies and quantifies diverse pesticides, thus offering a feasible scheme for in-situ detection of pesticide residues. Ultimately, this strategy contributes to ensuring food safety and public health.

Synthesis of composite materials combining magnetic metal-organic frameworks and conjugated organic frameworks for selective extraction of carbendazim and thiabendazole residues from Chinese herbal medicine samples.

A magnetic metal-organic framework MIL-68(Al) and a covalent organic framework were used as magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) adsorbents in combination with high-performance liquid chromatography ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV) to detect carbendazim (CBZ) and thiabendazole (TBZ). The main parameters affecting the extraction in the MSPE process were studied and optimized. Fe3O4@MIL-68(Al) coated with 1,3,5-tris(4-aminophenyl)benzene and terephthaldehyde (Fe3O4@MIL-68(Al)@TAPB-PDA-COF) was analyzed and verified. The material was proven to be suitable for adsorbing CBZ and TBZ. Various adsorption models were used to study its adsorption mechanism. The adsorption results were in good agreement with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model. The maximum adsorption capacities of Fe3O4@MIL-68(Al)@TAPB-PDA-COF over CBZ and TBZ were 54.24 and 67.87 mg g-1, respectively, and the equilibrium adsorption time was 200 min. Fe3O4@MIL-68(Al)@TAPB-PDA-COF with excellent recyclability showed higher adsorption capacity and selectivity. A method based on Fe3O4@MIL-68(Al)@TAPB-PDA-COF combined with HPLC-UV was established under the optimal extraction conditions and used to separate and detect trace imidazole drugs in Chinese herbal samples, achieving a low limit of detection (0.65-1.30 µg L-1) with excellent linear correlation (r > 0.999). The recovery rate and relative standard deviation were 86.05-99.78 % and 0.15-4.90 %, respectively. Therefore, the Fe3O4@MIL-68@TAPB-PDA-COF can be regarded as an effective adsorbent for the pretreatment of CBZ and TBZ drugs in Chinese herbal samples.

Soluble thiabendazolium salts with anthelminthic properties.

Thiabendazole is an anthelmintic drug used to treat strongyloidiasis (threadworm), cutaneous and visceral larva migrans, trichinosis, and other parasites. The active pharmaceutical ingredient is typically administered orally as tablets that should be chewed before swallowing. Current formulations combine the active ingredient with excipients, including sodium saccharinate as a sweetener. Thiabendazole's low aqueous solubility hinders fast dissolution and absorption through the mucous membranes. We sought to reformulate this medicine to improve both solubility and palatability. We utilized the possibility of protonation of the azole nitrogen atom and selected four different hydrogen donors: saccharin, fumaric, maleic, and oxalic acids. Solvothermal synthesis resulted in salts with each co-former, whereas neat and liquid-assisted grinding enabled the synthesis of additional formulations. Product formation was observed by powder X-ray diffraction. To better understand the structural basis of the proton transfer, we solved the crystal structures of the salts with saccharin, maleic acid, and oxalic acid using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The structure of the salt with fumaric acid was solved by powder X-ray diffraction. We further characterized the salts with vibrational spectroscopic and thermoanalytical methods. We report a broad tunability of the aqueous solubility of thiabendazole by salt formation. Reformulation with maleic acid provided a 60-fold increase in solubility, while saccharin and oxalic acid gave a modest improvement. Fumaric acid resulted in a solid with only slightly higher solubility. Furthermore, saccharin is a sweetener, while the acids taste sour. Therefore, the salts formed also result in an intrinsic improvement of palatability. These results can inform new strategies for oral and chewable tablet formulations for treating helminthic infections.

A micellar-enhanced fluorescence photoinduced four-way calibration method for the determination of multiclass pesticides in lemon juice.

In this work, a four-way multivariate calibration method for the simultaneous determination of four pesticides - carbendazim (CBZ), thiabendazole (TBZ), pirimiphos-methyl (PMM), and clothianidin (CLT) - in lemon juice is presented. Third-order data were acquired by registering the photoinduced fluorescence of the analytes as excitation-emission matrices at different times of UV-light irradiation, in the presence of organized media (direct micelles) as fluorescence enhancers. The optimal experimental conditions (pH 11.5 and 32 mmol L-1 hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride surfactant) were determined through a central composite design using the response surface methodology. The analytes were individually calibrated, except for TBZ and CBZ due to the inner filter effect of TBZ on CBZ. Test samples containing all analytes and imidacloprid (as potential interference) were analysed. PARAFAC was utilized to evaluate both the trilinearity and quadrilinearity of the third-order data and four-way arrays, respectively. PMM was successfully determined with quadrilinear PARAFAC decomposition, whereas CLT, TBZ, and CBZ were satisfactorily modelled using U-PLS/RTL due to the loss of quadrilinearity caused by different phenomena. The profitable applicability of the analytical method in the CBZ, TBZ, PMM, and CLT determination in lemon juice samples was demonstrated, achieving limits of detection below the maximum residue levels reported by the European Commission, and mean recoveries at 90 ± 5%.

Combining LAESI Imaging and Tissue Spray Ionization Mass Spectrometry To Unveil Pesticides Contaminants in Fruits.

There is an increasing need for developing a strategy to analyze the penetration of pesticides in cultures during postharvest control with minimal or no sample preparation. This study explores the combined use of laser ablation electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging (LAESI imaging) and tissue spray ionization mass spectrometry (TSI-MS) to investigate the penetration of thiabendazole (TBZ) in fruits, simulating a postharvest procedure. Slices of guava and apple were prepared, and an infrared laser beam was used, resulting in the ablation of TBZ directly ionized by electrospray and analyzed by mass spectrometry. The experiments were conducted for 5 days of fruit storage after TBZ administration to simulate a postharvest treatment. During postharvest treatment, TBZ is applied directly to the fruit peel after harvesting. Consequently, TBZ residues may remain on the peel if the consumer does not wash the fruit properly before its consumption. To evaluate the effectiveness of household washing procedures, TSI-MS was employed as a rapid and straightforward technique to monitor the remaining amount of TBZ in guava and apple peels following fruit washing. This study highlights the advantages of LAESI imaging for evaluating TBZ penetration in fruits. Moreover, the powerful capabilities of TSI-MS are demonstrated in monitoring and estimating TBZ residues after pesticide application, enabling the comprehensive unveiling of pesticide contaminants in fruits.

Occurrence, spatial and seasonal variations of emerging contaminants in the aquatic environment of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

The occurrence, seasonal variations and spatial distribution of emerging contaminants (ECs) in wastewater effluents from wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and UAE's receiving coastal aquatic environment (seawater and sediments) were evaluated in the present study. A total of 21, 23, and 22 contaminants in the effluents, seawater, and sediments, respectively, at concentrations ranging from low ng L-1 up to 1782 ng L-1 in effluents, from low ng/l up to 236.10 ng L-1 in seawater, and from low ng g-1 up to 60.15 ng g-1 in sediments were recorded. The study revealed that imidacloprid, thiabendazole, and acetaminophen were the most ubiquitous compounds in effluents, seawater, and sediments, respectively, since they were found in all samples collected with a detection frequency of 100%. The study also revealed that the higher concentrations of most contaminants were recorded in autumn. However, thiabendazole in effluents and seawater, acetamiprid in effluents, and sulphapyridine in seawater and sediments showed a higher load in winter. This study highlights the need for proper monitoring and management of ECs in wastewater effluents, seawater, and sediments, especially during the autumn and winter seasons, to minimize their impact on the marine ecosystem and public health.

Rapid detection of thiabendazole residues in apple juice by surface-enhanced Raman scattering coupled with silver coated gold nanoparticles.

In recent years, the excessive use of pesticides has posed significant hazards to the ecological environment and human health in the pursuit of high crop yields. In this work, we developed a simple, sensitive, and eco-friendly approach for rapid detection of thiabendazole in apple juice using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) coupled with silver-coated gold nanoparticles (Au@Ag NPs). The developed Au@Ag NPs exhibited excellent sensitivity, allowing for the detection of thiabendazole in standard solutions at a minimum concentration of 50 ng/mL. Furthermore, two sample preparation methods were compared for detecting thiabendazole in apple juice. As the direct detection method for SERS analysis failed to detect thiabendazole at levels below the maximum residue limit based on the Chinese standard (3000 ng/mL), the effects of main matrix components in apple juice on the detection of thiabendazole were further investigated. The results revealed that both sugars and organic acids in apple juice interfered with the SERS measurement to varying degrees. Consequently, we optimized the QuEChERS method for sample preparation and achieved a higher sensitivity with a minimum detectable concentration of 250 ng/mL, a limit of detection of 0.06 mg/L and the recoveries of spiked samples were ranged from 80.2 % to 108.6 %. This study demonstrated the feasibility of proposed SERS method for pesticide residue analysis, addressing the need for food safety monitoring.