The presence of exotic species of plants in a region is associated with anthropogenic activities due to their economic and commercial benefits. When these exotic species hinder the development of native species, they are considered invasive. In Brazil, two species stand out: Pinus spp. and Eucalyptus spp. Their presence within ecosystems may result in environmental imbalances caused by allelopathy. The allelochemicals released by these invasive species can enter the environment through rainfall, decomposition of plant material, root exudation, and volatilization. The high solubility of phenolic compounds produced by these plants allows them to reach water bodies and potentially affect aquatic organisms. In light of this, a toxicological evaluation was conducted by exposing Daphnia magna, Aliivibrio fischeri, Landoltia punctata, and Lactuca sativa seeds to soil elutriates from areas with exotic and native vegetation. The samples were collected in close proximity, with the primary difference being the type of vegetation cover. Upon characterization, the soil covered by native species was found to contain higher levels of organic matter and moisture, whereas the soil with exotic species appeared drier. Overall, the toxicological evaluation revealed that elutriates from native vegetation induced greater toxic effects on the aquatic organisms D. magna and A. fischeri. Conversely, elutriates from exotic vegetation showed lower concentrations of total phenolic compounds but still exhibited toxic effects on the development of L. sativa seeds and caused notable structural damage to the aquatic macrophyte L. punctata.. This study highlights the importance of investigating reforested areas dominated by exotic species to better understand the potential environmental impacts caused by invasive plants.

Ciprofloxacin (CIP) is an antibiotic used in both human and veterinary medicine. Because it is only partially metabolized, it has been found in sewage sludge, manure, and agricultural soils. Therefore, due to the high persistence and low mobility of CIP in soil, we aimed to evaluate its long-term effect on Enchytraeus crypticus. Three multigenerational and one transgenerational test were performed according to OECD 220 guidelines (2016) on sandy clay soil. The concentrations tested were 0.1, 1.0, 10.0, 100.0, 1000.0 and 5000.0 mg kg- 1 dry soil. For F1, statistical analysis showed differences between the control and all concentrations tested, but no differences among the concentrations. For F2, there was a difference between control and 10 mg Kg -1 and for 10.0 mg Kg -1 compared to 0.1, 1.0 and 5000.0 mg Kg -1. For F3, no statistical difference was observed between any of the concentrations. When comparing the generations among themselves, there were significant differences between F1 and F2 and F1 and F3 for all concentrations. For the transgenerational test, there was no statistical difference between the control and the concentrations tested, nor among the concentrations. We verified a negative effect of CIP on the reproduction of E. crypticus for the first generation, which could be related to oxidative stress, DNA damage and clay content. We also verified that the organisms could develop a tolerance to CIP and that the effects of high clay content could outweigh the effects of CIP in long-term exposure. Due to the high persistence and low mobility of CIP on soil, it may affect other organisms and promote antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs) regardless of E. crypticus tolerance. Therefore, we strongly recommend further studies focusing on long-term effects on different organisms, with a molecular approach, and in different soil types.

Mato Grosso is the largest consumer of pesticides in Brazil, and although their role in phytosanitary control is evident, environmental contamination is a concern due to their intensive use. Therefore, identifying the behavior of pesticides in the environment can assist in risk management, and the Environmental Risk Index (ERI) is an indirect way of knowing the potential of these compounds. This study was aimed at evaluating the ERI of the most sold insecticides in Mato Grosso used for the control of lepidopteran pests. The parameters evaluated were persistence in the soil, leaching, volatility, toxicological profile and recommended dose. Our findings reported on 24 insecticides, which totaled an annual amount of 23,046,348 kg of active ingredients, with acephate at the top of the ranking with 8,974,413 kg sold in 2020. This insecticide, despite being widely used, had the lowest ERI due to low persistence, leaching and volatility, and its critical factor was animal toxicity. Malathion, methoxyphenozide, chlorantraniliprole, flubendiamide, and beta-cyfluthrin had the highest ERI, with toxicological profile and persistence in the environment as critical factors. In general, all compounds exhibited medium to very high levels of toxicity, indicating the need to manage risks associated with insecticide use and select those with lower impact, to minimize damage to agroecosystems.

Many studies have investigated the toxic effects of microplastics (MPs) ingested by aquatic animals, but the effects of MPs that adhere to the roots of macrophytes require further exploration. Thus, the present study investigated the dose-dependent toxic effects of adding 10-500 mg/kg of polycaprolactam microplastics (PCM) on allelopathic cyanobacterial inhibition by a wetland macrophyte due to the influence on rhizosphere bacteria in a pot trial. First, comparisons of sterilized and unsterilized Iris pseudacorus rhizosphere soil showed that the unsterilized soil could enhance the root activity and allelopathic inhibition of Microcystis aeruginosa cyanobacteria. Furthermore, adding 50-100 mg/kg PCM to the unsterilized soil significantly altered the abundances of many types of bacteria, and decreased the root activity and bacterial biodiversity in the rhizosphere. Importantly, PCM changed the secondary metabolites profile in the roots, as well as decreasing production of the allelochemical palmitic acid and the allelopathic potential of I. pseudacorus. Moreover, a dominant strain of functional bacterium AAP51 was identified as an allelopathic promoter, isolated, and successfully inoculated into the sterilized soil. The decomposition of PCM produced the toxic monomer caprolactam in the rhizosphere soil at an average rate of 0.067 mg/kgd under treatment with 50 mg/kg PCM. Toxicological testing showed that 5 mg/kg caprolactam inhibited the activities of the dominant bacteria and expression of the allelopathic gene FAD2 to weaken the allelopathic effect of I. pseudacorus. Thus, the findings obtained in this study indicate that PCM inhibited the allelopathic potential of the macrophyte due to the release of toxic caprolactam damaging bacteria in the rhizosphere. Consequently, it is necessary to remove MP pollutants from aquatic ecosystems in order to maintain the strong allelopathic potential of macrophytes and efficiently control cyanobacterial blooms.

The global spread of Fall Armyworm (FAW, Spodoptera frugiperda) has posed significant challenges to crop productivity and food security, with current pest management relying heavily on synthetic pesticides. This study explores the green synthesis of neem extract and neem oil-based Azadirachtin nanopesticides using cellulose acetate (CA) as a carrier polymer, focusing on their efficacy against FAW. The objective was to assess whether CA-NEP (neem extract nanopesticides) and CA-NOL (neem oil nanopesticide) formulations were effective at FAW control with minimal ecological impact. The nanopesticides were synthesized by electrospinning at concentrations of 5 %, 10 %, 20 %, 33 %, and 50 % (w/w) and characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy. Azadirachtin content was quantified using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy. CA-NEP and CA-NOL followed first-order, and Korsmeyer-Peppas release kinetics, respectively. Feeding bioassays showed high FAW mortality rates, with 20 %-50 % CA-NEP achieving greater than 40 % mortality in less than 3 days and 50 % CA-NEP reaching 100 % mortality by day five. The mortality rates of FAW due to feeding on CA-NOL-treated corn leaves reached 40 % after 4 and 6 days, respectively, for 50 % and 33 % CA-NOL. Placing nanopesticide fibers next to corn seeds during planting significantly reduced FAW leaf damage. The lethal dose 50 (LD50) analyses showed that 13 % CA-NEP is the optimal concentration for FAW control. Environmental safety assessments on earthworms showed no acute or chronic toxicity, indicating that the nanopesticides suit ecologically sensitive areas. Therefore, these nanopesticide formulations provide a promising, eco-friendly alternative for sustainable FAW control and management with enhanced efficacy and safety.

Neonicotinoids represent 25% of the insecticidal market and are essential for crop production, yet traditional neonicotinoids are toxic to most pollinators, which are also essential for food production. This issue may be addressed by the use of some chiral neonicotinoid isomers, which are much less toxic. Here, we review the chiral neonicotinoids dinotefuran, sulfoxaflor, cycloxaprid, and paichongding, with focus on their chiral characteristics, configuration stability, biological activity, ecological toxicology, and environmental fate. Isomeric separation of chiral neonicotinoids can be achieved by chromatography. The dinotefuran R isomer is less toxic than the S isomer to honeybees and earthworms by a factor of 2.7-145.9, with similar control efficiency of common agricultural pests. The insecticidal activity of (5R,7S)-paichongding are up to 20.1 times higher than that of other isomers, and it is absorbed fastest by crop roots and tends to be preferentially degraded and mineralized in soils. Therefore, formulations containing R-dinotefuran or (5R,7S)-paichongding could decrease ecological damage without compromising food production. On the other hand, it has not been possible to synthesize chiral isomers of sulfoxaflor and cycloxaprid, owing to the instability of their monomers in polar solvents.

Mangroves are essential ecosystems for coastal protection, carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and food production. In particular, mud crabs, with an annual global landing of over 100,000 metric tons, are crucial for the economic livelihoods and food security of millions of small-scale fishers in Southeast Asia. Here, we review the impact of pollutants on mud crab populations in mangrove ecosystems, with emphasis on pollutant sources, toxic effects on crabs, and remediation using microbes and biochar. Pollutants include microplastics, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and heavy metals. Pollution originates from agricultural runoff, industrial discharges, mining activities, urbanization, and domestic waste. We present the use of biochar for pollutant remediation and enhancing carbon sequestration. We observe that heavy metals, pesticides, and microplastics induce oxidative stress, disrupt antioxidant defense mechanisms, and impair the growth, reproduction, and survival rates of mud crabs. Microbial bioremediation can remove more than 90% of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Biochar application reduces by 87% the bioavailability of heavy metal in contaminated soils.

Limited studies have highlighted the importance of incorporating behavioural assessments into insecticide efficacy evaluations for wireworm pest control. For this study, video tracking technology combined with a soil bioassay arena was employed to analyse the behaviour of Agriotes obscurus wireworms before, during, and after exposure to wheat seeds treated with the neonicotinoid insecticides thiamethoxam and imidacloprid at field-relevant concentrations. The analysis identified a set of behavioural key metrics for assessing the effects of these insecticides on wireworms. The results showed that these insecticides exhibited neutral attractancy towards wireworms. A brief period of feeding followed by rapid intoxication minimised damage to seeds. Furthermore, the wireworms demonstrated a specific form of behavioural resistance to neonicotinoids that did not rely on sensory input. In these insects, the rapid speed of intoxication, accompanied by drastic changes in behaviour, ensured that they received a sublethal rather than lethal dose of the insecticide. The wireworms fully recovered from all behavioural abnormalities within a week, and none died within 20 days following the exposure. In conclusion, this video tracking method provides a rapid and efficient means of assessing insecticides intended for wireworm management, offering valuable insights prior to more resource-intensive and costly field trials.

The soil environment has been considered capable of storing toxic substances without serious consequences for the inhabitants since plants are able to bioaccumulate pollutants without compromising their survival. The application of chemicals to increase soil productivity and the dumping of waste have worsened soil quality. Recently, following a greater awareness of the importance of monitoring the damage deriving from the consumption of contaminated crops for humans and of the protection of biodiversity, studies aimed at identifying the effects of soil contamination on terrestrial animals have increased considerably. Studies using field lizards as model organisms fit into this scenario; this research has shed light on the uptake, accumulation, and toxicity of soil pollutants on reptiles. This review summarizes data collected on lizards of the Podarcis genus, a group of resilient wild species capable of living in both pristine and anthropized areas; the data reveal that many of the effects recorded in lizard tissues at the molecular, biochemical, and histological levels are independent of the chemical composition of the contaminants and are mostly linked to the type of cellular response. Overall, these studies confirm Podarcis lizards as a good model system in ecotoxicological and cytotoxicological research, providing an accurate description of the effects of pollutants, clarifying the defense mechanisms activated in relation to different exposure routes and, finally, providing predictive information on the risks faced by other animals. Since the effects recorded in lizards have often also been observed in mammals, it can be concluded that the results obtained from studies on these animals can be translated to other terrestrial vertebrates, including mammals.

Herbicide exposure poses a higher risk to reptiles due to their frequent contact with soil. Besides, food restriction is also a common environmental pressure that can seriously affect the survival of reptiles. The adaptive strategies of reptiles in the face of emerging herbicide pollution and food shortage challenges are not yet known. Therefore, Eremias Argus (a kind of small reptile) was selected as the model to simulate the real scenario of food shortage in lizards, aiming to explore the comprehensive impact of glufosinate-ammonium (GLA: an emerging herbicide) and food restriction on lizards. The results revealed that lizards often regulate their physiological and biochemical activities through body thermal selection and tend to choose lower body temperature, reduce digestibility, and actively participate in fat energy mobilization to avoid oxidative damage in the state of hunger, finally in order to achieve homeostasis. However, herbicide GLA disrupted the lizards' efforts to resist the stress of food shortage and interfered with the normal thermoregulation and energy mobilization strategies of lizards facing starvation. The results of this study would improve our understanding of the impacts of Lizards under extreme stresses, help supplement reptile toxicology data and provide scientific basis for the risk assessment of herbicide GLA.