Environmental fate of dibutylphthalate in agricultural plastics: Photodegradation, migration and ecotoxicological impact on soil.

Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) were determined in polyethylene covers used in horticultural production units located at Moreno and La Plata districts (Buenos Aires, Argentina), detecting 0.69-8.75 mg PAEs kg plastic in greenhouse and tunnel films.

Fatty acid extraction from sewage sludge using a porous polyethylene sorbent obtained from agricultural covers.

Fatty acids from a sewage sludge of a wastewater treatment plant were extracted using a porous polyethylene (pPE) material prepared using agricultural plastic films. The pPE fatty acid extraction profile and yield from the sewage sludge was compared to toluene as extraction solvent. The chemical composition of the extracted fatty acids were the same in both cases, but when the extraction yield was normalized by the used mass of pPE or toluene, pPE resulted six times more efficient than toluene.

Human and soil exposure during mechanical chlorpyrifos, myclobutanil and copper oxychloride application in a peach orchard in Argentina.

The objective of this study was to measure the impact of the mechanized chlorpyrifos, copper oxychloride and myclobutanil application in a small peach orchard, on humans (operators, bystanders and residents) and on the productive soil. The mean Potential Dermal Exposure (PDE) of the workers (tractor drivers) was 30.8mL·h±16.

Polyethylene film incorporation into the horticultural soil of small periurban production units in Argentina.

Horticulture makes intensive use of soil and extensive use of polyethylene (PE) sheeting and pesticides, producing an environment where the dynamics between soil and plastics can affect pesticide fate. We have determined that the presence of plastic residues in the horticultural soil of small production units equals 10% of the soil area, being meso and macro-sections the predominant fragment sizes. All soil samples were taken from different plots located in Cuartel V, Moreno district, in the suburbs of Buenos Aires city, Argentina.

Pesticide potential dermal exposure during the manipulation of concentrated mixtures at small horticultural and floricultural production units in Argentina: the formulation effect.

Potential dermal exposure measurements of horticultural and floricultural field operators that handled concentrated pesticides showed a correlation with the types of formulations used (liquid or solid) during the mix and load stage. For liquid formulations, hand exposure was 22-62 times greater than that for solid ones. The dermal exposure mechanism was studied for this formulation under laboratory conditions, finding that the rupture of the aluminum seal of the pesticide container and the color of the liquid formulation are important factors.

Environmental pesticide distribution in horticultural and floricultural periurban production units.

The environmental pesticide distribution on non-target systems (soil, drift and agricultural plastics) during the application step at small periurban production units, was studied in open field and greenhouses, for different crops (tomato, lettuce, broccoli, strawberry and flowers) using different pesticides (endosulfan, procymidone, chlorothalonil, chlorpyrifos and deltamethrin). In all cases, soil was the most exposed non-target system. For greenhouses, a general pesticide distribution was found of approximately 2/3 for crop, 1/4 for soil and 1/20 for plastic, of the total amount applied.

Pesticide risk assessment in flower greenhouses in Argentina: the importance of manipulating concentrated products.

An evaluation of the Potential Dermal Exposure of workers to endosulfan and procymidone at the mix/load and application stages was done in small floricultural production units in Argentina. Seven experiments were performed with different operators under typical greenhouse conditions, based on the whole body dosimetry methodology. These results indicate that the mean Potential Dermal Exposure of the application step was 45.

Potential dermal exposure in greenhouses for manual sprayers: analysis of the mix/load, application and re-entry stages.

An evaluation of the Potential Dermal Exposure for the mix/load, application and re-entry stages, associated with procymidone and deltamethrin usage, was carried out for tomatoes grown in greenhouses of small production units in Argentina. Eight experiments were done with four different operators, under typical field conditions with a lever operated backpack sprayer. The methodology applied was based on the Whole Body Dosimetry technique, evaluating a set of different data for the mix and load, application and re-entry operations.

Cadmium, zinc and copper biosorption mediated by Pseudomonas veronii 2E.

Adsorption properties of bacterial biomass were tested for Cd removal from liquid effluents. Experimental conditions (pH, time, cellular mass, volume, metal concentration) were studied to develop an efficient biosorption process with free or immobilised cells of Pseudomonas veronii 2E. Surface fixation was chosen to immobilise cells on inert surfaces including teflon membranes, silicone rubber and polyurethane foam.

Potential dermal exposure to deltamethrin and risk assessment for manual sprayers: influence of crop type.

A comparison of the Potential Dermal Exposure (PDE) of workers to the insecticide deltamethrin was made as a function of crop type, in small agricultural production units in Argentina. Seven experiments were done with two different crops (maize and broccoli, treated area between 600 and 1000 m(2)) with three different operators under typical field conditions using a lever operated knapsack. The methodology is based on the whole body dosimetry technique, presenting separately the data for mixing/loading and application activities.

Analytical method for assessing potential dermal exposure to captan, using whole body dosimetry, in small vegetable production units in Argentina.

An analytical method has been developed that can be used to determine the potential dermal exposure (PDE) of workers to the pesticide captan in small-scale horticultural production units. The methodology is based on the whole body dosimetry technique, using a cotton coverall and cotton gloves as sampling media, with protective clothing worn beneath the cotton media to protect the operator. The quantitative determination of captan was done by gas chromatography-electron capture detector (GC-ECD), with the analytical method validated by measuring limits of detection and quantification, linear ranges, sample recovery and precision.

Indigenous heavy metal multiresistant microbiota of Las Catonas stream.

Las Catonas stream (Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area) receives a complex mixture of pollutants from point and diffuse sources because of the agricultural, industrial and urban land uses of its basin. Widespread detection of heavy metals exceeding aquatic life protection levels has occurred in monitoring reconnaissance studies in surface and pore water. As a result of the screening of Cu, Cd, Zn and Pb resistant/tolerant and culturable microbiota, B101N and 200H strains (Pseudomonas fluorescens or putida) were isolated and selected for further studies.