Effects of bifenthrin on sex differentiation in Japanese Medaka (Oryzias latipes).

Bifenthrin (BF) is a pyrethroid insecticide used in urban and agricultural applications. Previous studies in early life stages of fish have indicated anti-estrogenic activity; however, estrogenic activity has been observed in adults. To test the hypothesis that BF impairs sex differentiation, larval Japanese Medaka were exposed to BF during a critical developmental window for phenotypic sexual differentiation.

Fiproles in urban surface runoff: Understanding sources and causes of contamination.

Urban-use pesticides present a unique risk to non-target organisms in surface aquatic systems because impervious pavement facilitates runoff that may lead to serious contamination and ensuing aquatic toxicity. Fipronil is an insecticide used at high rates in urban environments, especially in regions such as California. This compound and its biologically active degradation products have been detected in urban runoff drainage and downstream surface water bodies at concentrations exceeding toxicity thresholds for sensitive aquatic invertebrates, necessitating a better understanding of the runoff sources and causes of this contamination at sites of application.

Development of film-based passive samplers for in situ monitoring of trace levels of pyrethroids in sediment.

Residues of pyrethroid insecticides tend to accumulate in bed sediments due to their strong hydrophobicity. Rather than the total or bulk sediment concentration, it is the freely dissolved concentration (C) that drives toxicity to benthic invertebrates. In this study we developed thin film-based samplers for in situ ambient monitoring of pyrethroids at trace levels in sediment.

Development of polyurethane-based passive samplers for ambient monitoring of urban-use insecticides in water.

Widespread use of insecticides for the control of urban pests such as ants, termites, and spiders has resulted in contamination and toxicity in urban aquatic ecosystems in different regions of the world. Passive samplers are a convenient and integrative tool for in situ monitoring of trace contaminants in surface water. However, the performance of a passive sampler depends closely on its affinity for the target analytes, making passive samplers highly specific to the types of contaminants being monitored.

Effects of bifenthrin exposure on the estrogenic and dopaminergic pathways in zebrafish embryos and juveniles.

Bifenthrin is a pyrethroid insecticide used in urban and agricultural applications. Previous studies have shown that environmentally relevant (ng/L) concentrations of bifenthrin increased plasma concentrations of 17β-estradiol (E2) and altered the expression of dopaminergic pathway components. The dopaminergic neurons can indirectly regulate E2 biosynthesis, suggesting that bifenthrin may disrupt the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis.

Diclofenac in Arabidopsis cells: Rapid formation of conjugates.

Pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) are continuously introduced into the soil-plant system, through practices such as agronomic use of reclaimed water and biosolids containing these trace contaminants. Plants may accumulate PPCPs from soil, serving as a conduit for human exposure. Metabolism likely controls the final accumulation of PPCPs in plants, but is in general poorly understood for emerging contaminants.

Distribution of pesticides in dust particles in urban environments.

In regions with a mild climate, pesticides are often used around homes for pest control. Recent monitoring studies have linked pesticide use in residential areas to aquatic toxicity in urban surface water ecosystems, and suggested dust particles on paved surfaces as an important source of pesticides. To test the hypothesis that dust on hard surfaces is a significant source of pesticides, we evaluated spatial and temporal patterns of current-use insecticides in Southern California, and further explored their distribution as a function of particle sizes.

Practical Pest Management Strategies to Reduce Pesticide Runoff for Argentine Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Control.

The purpose of this study was to involve pest management professionals in the design of application techniques and strategies that would be efficacious and also reduce insecticide runoff. Our study involved measuring both the efficacy of treatments for the Argentine ant, Linepithema humile (Mayr), and the concurrent runoff of fipronil and pyrethroids. Two collaborating companies used low-impact protocols for controlling ants while minimizing runoff.

Interlaboratory validation of the Mehlich 3 method as a universal extractant for plant nutrients.

The Mehlich 3 (M3) method is widely used to extract plant-available phosphorus from soil over a wide range of pH values. The method is also used by many laboratories to determine multiple plant-available nutrients simultaneously. However, except for P, this method has not been statistically validated within and among laboratories.