Single and combined effects of metal-based fungicides on Eisenia andrei in different scenarios of climatic change.

This study evaluated the ecotoxicity of metal-based fungicides under the current scenarios of global climatic change (20 °C and 25 °C) and moisture content (30% and 50%) in single and binary mixtures of copper oxychloride (CuOx) [200, 500 and 1000 mg/kg] and mancozeb (MnZn) [44, 850 and 1250 mg/kg]. Endpoints assessed included mortality, changes in biomass, avoidance behaviour, and reproduction utilising standardised protocols (ISO and OECD). The changes in biomass and mortality tests lasted 28 days, followed by a 28-day reproduction test and a two-day avoidance test.

Ecotoxicological Effects of Aflatoxins on Earthworms under Different Temperature and Moisture Conditions.

Aflatoxin contamination remains one of the most important threats to food safety and human health. Aflatoxins are mainly found in soil, decaying plant material and food storage systems and are particularly abundant during drought stress. Regulations suggest the disposal of aflatoxin-contaminated crops by incorporation into the soil for natural degradation.

Do Endemic Soil Fauna Species Deserve Extra Protection for Adverse Heavy Metal Conditions?

The concept of Ecotoxicological Species Sensitivity Distributions, as used in EU and US, to derive environmental standards for contaminants, starts from the assumption that by protecting the majority of species (95% confidence interval) all species will be protected. Nevertheless, 5% of the species outside the confidence interval might become harmed; half of it being the most sensitive for the particular compound tested. With respect to protection of rare endemic species it is not clear, however, if contamination is a driving factor for endemicity.

Potential Impacts of Climate Change on the Toxicity of Pesticides towards Earthworms.

This review examined one of the effects of climate change that has only recently received attention, i.e., climate change impacts on the distribution and toxicity of chemical contaminants in the environment.

Global Trends of Green Pesticide Research from 1994 to 2019: A Bibliometric Analysis.

The fast-growing world population places food production under enormous pressure to ensure food security. One of the most common methods to increase food production is the use of pesticides, but the continuous use thereof has numerous detrimental effects on the environment. The interest in biopesticides for a possible substitute has grown over the past two decades.