Optical analytical methods for detection of pesticides

Abstract

The global pesticide market has grown steadily since the 1940s, with the agricultural sector being the largest user of pesticides. The effect of pesticides on human health is manifested either through direct exposure to the material or indirect exposure to contaminated resources. Farmers and those dwelling near areas where pesticides are used may suffer from direct exposure, while the general population might be exposed indirectly, for example, by drinking contaminated water. Exposure to pesticides may cause a variety of symptoms, including headaches, dizziness, and vomiting, damage the nervous system, and even cause death. The risks involved in pesticide use include air pollution and soil and water contamination. The environmental implications of pesticide use include development of resistance among pests, a decline in biodiversity, interruption of the food chain, and disruption of the ecological balance. Pesticide use may also cause changes in physical parameters of the ecosystem. Effective activity of pesticides requires reaching proper leaf coverage. To prevent pest attacks due to insuffi cient leaf coverage, farmers tend to apply pesticides in excess. In view of the environmental and health implications of pesticide use, there is a clear need to limit pesticide application. Yet farmers lack the means to perform real-time in situ assessment of leaf coverage. Existing pesticide detection methods are complex, time-consuming, and unsuited to fi eld application. Optical methods have the potential to provide quick assessments and can be used in situ. Several optical methods for detection of pesticides in general and on leaves in particular were developed. The fi ndings indicated that the main problems in pesticide detection using fl uorescence are the low autofl uorescence of the pesticides and the nonreproducible a Dedication: This review is dedicated to the late Professor Angelika Anders-von Ahlften of Leibniz University of Hanover (1949-2008). She initiated and promoted with much enthusiasm the research on pesticide detection on plants. She took an active part in this project, with the intention to contribute to reducing the global pesticide usage and protecting the environment. The authors and the whole community are missing her.

Supramolecular Luminescent Sensors

“…806 Although the usage of many toxic pesticides has been banned, the environmental persistence of these pesticides means that they are still found in significant quantities in a variety of real-world environments. 807 Detection methods for pesticides vary widely, largely because of their significant structural variability, and include electrochemical, 808 mass spectral, 809 and photophysical (i.e., spectroscopic-based) 810 methods. Photophysically active pesticides can be detected via energy transfer-based methods, in which the pesticide transfers excited state energy to a high quantum yield energy acceptor, resulting in bright, turn-on fluorescence emission in the presence of the pesticide of interest.…”

Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopic Analysis of Phorate and Fenthion Pesticide in Apple Skin Using Silver Nanoparticles

“…1 Intake, inhalation, or exposure to pesticides would cause hazardous damage to human health. It may cause a series of symptoms (e.g., headaches, dizziness, and vomiting 2 ) and a variety of diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, 3 asthma, 4 birth effects, 5 endocrine disruption, 6 etc.). Contrary to the great harm caused by pesticides, the monitoring of pesticide residue is very rare.…”

A review of recent developments based on chemiluminescence detection systems for pesticides analysis

“…The effect of pesticides on human health can be direct, through exposure to the substance, or indirect via polluted resources. [ 1 ]…”