J Hazard Mater. 2025 May 19;494:138676. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.138676. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
With the global increase in plastic pollution, microplastic contamination of agricultural products has become an emerging environmental issue that threatens food safety. In this study, linear analysis combined with principal component analysis was used to determine the correlation between microplastics in air and pesticides and the abundance and components of microplastics on the surface of strawberries, which fills the gap of traceability studies of microplastics on the surface of agricultural products. A high correlation coefficient of 0.65 was observed between microplastics on strawberry surfaces and the microplastic abundance in the air; however, the correlation coefficient with the abundance of microplastics in pesticides was only 0.30, which was weak. Polypropylene, polyamide and polyethylene were the polymers detected in the largest proportion of all experimental samples. Polypropylene had the highest percentage of detections in air and pesticides at 70.66 % and 74.04 %, respectively. The percentages of polypropylene, polyamide and polyethylene on strawberry surfaces were 36.97 %, 29.20 % and 17.36 %, respectively. This study provides scientific support for the formulation of microplastic limit standards for agricultural products and the optimization of agricultural production norms, which is of strategic significance for guaranteeing food safety and promoting the sustainable development of agriculture.
PMID:40398037 | DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.138676
It was early January when Blake Shook realized the bees were in trouble. Shook, the CEO of a beekeeping outfit called Desert Creek, was coordinating California’s annual almond pollination, the largest such event in the world. The affair requires shipping nearly 2 million honeybee colonies from all across the country to California orchards. But this year, Shook’s contacts were coming up short. Their bees were all dead.
From June 2024 to February 2025, the United States suffered its worst commercial honeybee crash on record. An estimated 62 percent of commercial colonies perished, according to a survey by the nonprofit Project Apis m. As Shook and other beekeepers were struggling to fill their contracts, they notified the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which promptly collected samples of pollen, wax, honey, and dead bees from both live and lost colonies to analyze at its five bee-research laboratories around the country. The USDA has long been the country’s frontline response to honeybee die-offs, using its labs to characterize threats to the insects.
But this year, before the researchers could uncover what exactly had killed the bees, the Trump administration’s sweeping federal funding cuts scrambled the operation. Now scientists, farmers, and beekeepers alike are racing to recover and prevent the next massive die-off before it’s too late.
Honeybee colonies in the U.S. have occupied a precarious position for nearly two decades. Since official recordkeeping started in 2007, approximately 40 percent of honeybee colonies kept by both commercial and hobbyist beekeepers have died off each winter. Keepers have still managed to keep the total U.S. honeybee population relatively stable by breeding new queens, and by relying on the USDA to quickly identify what caused any given die-off so they can prevent it from happening the next year.
Quickly is the operative word. Identifying which killer—or, more likely, combination of killers—is responsible for a colony’s death is crucial for beekeepers as they restock and adjust for new threats. They need to know whether they should provide their bees with supplemental food, or treat their gear with chemicals to kill specific parasites, viruses, or bacteria. “Until they have results from the samples that were taken, they don’t know if it’s safe to rebuild with that equipment,” Danielle Downey, the executive director of Project Apis m., told me.
[Read: The last thing bees need right now]
After a major winter die-off, the USDA usually returns its verdict by late March or early April, Downey said. But several beekeepers and the American Beekeeping Federation told me they are still waiting on this year’s report. “It’s a little frightening,” Russell Heitkam, a commercial beekeeper in Northern California, told me. In addition to delivering its report on a given year’s die-off, the agency offers financial aid for beekeepers to offset the costs of replacing their stock during years with particularly high losses. But Heitkam and Shook both told me that after they applied for the funds this year, they received a notice from the USDA’s Farm Service Agency that said they should expect to be paid less than usual. If beekeepers don’t have answers—or money—before summer begins, they will have missed their window to rebuild.
The Department of Agriculture seems hard-pressed to return answers in time. In February, the agency approached Cornell University and asked its bee experts to take on pesticide testing “due to government staffing cuts and the high expense involved with testing samples for pesticides,” according to a university press release. The university was able to take on the job because it already had the necessary equipment, and because of a $60,000 donation from an anonymous donor. Scott McArt, the program director of Cornell’s Dyce Lab for Honey Bee Studies, told me that he and his team are close to wrapping up their analysis, but they will need to run their results by the USDA before they can be shared. (A university spokesperson declined to comment further on how the partnership was worked out.)
Because of widespread government cuts, it’s unclear to what extent the USDA is equipped to test for any other potentia
Deadline: 2025-06-03
Approximate launch date: 05/06/2025
Deadline to register interest: 03/06/2025
In 2023 EFSA launched a project to promote the use of New Approach Methods (NAMs) into the risk assessment of pesticide residues metabolites (NAMs4PestRes) through the use of the OECD QSAR toolbox, a free available in silico tool managed by ECHA, to enhance connectivity of IUCLID and MetaPath and to implement embedded in silico models. The result will be an automated and standardized workflow for the assessment of mutagenicity (bacterial gene mutation) of pesticide residue metabolites to be implemented in a...
Online 2025-06-23 to 2025-06-23
Environ Toxicol Chem. 2025 May 19:vgaf130. doi: 10.1093/etojnl/vgaf130. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Primates exhibit diverse diets and related dietary adaptations which are expected to play a role in the exposure and toxicity of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). In the habitat of four primate species in Kibale National Park, Uganda, we quantified brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in air samples (n = 9), dietary plant samples (n = 32), and fecal samples from adult males and juveniles (n = 53). We also measured the fecal hormone metabolites cortisol and estradiol in juveniles (n = 38). In dietary plant samples, Σ32BRFs ranged from 12-22 ng/g and Σ21OCPs ranged from 61-334 ng/g across primate species. In primate fecal samples, median Σ32BRFs ranged from 6-158 ng/g and Σ21OCPs s ranged from 39-261 ng/g. In juveniles, higher Σ32BRFs were associated with decreased cortisol in baboons and chimpanzees, as well as total polybrominated diphenyl ethers (Σ21PBDEs) and dechlorane plus (DP) in baboons and chimpanzees, respectively. In red-tailed monkeys, 2-ethylhexyl-2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate (EHTBB) and Σ21OCPs were positively associated with cortisol. No significant associations between targeted pollutants and hormones were found in red colobus, nor between estradiol and any chemical for any species. Our results indicate that, despite their phylogenetic relatedness, the exposure, movement, and potential endocrine activity of pollutants varies across primate species. We suggest future studies exploring the mechanisms underlying phytochemical detoxification may help further elucidate connections between dietary niche and pollutant sensitivity in primates and at a broad taxonomic scale.
PMID:40388187 | DOI:10.1093/etojnl/vgaf130
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is finalizing tolerance actions it previously proposed on its own initiative under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) for residues of sulfentrazone in or on corn, pop, grain and corn, pop, stover.
Online 2025-06-12 to 2025-06-12
FDA notes that, until now, it has conducted post-market reviews on a case-by-case basis, often in response to citizen petitions or new scientific evidence. FDA says the new framework will be more proactive.
Toxicol Sci. 2025 May 15:kfaf069. doi: 10.1093/toxsci/kfaf069. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are a popular vertebrate model for high-throughput toxicity testing, serving as a model for embryonic development and disease etiology. However, standardized protocols using zebrafish tend to explore pathologies and behaviors at the organism level, rather than at the organ-specific level. This study investigates the effects of chemical exposures on pancreatic function in whole-embryo zebrafish by integrating network analysis and machine learning, leveraging widely-available datasets to probe an organ-specific effect. We compiled transcriptomics data for zebrafish exposed to 53 exposures from 25 unique chemicals, including halogenated organic compounds, pesticides/herbicides, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, pharmaceuticals, parabens, and solvents. All raw sequencing data were processed through a uniform bioinformatics pipeline for re-analysis and quality control, identifying differentially expressed genes and altered pathways related to pancreatic function and development. Clustering analysis revealed five distinct clusters of chemical exposures with similar impacts on pancreatic pathways with gene co-expression network analysis identifying key driver genes within these clusters, providing insights into potential biomarkers of chemical-induced pancreatic toxicity. Machine learning was utilized to identify chemical properties that influence pancreatic pathway response, including average mass, biodegradation half-life. The random forest model achieved robust performance (4-fold cross-validation accuracy: 74%) over eXtreme Gradient Boosting, support vector machine, and multiclass logistic regression. This integrative approach enhances our understanding of the relationships between chemical properties and biological responses in a target organ, supporting the use of zebrafish whole-embryos as a high-throughput vertebrate model. This computational workflow can be leveraged to investigate the complex effects of other exposures on organ-specific development.
PMID:40373795 | DOI:10.1093/toxsci/kfaf069
Sci Total Environ. 2025 May 14;982:179611. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179611. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Grape pomace (GP), a by-product of winemaking, is rich in organic carbon and nutrients, offering potential as an alternative to synthetic soil amendments. However, its broader use in agriculture remains limited due to uncertainties about long-term environmental and agronomic impacts. This review assesses the potential of GP as a soil amendment, highlighting its ability to enhance soil organic matter, nutrient availability, and soil physicochemical properties. At the same time, concerns remain regarding its acidic nature, wide carbon-to‑nitrogen (C/N) ratio, and bioactive compounds, such as mycotoxins and (poly)phenols, which could negatively impact soil microbial communities and nutrient cycling. Furthermore, residual contaminants such as pesticides and heavy metals in GP may pose ecotoxicological risks, potentially disrupting soil ecosystem functions and contaminating surrounding environments. Besides these challenges, research on the efficiency, fate and mobility of GP in soil, particularly in relation to soil type, climate, and agricultural practices, is limited. Furthermore, the effects of various (pre)treatments (e.g., composting, fermentation) on GP properties and soil interactions require more systematic investigation. Future research should focus on long-term field trials, advanced analytical methods, and effective monitoring frameworks. It is essential to refine regulatory guidance based on comprehensive risk assessments to ensure safe application and maximize GP's agronomic and environmental benefits. Overcoming these challenges could transform GP into a valuable resource for sustainable agriculture, contributing to soil health, climate resilience, and a circular economy.
PMID:40373684 | DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179611
New York State Senator Brian Kavanagh, lead Senate sponsor of the legislation, says a key aim of the bill is to address major loopholes in federal food regulation.
This report satisfies the first deliverable specified in the Framework Contract EFSA/2023/OP/0008 (OC/EFSA/KNOW/2023/02) – Food and Feed Safety Crises Preparedness trainings, namely, to set out a four‐year crisis training package that meets EFSA´s overall and specific objectives for the project. The proposed EFSA's multi‐annual training package (2025‐2028) on crisis preparedness aims to improve coordination within EFSA and enhance collaboration between EFSA and institutional stakeholders, involved in crisis preparedness and response efforts.
The risk from pesticide residues to human health remains low, in line with previous years, EFSA said in its latest annual report. EFSA analysed thousands of samples collected in 2023 from commonly consumed products.
In accordance with Article 31 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, European Union Member States provide the European Food Safety Authority with the results of their official controls on pesticide residues in food. The Member States, Iceland and Norway provided further information in the form of explanatory text outlining the main findings of their control activities during the reference year. This technical report is a compilation of those contributions.
Under European Union legislation (Article 32, Regulation (EC) No 396/2005), the European Food Safety Authority publishes an annual report assessing the pesticide residue levels in food. In 2023, as part of the EU‐coordinated multiannual control programme subset, 13,246 samples placed on the European market were analysed, with a 1.0% found to be non‐compliant. Risk‐based sampling procedures were used for the remaining 132,793 samples with a 2.0% non‐compliant rate.
Aquat Toxicol. 2025 Jul;284:107398. doi: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107398. Epub 2025 May 4.
ABSTRACT
Tebuconazole (TBZ) is a triazole fungicide broadly used to control fungal diseases in agricultural crops, fruit-bearing plants and forestry plantations. However, its increasing use and release into aquatic environments has raised concerns about its hazardous effects on the health of fish. Thus, the aim of the present study was to review the scientific literature on the ecotoxicological effects of TBZ and TBZ-based commercial formulations on fish. Historical review data (publication year and geographical distribution), TBZ type, experimental design, fish species, habitat, life stage, tissue/organ, lethal concentration (LC50), concentration and exposure time, biomarkers and effects were compiled and critically analyzed. Studies were mainly conducted with freshwater species at adult and larval stages, whereas no data were find for marine fish species. Zebrafish, (Danio rerio) was the most assessed species. Both TBZ and TBZ-based commercial formulations induced oxidative stress, endocrine disruption, neurotoxicity, genotoxicity, histopathologies, behavior impairments and mortality on fish. TBZ can induce synergistic and antagonistic effects on fish when it is combined to other pesticides. Overall, the current study has shown the potential hazardous effects of TBZ and TBZ-based commercial formulations on the health of fish.
PMID:40367844 | DOI:10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107398
Molecules. 2025 Apr 29;30(9):1989. doi: 10.3390/molecules30091989.
ABSTRACT
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are widely utilized in food contact materials (FCMs) due to their water- and oil-repellent properties, yet their potential migration into food raises significant health concerns. This study employs high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) to quantify the migration of 40 PFAS from microwave popcorn bags and assess the associated health risks. HRMS offers high mass accuracy and resolution, enabling precise detection of a broad spectrum of PFASs, including those with low migration levels. Migration experiments were conducted using 10% ethanol and 50% ethanol as food simulants at 70 °C for 2 h. The results indicate that when risk assessment is based solely on the European Food Safety Authority's (EFSA) tolerable weekly intake (TWI) for four PFAS, hazard ratio (HR) values range from 0.01 to 0.8, suggesting minimal risk. However, when all PFAS are converted into perfluorooctanoic acid equivalents (PEQs) and compared against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) reference dose (RfD), HR values range from 0.3 to 142.3, indicating a significantly elevated health risk. These findings emphasize the necessity of comprehensive risk assessments incorporating the cumulative effects of all PFAS to better understand potential human exposure and inform regulatory policies.
PMID:40363795 | PMC:PMC12073814 | DOI:10.3390/molecules30091989
Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on yellow tomato extract used as a novel food (NF) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2283/2015. The NF which is the subject of the application is a carotenoid‐rich extract from the yellow tomato containing predominantly phytoene plus phytofluene (PE/PF) at up to 10% of the NF, as well as a lesser amount of zeta‐carotene (≤ 5%), beta‐carotene (≤ 0.5%) and lycopene (≤ 0.4%).
The EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF Panel) provides a scientific opinion on the safety of the proposed amendment of the EU specifications of Rebaudioside M produced via enzyme‐catalysed bioconversion (E960c(i) or E 960c(ii)), to include a different microorganism strain in the definition. Rebaudioside M is produced via enzymatic bioconversion from Stevia leaf extract, using the genetically modified yeast strain K. phaffii CGMCC 7539. The final product is composed mostly of rebaudioside M (> 97%) and a mixture of rebaudiosides A, B and D at various concentrations.
EFSA analyzed thousands of samples collected in 2023 from commonly consumed products. Maximum residue levels (MRLs) were exceeded in 2 percent of samples, of which 1 percent were non-compliant after taking into account the measurement uncertainty.
This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of l-arginine (CAS Reg. No. 74-79-3) when used as an inert ingredient (protein stabilizer) on greenhouse pre- bloom cucumbers at a maximum concentration of <=1%. D. O'Shaughnessy Consulting, Inc. on behalf of A&L Biological Inc. submitted a petition to EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), requesting establishment of an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of l-arginine, when used in accordance with the terms of those exemptions.
A food deli in Monkstown, Dublin, was forced to close after inspectors found that mouse droppings were "evident" in a number of locations at the premises.
While FDA regularly reviews individual nutrient requirements for infant formula, this will be the first comprehensive review since 1998.
In accordance with Article 31 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002, EFSA received a request from the European Commission to prepare an inventory of the CXLs revoked between 2010 and 2022, and the recommended approach for dealing with the review of the MRL corresponding to these CXLs, which will be the basis of the future decisions concerning them. This technical report describes how the inventory was built and includes a work programme for dealing with the review of the EU MRLs corresponding to the revoked CXLs.
The food enzyme endo‐polygalacturonase ((1‐4)‐α‐d‐galacturonan glycanohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.15) is produced with the genetically modified Trichoderma reesei strain RF6197 by AB Enzymes GmbH. A safety evaluation of this food enzyme was made previously, in which EFSA concluded that this food enzyme did not give rise to safety concerns when used in five food manufacturing processes. Subsequently, the applicant has requested to extend its use to include two additional processes.
The food enzyme pectinesterase (pectin pectylhydrolase, EC 3.1.1.11) is produced with the genetically modified Trichoderma reesei strain RF6201 by AB Enzymes GmbH. A safety evaluation of this food enzyme was made previously, in which EFSA concluded that this food enzyme did not give rise to safety concerns when used in five food manufacturing processes. Subsequently, the applicant has requested to extend its use to include two additional processes. In this assessment, EFSA updated the safety evaluation of this food enzyme when used in a total of seven food manufacturing processes.
This document provides the conclusions of the pest survey card that was prepared in the context of the EFSA mandate on plant pest surveillance (M‐2020‐0114) at the request of the European Commission. The full pest survey card for Apriona cinerea, A. germari and A.
ENVI News 12-13 May: Exchanges of views with Commissioners Lahbib, Varhelyi and Séjourné, agriculture, protected species and CBAM
ENVI News 23-24 April and 5 May: Climate COP30 preparations, implementation of EU water legislation, PFAS and structured dialogue with Commissioner Hoekstra
ENVI News 7-8 April 2025: Commissioner Roswall, EFSA Director, air quality, eco-design, water resilience, taxonomy and budget
ENVI News 17-18, 19, 20 March 2025: EVP Ribera, EEA Ex. Director, sustainable transport, CBAM, end-of-life vehicles, forests, objections on LIFE programme, SDGs.
ENVI News 17-18 February: Water resilience, end-of-life of vehicles, one-substance-one-assessment, forest monitoring
ENVI News 13, 16 & 23 Jan 2025: Forests, climate adaptation, GMOs&novel food, end of live vehicles, microplastics, Polish Minister Paulina Hennig-Kloska
ENVI News 27-28 January: Water resilience, food controls, climate, cats and dogs
ENVI News 4-5 December 2024: Presentation of EU Agencies' work, Climate reports, Budget Discharges 2023, WHO on Antimicrobial resistance, adoption of negotiation mandates
ENVI News 14 October 2024: Deforestation Regulation & objections to the authorisation of GMOs
ENVI News 04 November 2024: Confirmation Hearings from 4 to 12 November 2024
ENVI News 3 October: NGTs, Clean Transition Dialogues update, Plastic Treaty and CBD COP16
ENVI News 23 September: Exchanges of views with the Hungarian Presidency
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP
Following the commodity risk assessment of Jasminum polyanthum unrooted cuttings from Uganda, in which Selenaspidus articulatus (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) was identified as a pest of possible concern, the European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health to conduct a pest categorisation of S. articulatus for the territory of the European Union (EU). S. articulatus originates probably from sub‐Saharan Africa. It is present in Africa, North and South America, as well as in parts of Asia and Oceania.
The European Commission asked EFSA to update its 2014 risk assessment on perchlorate in food. Perchlorate is a contaminant of both natural and anthropogenic sources present in food and drinking water. It is a substrate for the sodium iodide symporter (NIS) and competitively inhibits the uptake of iodide into the thyroid. Experimental animal studies show that perchlorate exposure during pregnancy can result in neurodevelopmental toxicity.
ACS Omega. 2025 Apr 24;10(17):18029-18042. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.5c01415. eCollection 2025 May 6.
ABSTRACT
Pesticides are chemical substances that are often used in agriculture to correct soil deficiencies, control pests, and eradicate destructive plants. However, it is imperative to assess their effectiveness to avoid potential harm to human health. In addition, microplastics (MP) have been the subject of research into their spread from marine and agricultural environments. Considering the possibility of contact between pesticides and microplastics, with the subsequent possibility of them acting as vectors of dispersion through adsorption between the two, it is imperative to evaluate the effectiveness of pesticides in order to avoid potential harm to human health. The current study used computational calculations to analyze the possible interactions between polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) microplastics with the pesticide imidacloprid (IMI), which is used in the cultivation of bananas, one of the most widely grown fruits in the world. Molecular dynamics (MD) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicated favorable adsorption energies for the interaction of the two microplastics. The results obtained by applying MD and DFT indicate that the nature of the IMI-MP interaction is van der Waals. Consequently, the theoretical approaches suggest that the pesticide under study has a strong propensity to interact with PE and PP, providing a significant incentive for future experimental investigations in this area.
PMID:40352560 | PMC:PMC12059890 | DOI:10.1021/acsomega.5c01415
EFSA, the European Commission, and 32 partners across Europe have launched the third year of the #PlantHealth4Life campaign, a cross-border initiative to protect plant health and raise public awareness of its importance to our environment, economy, and daily lives.
Clin Investig Arterioscler. 2025 May 8:500802. doi: 10.1016/j.arteri.2025.500802. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Environmental pollution is a key factor in cardiovascular disease (CVD) development. Several evidences support its impact at the pathophysiology of arteriosclerosis, highlighting the role of the "exposome", a concept that encompasses all environmental factors such as air pollution, water pollution, climate change and noise and light pollution. These factors are associated with an increased risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD), stroke, high blood pressure (HBP), heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF). Currently, air pollution is the main environmental factor related to CVD. Components such as particulates matter (PM0.1, PM2.5, PM10), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxide and dioxide (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO) and ozone (O3) have a high capacity to penetrate the body and trigger both local and systemic inflammatory processes. These effects promote a proinflammatory, procoagulant state and an increase in oxidative stress. Similarly, aquatic pollution exposes the body to pollutants such as heavy metals, pesticides and microplastics, both through direct contact and via the food chain, thus contributing to the phenomena mentioned above. On the other hand, factors such as noise and light pollution, together with effects caused from climate change (extreme temperatures, wildfires, desertification, among others), have been closely linked to pathophysiological processes that favour the development and progression of atherosclerosis. These mechanisms include sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activation, stress hormones release such as cortisol and catecholamines, as well as chronodisruption. This review analyses the role of factors related to the exposome (air pollution, water pollution, noise and light pollution and phenomena associated with climate change) in atherosclerosis progression, as well as their involvement in the incidence, prevalence and prognosis of CVD. Physicians should promote awareness of environmental pollution impact on cardiovascular health, integrating the assessment of environmental factors into their clinical practice, advocating for sustainable policies to prevent diseases and protect present and future health.
PMID:40345876 | DOI:10.1016/j.arteri.2025.500802
Announcement comes on heels of April 22 press conference regarding the agency’s focus on phasing out petroleum-based synthetic dyes in the nation’s food supply.
In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), this document announces the availability of and solicits public comment on the following Information Collection Request (ICR) that EPA is planning to submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB): Pesticide Data Call-Ins (DCIs) (EPA ICR No. 2288.07 and OMB Control No. 2070-0174). This ICR represents a renewal of an existing ICR that is currently approved through December 31, 2025. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval under the PRA, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the information collection that is summarized in this document. The ICR and accompanying material are available in the docket for public review and comment.
In 2022, EFSA was mandated by the European Commission's Directorate‐General for Health and Food Safety (M‐2022‐00070) to provide technical assistance on the list of Union quarantine pests qualifying as priority pests, as specified in Article 6(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 on protective measures against plant pests. As part of Task C, EFSA conducted expert knowledge elicitations for candidate priority pests, focusing on the lag period, expansion rate and the impact on production (yield and quality losses) and the environment.
J Hazard Mater. 2025 May 5;494:138511. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.138511. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
With the revelation of microplastics in soil, their interaction with organic chemicals has received increasing attention due to their hydrophobic surfaces, substantial sorption capacity, and large specific surface area. However, existing studies focus mainly on individual pollutants rather than their coexistence in environmental mixtures. Our study aimed to extend focus from single compounds to complex contamination by 20 pesticides which we applied to reference sandy soil. Stainless steel columns were filled with soil with or without the addition of 1 % w/w polyethylene (PE) microplastics cryo-milled to irregular shape and sieved to a size of 200-600 µm. The columns were continuously rinsed with ten pore volumes (PVs) of the pesticide-contaminated solution. The leachates were collected and measured every 0.2 PV using LC-MSMS to derive breakthrough curves (BTCs). The results showed that migration rates decreased with increasing hydrophobicity (as DOW and KOC), while the leaching order of pesticides was unaffected by the microplastics. However, PE microplastics promoted the vertical migration of five slowly leaching pesticides despite their high sorption affinity to the soil. Overall, our results indicate that the sorption capacity of soils contaminated with microplastics for such chemicals can be decreased, promoting faster leaching and enhancing the potential of groundwater contamination. This study extends previous research from a single pesticide to various co-presences, while connecting the physicochemical properties of pesticides, microplastic contamination, and vertical migration patterns.
PMID:40339369 | DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.138511
Ann Endocrinol (Paris). 2025 May 6:101778. doi: 10.1016/j.ando.2025.101778. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Chimpanzees, our closest relatives, are threatened with extinction by poaching, zoonoses, fragmentation and the destruction of their natural habitat, the tropical forests. The degradation of their habitat due to agricultural expansion and the development of road infrastructures expose them to new risks including pollution.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Kibale National Park (Uganda) covers 800 km2 of mid-altitude forest surrounded by agricultural areas. In the northern part of this protected area, 80% of the perimeter of the Sebitoli chimpanzees' territory is surrounded by human activities (tea, maize and banana plantations, etc.) and crossed by an asphalt road with heavy traffic. In order to study the effects of anthropization on the closest primates to our species, these chimpanzees have been habituated to humans, observed and photographed, and a non-invasive health monitoring has been carried out since 2008. Samples of soil, sediment, water, fish, exhaust gases have been tested for presence of chemicals and plastic bottles along the road were collected. Chimpanzee hair from their nests and urine were also analyzed to assess chimpanzees' exposure to different types of pollution.
RESULTS: Facial congenital deformities and disorders of the female sexual cycle have been observed in Sebitoli chimpanzees. Three successive campaigns showed the presence of a cocktail of chemical pollutants in the rivers that cross their territory. Biological tests of this water show endocrine disruption effects on the thyroid, estrogenic and androgenic axes. Analysis of the chimpanzees' hair showed the presence of 60 pesticide-type molecules, as well as bisphenol A and S, monomers of polycarbonate plastic compounds. Markers of oxidative stress, in particular DNA degradation, were detected in the urine of chimpanzees that frequented the border and consumed maize coated with neonicotinoids.
CONCLUSION: At the heart of tropical forests, wild chimpanzees are exposed to environmental pollution from nearby agricultural areas and the thousands of soda bottles discarded along roadside. The genotoxic oxidative stress, facial malformations and reproductive disorders detected in this community are an alarming signal not only for this species, which is already highly threatened by human activities, but also for our own species. Our research will help to clarify the etiology of these disorders in this sentinel species for our health and that of our environment, and in particular to gain a better understanding of the risks associated with plastics.
PMID:40339695 | DOI:10.1016/j.ando.2025.101778
Environ Pollut. 2025 May 6;376:126353. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126353. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
The production of chemical pesticides poses a critical threat to aquatic ecosystems worldwide, with sub-lethal impacts evident at even relatively low concentrations. Historically, ecotoxicologists have ignored an organism's social context when investigating the effects of pesticide exposure and, instead, have tended to focus on individual-level impacts. Recently, however, there has been a growing interest in understanding the impacts of pesticide exposure on social behaviour. Despite this shift, a holistic understanding of how pesticides impact conspecific interactions (i.e., social behaviour towards individuals of the same species) is lacking due to the multitude of behaviours, pesticides and species currently investigated. In this meta-analysis, we examine the effects of pesticide exposure on conspecific interactions in fish by using data collected from 37 studies on 31 pesticides and 11 species. Our results indicate that pesticide exposure generally reduces the expression of conspecific interactions, but it does not affect the variability of responses between individuals. Courtship behaviour was the most impaired, suggesting that pesticide exposure could weaken how matings are partitioned among individuals in a population. Triazoles and organochlorines were the most impactful pesticide classes for mean differences in behaviour, while triazoles and organophosphates had the greatest effects on response variability. These findings indicate that endocrine-disrupting and neurotoxic pesticides can impact fish conspecific interactions, regardless of their chemical class. Unfortunately, there is a large taxonomic bias in the literature, with most studies using zebrafish as a model, which, in turn, provides scope for studies using a broader range of fish species. We found little statistical evidence of publication biases in our dataset and our results were validated by sensitivity analyses. Overall, our synthesis suggests that pesticides broadly reduce the expression of social behaviours, though effects vary across behaviours, pesticide types, and fish species.
PMID:40339887 | DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126353
Bioresour Technol. 2025 May 6;431:132629. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132629. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
This review comprehensively explores the characteristics and applications of torrefied bamboo. Bamboo has a high volatile matter (VM) content (73.9-93.0 %), which results in substantial liquid byproducts during torrefaction. The higher heating value (HHV) of biochar produced from wet torrefaction (WT) is greater than that made from dry torrefaction (DT). When the torrefaction severity factor is 8.7, the bamboo hydrochar's HHV from WT can achieve 29.3 MJ⋅kg-1, whereas bamboo biochar from DT only have 23.3 MJ⋅kg-1. Bamboo vinegar and tar, byproducts from bamboo torrefaction, are effective biopesticides and have diverse applications, including polyurethane coatings and insecticides. Life cycle assessments reveal that bamboo-based building materials can reduce carbon footprints by 46.2 % to 87.6 % compared to traditional construction materials. Furthermore, bamboo materials are highly beneficial for the circular economy and environmental sustainability. In summary, bamboo biochar's applications are extensive, and its derived products are commercially competitive and environmentally friendly.
PMID:40339997 | DOI:10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132629
Meeting aims to facilitate finalization of the document “Prioritizing food safety issues related to chemical water quality in agrifood systems.”
When you think of food poisoning, perhaps what first comes to mind is undercooked chicken, spoiled milk, or oysters. Personally, I remember the time I devoured a sushi boat as a high-school senior and found myself calling for my mommy in the early hours of the morning.
But don’t overlook your vegetable crisper. In terms of foodborne illness, leafy greens stand alone. In 2022, they were identified as the cause of five separate multistate foodborne-illness outbreaks, more than any other food. Romaine lettuce has a particularly bad reputation, and for good reason. In 2018, tainted romaine killed five people and induced kidney failure in another 27. Last year, an E. coli outbreak tied to—you guessed it—romaine sent 36 people to the hospital across 15 states. Perhaps ironically, the bags of shredded lettuce that promise to be pre-washed and ready to eat are riskier than whole heads of romaine.
Eating romaine lettuce is especially a gamble right now. Although America’s system for tracking and responding to foodborne illnesses has been woefully neglected for decades, it has recently been further undermined. The Biden administration cut funding for food inspections, and the Trump White House’s attempts to ruthlessly thin the federal workforce have made the future of food safety even murkier. The system faces so many stressors, food-safety experts told me, that regulators may miss cases of foodborne illness, giving Americans a false sense of security. If there’s one thing you can do right now to help protect yourself, it’s this: swearing off bagged, prechopped lettuce.
Americans aren’t suddenly falling sick en masse from romaine lettuce, or anything else. “There’s just millions of these bags that go out with no problem,” David Acheson, a former FDA food-safety official who now advises food companies (including lettuce producers), told me. But what’s most disturbing of late is the government’s lackadaisical approach to alerting the public of potential threats. Consider the romaine-lettuce outbreak last year. Americans became aware of the outbreak only last month, when NBC News obtained an internal report from the FDA. The agency reportedly did not publicize the outbreak or release the names of the companies that produced the lettuce because the threat was over by the time the FDA determined the cause. The rationale almost seems reasonable—until you realize that Americans can’t determine what foods are, or aren’t, safe without knowing just how often they make people sick. (A spokesperson for the FDA didn’t respond to a request for comment.)
In that information void, forgoing bagged lettuce is a bit like wearing a seat belt. In the same way that you likely don’t entirely avoid riding in a car because of the risk of an accident, it’s unnecessary to swear off all romaine because it could one day make you sick. Lettuce and other leafy greens are full of nutrients, and abandoning them is not a win for your health. That doesn’t mean, however, that you shouldn’t practice harm reduction. Buying whole heads of lettuce might just be the life hack that keeps you from hacking up your Caesar salad.
Bagged lettuce ups the odds of getting a tainted product. When you buy a single head of lettuce, you’re making a bet that that exact crop hasn’t been infected. But the process of making prechopped lettuce essentially entails putting whole heads through a wood chipper. Once a single infected head enters that machine, the pieces of the infected lettuce stick around, and it’s likely that subsequent heads will become infected. “Buying a head of romaine lettuce is like taking a bath with your significant other; buying a bag of romaine lettuce is like swimming in a swimming pool in Las Vegas,” Bill Marler, a food-safety lawyer, told me.
There’s also some evidence that chopping romaine makes the lettuce more susceptible to pathogens. One study that tested the growth of E. coli on purposefully infected romaine found that within four hours of cutting the lettuce into large chunks, the amount of E. coli on the plant increased more than twice as much as on the uncut lettuce. Shredding the lettuce was even worse; the E. coli on that plant increased elevenfold over the same time period. The theory for why this occurs is similar to the reason cuts make people more susceptible to infection; essentially, cutting romaine breaks the outer protective layer of the lettuce, making it easier for bacteria to proliferate. (This experiment was done in relatively hot temperatures
This document provides the conclusions of the pest survey card that was prepared in the context of the EFSA mandate on plant pest surveillance (M‐2020‐0114) at the request of the European Commission.
Insects. 2025 Apr 1;16(4):373. doi: 10.3390/insects16040373.
ABSTRACT
Bees (Hymenoptera, Anthophila) are widely recognized for their essential ecological roles, including pollination and biodiversity maintenance. Recently, their ability to collect environmental particulate matter through electrostatic forces has been explored for biomonitoring purposes. This review integrates knowledge on electrostatic pollen adhesion with emerging insights into particulate matter adhesion to bees, emphasizing their potential as bioindicators. The mechanisms of electrostatic adhesion, influenced by factors such as the physicochemical properties of particulate matter and bee morphology, are discussed in detail. Additionally, the study evaluates the adhesion efficiency of pollutants, including heavy metals, microplastics, nanoplastics, pathogens, pesticides, radionuclides, and volatile organic compounds. This multidisciplinary approach underscores the role of bees in advancing environmental monitoring methodologies and offers innovative tools for assessing ecosystem health while addressing the drivers of bee decline.
PMID:40332917 | PMC:PMC12027818 | DOI:10.3390/insects16040373
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2025 May 7. doi: 10.1007/s11356-025-36430-3. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Starfish play a crucial role as extraordinary predators in marine ecosystems. They often prey on bivalves, which serve as primary economic resources in certain regions, making their management a top priority. As a result, cleaning operations have been conducted to remove starfish from the coasts, leading to the accumulation of significant waste. Within the context of the circular economy, there is potential for valorizing starfish, transforming them from waste products into valuable resources. However, before doing so, it is essential to analyze the contaminants that starfish can accumulate. To address this, a study was conducted to analyze pollutants in two species of starfish: Marthasterias glacialis and Asterias rubens, collected from the Galician Spanish shores. The goal was to assess their suitability for use as animal feed or fertilizer in agriculture. The study employed optimized methodologies to analyze trace elements, saponins, marine toxins and persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The validated protocols for determining these contaminants in starfish showed an acceptable performance in detection, showing the quality parameters of the analytical analysis (recoveries, precision, limit of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ)). Results indicated that concentrations of the legislated contaminants in the starfish samples from the Galician shores did not exceed the current EU legislation standards. Consequently, in terms of toxicology, starfish matrix could be considered a suitable raw material for the use in animal feed or as crop fertilizer.
PMID:40332712 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-025-36430-3
This report details the main outputs of the Webinar prepared and held on the Multi‐pest Survey Optimization (OptiPest). It was the third Webinar of a round of three, promoted by EFSA in collaboration with academic experts under the Framework contract for Technical and scientific support to EFSA training courses on plant pest surveillance for improving crisis preparedness in plant health. The Webinar provided an overview of how this tool is used in dealing with multiple pests and demonstrated how to optimise survey efforts.
This report details the main outputs of the Webinar prepared and held on the Risk‐based Pest Survey Tool RiPEST. It was the second Webinar of a round of three, promoted by EFSA in collaboration with academic experts under the Framework contract for Technical and scientific support to EFSA training courses on plant pest surveillance for improving crisis preparedness in plant health. The Webinar provided an overview of different types of pest surveys and a live demonstration of the functioning of RiPEST 2.0 tool.
This report details the main outputs of the Webinar prepared and held on the EFSA Plant pest survey Methodological framework. It was the first Webinar of a round of three, promoted by EFSA in collaboration with academic experts under the Framework contract for Technical and scientific support to EFSA training courses on plant pest surveillance for improving crisis preparedness in plant health.
In accordance with Article 31 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002, EFSA received a request from the European Commission to prepare an inventory of the CXLs for which in the past, the EU had introduced a reservation pending an ongoing evaluation. This technical report describes how the inventory was built and includes a work programme for delivering a new risk assessment concluding on the acceptability of these CXLs.
In 2022, EFSA was mandated by the European Commission's Directorate‐General for Health and Food Safety (M‐2022‐00070) to provide technical assistance on the list of Union quarantine pests qualifying as priority pests, as specified in Article 6(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 on protective measures against plant pests. As part of Task C, EFSA conducted expert knowledge elicitations for candidate priority pests, focusing on the lag period, expansion rate and the impact on production (yield and quality losses) and the environment.
In 2022, EFSA was mandated by the European Commission's Directorate‐General for Health and Food Safety (M‐2022‐00070) to provide technical assistance regarding the list of Union quarantine pests qualifying as priority pests, as specified in Article 6(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 on protective measures against plant pests. As part of Task C, EFSA conducted comprehensive expert knowledge elicitations on candidate priority pests, focusing on the lag period, rate of expansion and the impact on production (yield and quality losses) and the environment.
In 2022, EFSA was mandated by the European Commission's Directorate‐General for Health and Food Safety (M‐2022‐00070) to provide technical assistance regarding the list of Union quarantine pests qualifying as priority pests, as specified in Article 6(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 on protective measures against plant pests. As part of Task C, EFSA conducted comprehensive expert knowledge elicitations on candidate priority pests, focusing on the lag period, rate of expansion and the impacts on production (yield and quality losses) and the environment.
In 2022, EFSA was mandated by the European Commission's Directorate‐General for Health and Food Safety (M‐2022‐00070) to provide technical assistance regarding the list of Union quarantine pests qualifying as priority pests, as specified in Article 6(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 on protective measures against plant pests. As part of Task C, EFSA conducted comprehensive expert knowledge elicitations on candidate priority pests, focusing on the lag period, rate of expansion and impact on production (yield and quality losses) and the environment.
In 2022, EFSA was mandated by the European Commission's Directorate‐General for Health and Food Safety (M‐2022‐00070) to provide technical assistance on the list of Union quarantine pests qualifying as priority pests, as specified in Article 6(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 on protective measures against plant pests. As part of Task C, EFSA conducted expert knowledge elicitations for candidate priority pests, focusing on the lag period, expansion rate and impact on production (yield and quality losses) and the environment.
In 2022, EFSA was mandated by the European Commission's Directorate‐General for Health and Food Safety (M‐2022‐00070) to provide technical assistance regarding the list of Union quarantine pests qualifying as priority pests, as specified in Article 6(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 on protective measures against plant pests. As part of Task C, EFSA conducted comprehensive expert knowledge elicitations on candidate priority pests, focusing on the lag period, rate of expansion and the impact on production (yield and quality losses) and the environment.
In 2022, EFSA was mandated by the European Commission's Directorate‐General for Health and Food Safety (M‐2022‐00070) to provide technical assistance regarding the list of Union quarantine pests qualifying as priority pests, as specified in Article 6(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 on protective measures against plant pests. As part of Task C, EFSA conducted comprehensive expert knowledge elicitations on candidate priority pests, focusing on the lag period, rate of expansion and the impact on production (yield and quality losses) and the environment.
In 2022, EFSA was mandated by the European Commission's Directorate‐General for Health and Food Safety (M‐2022‐00070) to provide technical assistance regarding the list of Union quarantine pests qualifying as priority pests, as specified in Article 6(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 on protective measures against plant pests. As part of Task C, EFSA conducted comprehensive expert knowledge elicitations on candidate priority pests, focusing on the lag period, rate of expansion and the impact on production (yield and quality losses) and the environment.
In 2022, EFSA was mandated by the European Commission's Directorate‐General for Health and Food Safety (M‐2022‐00070) to provide technical assistance on the list of Union quarantine pests qualifying as priority pests, as specified in Article 6(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 on protective measures against plant pests. As part of Task C, EFSA conducted comprehensive expert knowledge elicitations on candidate priority pests, focusing on the lag period, rate of expansion and the impacts on production (yield and quality losses) and the environment.
In 2022, EFSA was mandated by the European Commission's Directorate‐General for Health and Food Safety (M‐2022‐00070) to provide technical assistance on the list of Union quarantine pests qualifying as priority pests, as specified in Article 6(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 on protective measures against plant pests. As part of Task C, EFSA conducted expert knowledge elicitations for candidate priority pests, focusing on the lag period, expansion rate and the impact on production (yield and quality losses) and the environment.
The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials assessed the safety of N,N′‐(2‐(4‐(2‐aminobenzamido)butyl)pentane‐1,5‐diyl)bis(2‐aminobenzamide) to be used at up to 650 mg/kg in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) to scavenge acetaldehyde (AA). Final articles are intended for contact with aqueous, acidic and low‐alcoholic beverages for long‐term storage at room temperature and below. The migration of the substance from PET bottles into 20% ethanol was 0.0038 mg/kg food. The Panel calculated the potential migration of the summed reaction products not to exceed 0.02 mg/kg food.
In consistency with the ‘EFSA‐SANTE Action Plan on Cumulative Risk Assessment for pesticides residues’ EFSA initiated a retrospective cumulative risk assessment (CRA) of the effects of pesticide residues on the kidneys. EFSA identified the following specific effects on kidneys of relevance for cumulative risk assessment: glomerular injury, tubular injury, tubular crystals, papillary necrosis, interstitial nephritis, pelvis erosion/ulceration, pelvis calculi/crystals, renal preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions, and pelvis preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions.
According to the ‘EFSA‐SANTE Action Plan on Cumulative Risk Assessment for pesticides residues’, EFSA initiated a retrospective cumulative risk assessment (CRA) of the effects of pesticide residues on the liver.
Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on Clostridium butyricum TO‐A as a novel food (NF) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. The NF, which is proposed by the applicant to be used as a food supplement, is sufficiently characterised. The information provided on the production process, composition, stability and specifications of the NF is sufficient and does not raise safety concerns.
Following an application from University of Bari Aldo Moro, submitted for authorisation of a health claim pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 via the Competent Authority of Italy, the EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on the scientific substantiation of a health claim related to olive oil polyphenols and the maintenance of normal blood high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐c) concentrations. The Panel considers that the food constituent, olive oil polyphenols, is sufficiently characterised.
This document announces the Agency's receipt of and solicits comment on applications to register pesticide products containing currently registered active ingredients that would entail a changed use pattern. EPA provides a notice of receipt on a monthly basis, using the month and year in the title to help distinguish one document from the other. This document identifies those applications that have been received and are currently being evaluated by EPA in accordance with the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).
EFSA J. 2025 Apr 30;23(4):e9407. doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9407. eCollection 2025 Apr.
ABSTRACT
The conclusions of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) following the peer review of the initial risk assessment carried out by the competent authority of the rapporteur Member State Greece for the pesticide active substance etoxazole are reported. The context of the peer review was that requested by the European Commission following the submission and evaluation of confirmatory information with regard to the endocrine disruption potential of the substance. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the representative uses of etoxazole as an acaricide on pome fruits, plums, peaches, nectarines, apricots, cherries, citrus, grapes, strawberries, tomatoes/eggplants, cucurbits inedible peel, cotton seeds and ornamental plants. Assessments not finalised, together with the missing information identified as being required by the regulatory framework, are listed.
PMID:40309402 | PMC:PMC12041936 | DOI:10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9407
J Hazard Mater. 2025 Apr 29;494:138441. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.138441. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
The presence of pesticides, antibiotics, and microplastics in aquatic environments poses a significant threat because of their persistence and potential harm to aquatic life and human health. However, few studies have explored their combined effects on bioaccumulation and toxicity in edible bivalves. This study examined the bioaccumulation and toxicological impacts of thifluzamide (TF) and enrofloxacin (ENR) on oxidative stress, neurotoxicity, detoxification, and metabolism in Mytilus coruscus after 4 weeks of exposure at the environmental level. The findings indicated that coexposure to TF and ENR or the presence of microplastic polystyrene (PS) increased TF and ENR accumulation in mussels and caused oxidative damage, as evidenced by elevated catalase and glutathione transferase activities and increased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Notably, compared with single exposures, coexposure to PS+TF, PS+ENR, or TF+ENR generally increased the MDA content, reduced acetylcholinesterase activity, and increased detoxification gene expression. Metabolomic analysis revealed that TF, ENR, and PS, either alone or combined, significantly disrupted multiple metabolic pathways by altering levels of glycerophospholipids, eicosanoids, amino acids, and nucleotides. Coexposure particularly worsened glycerophospholipid and arachidonic acid metabolism disturbances. These results suggest that combined exposure to TF, ENR or PS exacerbated the ecotoxicological effects of TF and ENR on M. coruscus. Taken together, the results of the present study could enhance our understanding of the environmental effects resulting from multipollutant interactions and their potential risks to seafood security.
PMID:40311431 | DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.138441
This document announces the Agency's receipt of and solicits comment on applications to register pesticide products containing currently registered active ingredients that would entail a changed use pattern. EPA provides a notice of receipt on a monthly basis, using the month and year in the title to help distinguish one document from the other. This document identifies those applications that have been received and are currently being evaluated by EPA in accordance with the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).
Water Res. 2025 Apr 26;282:123730. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2025.123730. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Constructed wetlands (CWs) technology has been widely used to treat agricultural non-point source pollution. However, knowledge about the impact mechanism and distribution characteristics of microplastics (MPs) on pesticide treatment in CWs is limited. This study employed atrazine (ATZ), a representative pesticide, as a model contaminant, to systematically investigate the impacts of polyethylene microplastics (PE MPs) on the removal of ATZ and nutrients, as well as the enzyme activity and the distribution of functional genes in vertical subsurface-flow CW microcosm. The results showed that compared to the control group (CK), CWs treated with different concentrations of MPs had no significant difference in the removal of ATZ. Moreover, in the second stage (ATZ=400 μg/L), the average removal efficiency of ATZ by CWs containing MPs was slightly higher than that of the CK group. PE MPs reduced the nitrogen removal efficiency of CWs by 1.57 %-3.03 %, but had no significant effect on TP removal. The concentration distribution of PE MPs in the substrate layer exhibited a decreasing trend from top to bottom, and the interception capacity of CWs gradually decreased with time (from 100 % to 97.4 %); When exposed to PE MPs, the activities of enzymes in substrate related to nitrogen metabolism were inhibited; Moreover, the addition of PE MPs in CWs promoted the removal of ATZ by increasing the abundance of ATZ metabolizing bacteria (Hydrogenophaga, Zoogloea, Rhizobium, etc.) and ATZ degradation key genes (atzA and trzN). These results not only provide theoretical support for the practical application of CWs in the treatment of pesticide wastewater, but also provide a theoretical basis for the environmental risk control of pesticide non-point source pollution ecological treatment technology in the presence of MPs.
PMID:40305917 | DOI:10.1016/j.watres.2025.123730
The conclusions of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) following the peer review of the initial risk assessment carried out by the competent authority of the rapporteur Member State Greece for the pesticide active substance etoxazole are reported. The context of the peer review was that requested by the European Commission following the submission and evaluation of confirmatory information with regard to the endocrine disruption potential of the substance.
Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on dried biomass powder of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii THN 6 as a novel food (NF) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. During the risk assessment, the Panel identified a number of data gaps which needed to be addressed by the applicant. Therefore, an EFSA request for additional information was sent to the applicant.
The European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health to prepare and deliver risk assessments for commodities listed in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 as ‘high risk plants, plant products and other objects’. This Scientific Opinion covers the plant health risks posed by the following commodities: Alnus cordata and A. glutinosa as specimen trees (from 7 to 25 years old) in pots imported into the EU from the UK. A list of pests potentially associated with the commodities was compiled.
In 2022, EFSA was mandated by the European Commission's Directorate‐General for Health and Food Safety (M‐2022‐00070) to provide technical assistance on the list of Union quarantine pests qualifying as priority pests, as specified in Article 6(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 on protective measures against plant pests. As part of Task C, EFSA conducted expert knowledge elicitations for candidate priority pests, focusing on the lag period, expansion rate and impact on production (yield and quality losses) and the environment.
In 2022, EFSA was mandated by the European Commission's Directorate‐General for Health and Food Safety (M‐2022‐00070) to provide technical assistance on the list of Union quarantine pests qualifying as priority pests, as specified in Article 6(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 on protective measures against plant pests. As part of Task C, EFSA conducted expert knowledge elicitations for candidate priority pests, focusing on the lag period, expansion rate and impact on production (yield and quality losses) and the environment.
EPA says toxicology tests after distressing March event detected fenitrothion – which is currently under review – in all dead birds
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A common agricultural pesticide caused the mass deaths of 200 little corellas across Newcastle in March, the New South Wales environment watchdog has confirmed.
The Environment Protection Authority said toxicology tests had detected the presence of barley grain and the pesticide fenitrothion in all the deceased birds.
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Continue reading...In a new opinion, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is proposing to modify the existing maximum residue limits (MRLs) for agricultural chemical chlormequat in oats, as well as in the products of food-producing animals.
Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on the safety of the extension of use of 3‐fucosyllactose (3‐FL) as a novel food (NF) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. The NF, produced with a genetically modified strain (Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) JBT‐3FL) of E. coli BL21 (DE3), is already authorised as ingredient in several food categories, including infant formula (IF) and follow‐on formula (FOF).
Antioxidants (Basel). 2025 Mar 31;14(4):421. doi: 10.3390/antiox14040421.
ABSTRACT
Aging is a multifactorial process influenced by genetic predisposition and lifestyle choices. Environmental exposures are too often overlooked. Environmental pollutants-ranging from airborne particulate matter and heavy metals to endocrine disruptors and microplastics-accelerate biological aging. Oxidative stress is a major molecular initiating event, driving inflammation and toxicity across biological levels. We detail the mechanisms by which pollutants enhance reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. This oxidative stress inflicts damage on DNA, proteins, and lipids, accelerating telomere shortening, dysregulating autophagy, and ultimately driving epigenetic age acceleration. For instance, exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, benzene, and pesticides has been associated with increased DNA methylation age. Early-life exposures and lifestyle factors such as tobacco and alcohol consumption further contribute to accelerated biological aging. The cumulative loss of healthy life years caused by these factors can conceivably reach between 5 and 10 years per person. Addressing pollutant-induced accelerated aging through regulatory measures, lifestyle changes, and therapeutic interventions is essential to mitigate their detrimental impacts, ultimately extending healthspan and improving quality of life in aging populations.
PMID:40298664 | PMC:PMC12024188 | DOI:10.3390/antiox14040421
Antioxidants (Basel). 2025 Mar 31;14(4):421. doi: 10.3390/antiox14040421.
ABSTRACT
Aging is a multifactorial process influenced by genetic predisposition and lifestyle choices. Environmental exposures are too often overlooked. Environmental pollutants-ranging from airborne particulate matter and heavy metals to endocrine disruptors and microplastics-accelerate biological aging. Oxidative stress is a major molecular initiating event, driving inflammation and toxicity across biological levels. We detail the mechanisms by which pollutants enhance reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. This oxidative stress inflicts damage on DNA, proteins, and lipids, accelerating telomere shortening, dysregulating autophagy, and ultimately driving epigenetic age acceleration. For instance, exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, benzene, and pesticides has been associated with increased DNA methylation age. Early-life exposures and lifestyle factors such as tobacco and alcohol consumption further contribute to accelerated biological aging. The cumulative loss of healthy life years caused by these factors can conceivably reach between 5 and 10 years per person. Addressing pollutant-induced accelerated aging through regulatory measures, lifestyle changes, and therapeutic interventions is essential to mitigate their detrimental impacts, ultimately extending healthspan and improving quality of life in aging populations.
PMID:40298664 | PMC:PMC12024188 | DOI:10.3390/antiox14040421
Adv Exp Med Biol. 2025;1469:115-125. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-82990-1_6.
ABSTRACT
Several classes of exogenous chemicals interfere with the endocrine system and disrupt the normal functioning of hormones, leading to a wide range of adverse health effects. The male reproductive system is particularly vulnerable to endocrine disruption, as it involves complex interactions between endocrine, paracrine, and autocrine signals that regulate spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis within the testes. Exposure to endocrine disruptors (EDs) has been associated with reduced semen quality, including decreased sperm concentration, motility, and morphology. Some endocrine disruptors have also been linked to alterations in testosterone levels, which impact overall male reproductive health. Bisphenol A, phthalates, dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls, organophosphate pesticides, and phytoestrogens are well-known endocrine disruptors that interfere with male reproductive functions. Furthermore, these substances have been associated with an increased risk of reproductive disorders such as cryptorchidism, hypospadias, and testicular cancer. Due to the presence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in numerous consumer goods and personal care products, people encounter these harmful substances through ingestion, absorption, inhalation, and skin contact. However, the duration of exposure to a particular endocrine disruptor or exposure during a particular stage of development is the determining factor for testicular function. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the effects of endocrine disruptors on testicular function, from molecular mechanisms to clinical outcomes.
PMID:40301255 | DOI:10.1007/978-3-031-82990-1_6
Pesticide users have been urged to be vigilant to protect drinking water supplies ahead of the warmer weather expected over the coming weeks and months.
Pesticide users have been urged to be vigilant to protect drinking water supplies ahead of the warmer weather expected over the coming weeks and months.
Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of Bovacillus™, a product containing viable cells of Bacillus paralicheniformis DSM 33902 and Bacillus subtilis DSM 33903, which is intended to be used as a zootechnical additive (functional group: gut flora stabiliser) in the feed of dairy cows and other dairy ruminants. The trade name is Bovacillus™, and it is intended to be commercialised in two formulations: Bovacillus™ 10, to use in feed, and WS, to use in drinking water. B. paralicheniformis and B.
The Advisory Group on Data (AGoD) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) organised a joint Symposium on Data Readiness for Artificial Intelligence on 23 and 24 October 2024 in Parma. The objective of the symposium was the exploration of the transformative impact of AI technologies within the food safety ecosystem. Given the in‐person format of the event, particular attention was given to fostering increased cooperation between attendees working in the food safety field around Europe and beyond.
The European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health to prepare and deliver risk assessments for commodities listed in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 as ‘High risk plants, plant products and other objects’.
Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of thiamine hydrochloride and thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1) for the renewal of its authorisation as nutritional feed additives for all animal species. The Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) concluded that thiamine mononitrate and thiamine hydrochloride remain safe for all animal species, consumers and the environment.
In accordance with Article 43 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the European Commission requested EFSA to prepare a statement on the maximum residue level (MRL) proposals for alpha‐cypermethrin and to perform a screening of the existing MRLs for cypermethrins based on the toxicological reference values of alpha‐cypermethrin.
J Microbiol Biotechnol. 2025 Apr 27;35:e2412079. doi: 10.4014/jmb.2412.12079.
ABSTRACT
This study aimed to evaluate five different mixed agricultural wastes as potential substrates for solid-state fermentation (SSF) to produce conidia of Metarhizium koreanum MN031-Mt 46. Single-factor experiments and a Box-Behnken design (BBD) were employed to optimize the fermentation conditions for enhanced conidia yield. Results indicated that a mixed substrate comprising broken rice and rice bran significantly enhanced the optimal production of aerial conidia of MN031-Mt 46. Optimal fermentation conditions established through response surface methodology (RSM) revealed that with the addition of shrimp shell waste to the mixed substrate, conidia production increased to 8.45 × 108 conidia per gram of dry substrate at 26.19°C temperature, 39.76% moisture, and 1.45% of shrimp shell waste after 301.87 h of incubation. Enhanced conidia performance indices were observed, including higher conidia weight, increased water content, and reduced residue post-harvest. The optimized fermentation conditions resulted in enhanced cuticle-degrading enzymatic activities, with maximum activities of 58.78 ± 2.29 U g-1 ds for protease, 126.57 ± 6.47 U g-1 ds for lipase, and 58.32 ± 0.78 U g-1 ds for chitinase. These findings highlight the potential and versatility of mixed SSF using cost-effective agricultural waste for biopesticide and hydrolytic enzyme production, while promoting sustainable waste management and environmental pollution control, aligning with circular economy principles.
PMID:40295220 | DOI:10.4014/jmb.2412.12079
USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) sampled and tested meat, chicken, and Siluriformes fish (catfish) for 16 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), detecting “forever chemicals” in less than 0.2–0.3 percent of all sample types except wild-caught catfish, of which nearly half contained at least one PFAS.
A study led by researchers from the University of Antwerp has found that ultra-processed plant-based foods contain high levels of organophosphorus flame retardants and plasticizers in comparison to their animal-based analogs, but a dietary exposure risk assessment did not raise a health concern for the adult population, including vegans.
Environ Monit Assess. 2025 Apr 25;197(5):591. doi: 10.1007/s10661-025-14041-2.
ABSTRACT
Duckweed (Lemna species) is a group of fast-growing aquatic plants, widely recognized for its potential to restore polluted water bodies and recover valuable resources. The present review focused on the ecological importance of Lemna spp. in addressing ongoing environmental challenges. In order to obtain the relevant data, a literature search was conducted using the online database (Scopus), covering the period from 2015 to 2024. It has been observed that Lemna spp. has capabilities in nutrient assimilation, sequestering nitrogen, phosphorus, heavy metals, and emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals and pesticides. Also, the plant's biomass, generated during remediation, is a valuable resource for bioenergy, animal feed, and biofertilizer production, thereby contributing to the circular economy. However, several challenges remain significant, such as variations in environmental conditions, logistical barriers, and biomass disposal concerns. Integrating Lemna spp.-based systems into water management strategies aligns with global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to clean water, sustainable urban development, and climate change mitigation. Empirical studies from regions like India, China, and the USA indicated its socio-economic and environmental benefits. Thus, the present review article focused on its role in pollutant remediation, resource recovery, and potential for sustainable water resource management.
PMID:40281200 | DOI:10.1007/s10661-025-14041-2
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) assesses the safety of fish feed additives used in aquaculture. To evaluate their potential environmental risks, it is essential to calculate the predicted environmental concentrations (PEC) in advance and compare them to known exposure thresholds (first step) or to predict no effect concentrations (second step). This report outlines a conceptual framework for developing a model designed to calculate PEC in sediment for additives introduced into marine aquaculture through fish feed.
Toxicology and Industrial Health, Ahead of Print.
Because of their beneficial effects in controlling pests, pesticides are used worldwide to reduce pests in agricultural fields and commercial gardens, thereby increasing the crop yield. Pesticides are ubiquitous in the environment and besides targeting ...
Rev Environ Health. 2025 Apr 25. doi: 10.1515/reveh-2024-0123. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by challenges in social communication and repetitive behavior. While the exact etiology of ASD remains elusive, researchers have increasingly turned their attention to the role of environmental factors in its development. Among these factors, environmental pollution has emerged as a potential contributor to the rising prevalence of ASD cases worldwide. This review delves into the growing body of scientific evidence suggesting a significant association between environmental pollution and the risk of ASD. It explores the environmental pollution that have been implicated, including air pollution, water contaminants, heavy metals, pesticides, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals. The detrimental impact of these pollutants on the developing brain, particularly during critical periods of gestation and early childhood has been discussed. This will provide insights into the possible mechanisms by which the various pollutants may influence the neurodevelopmental pathways underlying ASD. Additionally, the potential interplay between genetic susceptibility and environmental exposure is explored to better understand the multifactorial nature of ASD causation. Considering the alarming increase in ASD prevalence and the ubiquity of environmental pollutants, this review emphasizes the urgent need for further investigation and the adoption of comprehensive preventive measures.
PMID:40271992 | DOI:10.1515/reveh-2024-0123
Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of xylanase (produced with Komagataella phaffii DSM 25376) and β‐glucanase (produced with Komagataella phaffii DSM 26469) (ENZY CARBOPLUS®) as a zootechnical feed additive (functional group: digestibility enhancers). The additive is already authorised for use in feed for chickens for fattening, chickens reared for laying, turkeys for fattening and all avian species reared for laying or breeding purposes.
The conclusions of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) following the peer review of the initial risk assessments carried out by the competent authorities of the rapporteur Member State Italy and co‐rapporteur Member State Austria for the pesticide active substance buprofezin. The context of the peer review was that required by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 844/2012, as amended by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2018/1659.
Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of betaine anhydrous and betaine hydrochloride for the renewal of its authorisation. The applicant provided evidence that the additives betaine anhydrous (solid form) and betaine hydrochloride (solid form) both produced by chemical synthesis currently on the market comply with the existing conditions of authorisation.
Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of copper bilysinate as nutritional feed additive for all species and categories. The additive is currently authorised for use in all animal species (3b411). The applicant has provided evidence that the additive, in powder or granule forms, complies with the conditions of the authorisation.
COUNCIL DECISION on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union at the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides in international trade as regards certain amendments to that Convention and to Annex III thereto, and to the Rules of Procedure for the Conference of the Parties to the Convention