Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Human Health Risk Estimation of Nanoatrazine

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Exposure and Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study presented a framework for estimating risks due to nanoatrazine from soil medium (termed as “NanopesticideRisk” framework hereafter). The time-dependent release of atrazine in loam soil from different nanocarriers was used for estimating exposure dose of contaminated soil. Inadvertent exposures of nanoatrazine from soil medium did not pose risks to occupational workers from oral and dermal pathways (hazard quotient (HQ): 0.0003 (oral exposure), 0.0001 (dermal exposure)). Atrazine on poly (ε-caprolactone) nanocarrier poses less health risk (HQ < 1). The calculated maximum value of application rate of atrazine in nanocarrier without posing human risk was found to be 0.63 kg/ha. The findings of this work indicate the use of risk estimates in deciding about suitability of use of nanoagrochemicals to soil and it’s relation with nanocarrier characteristics. This information can be used now for effectively designing nanoagrochemicals using appropriate nanocarrier so that it does not pose health risks.

Graphical Abstract

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Data Availability

All data analysed during the current study are included in the supporting information document.

References

  • Alexakis D (2016) Human health risk assessment associated with Co, Cr, Mn, Ni and V contents in agricultural soils from a Mediterranean site. Arch Agron Soil Sci 62:359–373

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alla MMN, Hassan NM (2006) Changes of antioxidants levels in two maize lines following atrazine treatments. Plant Physiol Biochem 44:202–210

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Almasi H, Takdastan A, Jaafarzadeh N, Babaei AA, Birgani YT, Cheraghian B, Saki A, Jorfi S (2020) Spatial distribution, ecological and health risk assessment and source identification of atrazine in Shadegan international wetland. Iran Mar Pollut Bull 160:111569

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barrios RE, Gaonkar O, Snow D, Li Y, Li X, Bartelt-Hunt SL (2019) Enhanced biodegradation of atrazine at high infiltration rates in agricultural soils. Environ Sci Process Impacts 21:999–1010

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blaser, S.A., 2006. Environmental risk analysis for silver-containing nanofunctionalized products.

  • Chen Q, Yang B, Wang H, He F, Gao Y, Scheel RA (2015) Soil microbial community toxic response to atrazine and its residues under atrazine and lead contamination. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22:996–1007

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen Y, Huang R, Guan Y, Zhuang T, Wang Y, Tan R, Wang J, Zhou R, Wang B, Xu J (2021) The profiling of elements and pesticides in surface water in Nanjing, China with global comparisons. Sci Total Environ 774:145749

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clemente Z, Grillo R, Jonsson M, Santos NZP, Feitosa LO, Lima R, Fraceto LF (2014) Ecotoxicological evaluation of poly (ε-caprolactone) nanocapsules containing triazine herbicides. J Nanosci Nanotechnol 14:4911–4917

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Correia FV, Macrae A, Guilherme LRG, Langenbach T (2007) Atrazine sorption and fate in a Ultisol from humid tropical Brazil. Chemosphere 67:847–854

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • de Albuquerque FP, de Oliveira JL, dos Santos Machado L, Richardi VS, da Silva MAN, Pompêo MLM, Fraceto LF, Carlos VM (2021) Use of nontarget organism Chironomus sancticaroli to study the toxic effects of nanoatrazine. Ecotoxicology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-021-02400-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Oliveira JL, Campos EVR, Gonçalves Da Silva CM, Pasquoto T, Lima R, Fraceto LF (2015a) Solid lipid nanoparticles co-loaded with simazine and atrazine: preparation, characterization, and evaluation of herbicidal activity. J Agric Food Chem 63:422–432

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • EPA, A.B.D., 1989. Risk assessment guidance for superfund. Volume I: human health evaluation manual (part a). EPA/540/1-89/002.

  • Gomes SIL, Scott-Fordsmand JJ, Campos EVR, Grillo R, Fraceto LF, Amorim MJB (2019) On the safety of nanoformulations to non-target soil invertebrates–an atrazine case study. Environ Sci Nano 6:1950–1958

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Green RE, Obien SR (1969) Herbicide equilibrium in soils in relation to soil water content. Weed Sci 17:514–519

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grillo R, dos Santos NZP, Maruyama CR, Rosa AH, de Lima R, Fraceto LF (2012) Poly(e{open}-caprolactone)nanocapsules as carrier systems for herbicides: physico-chemical characterization and genotoxicity evaluation. J Hazard Mater 231–232:1–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grillo R, Rosa AH, Fraceto LF (2014a) Poly (ε-caprolactone) nanocapsules carrying the herbicide atrazine: effect of chitosan-coating agent on physico-chemical stability and herbicide release profile. Int J Environ Sci Technol 11:1691–1700

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grillo R, Rosa AH, Fraceto LF (2014b) Poly(ε-caprolactone) nanocapsules carrying the herbicide atrazine: Effect of chitosan-coating agent on physico-chemical stability and herbicide release profile. Int J Environ Sci Technol 11:1691–1700

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grillo R, Fraceto LF, Amorim MJB, Scott-Fordsmand JJ, Schoonjans R, Chaudhry Q (2020) Ecotoxicological and regulatory aspects of environmental sustainability of nanopesticides. J Hazard Mater. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124148

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hayes TB, Collins A, Lee M, Mendoza M, Noriega N, Stuart AA, Vonk A (2002) Hermaphroditic, demasculinized frogs after exposure to the herbicide atrazine at low ecologically relevant doses. Proc Natl Acad Sci 99:5476–5480

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Islam S, Ahmed K, Al-Mamun H (2015) Distribution of trace elements in different soils and risk assessment: a case study for the urbanized area in Bangladesh. J Geochemical Explor 158:212–222

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kah M, Hofmann T (2014) Nanopesticide research: current trends and future priorities. Environ Int 63:224–235

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kah M, Machinski P, Koerner P, Tiede K, Grillo R, Fraceto LF, Hofmann T (2014) Analysing the fate of nanopesticides in soil and the applicability of regulatory protocols using a polymer-based nanoformulation of atrazine. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21:11699–11707

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kah M, Kookana RS, Gogos A, Bucheli TD (2018) A critical evaluation of nanopesticides and nanofertilizers against their conventional analogues. Nat Nanotechnol 13:677–684

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kah M, Beulke S, Tiede K, Hofmann T, (2013) Nanopesticides: state of knowledge, environmental fate, and exposure modeling. Crit Rev Environ Sci Technol 43(16):1823–1867. https://doi.org/10.1080/10643389.2012.671750

  • Khan JA, Shah NS, Khan HM (2015) Decomposition of atrazine by ionizing radiation: kinetics, degradation pathways and influence of radical scavengers. Sep Purif Technol 156:140–147

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kookana RS, Boxall ABA, Reeves PT, Ashauer R, Beulke S, Chaudhry Q, Cornelis G, Fernandes TF, Gan J, Kah M (2014) Nanopesticides: guiding principles for regulatory evaluation of environmental risks. J Agric Food Chem 62:4227–4240

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Korsmeyer RW, Gurny R, Doelker E, Buri P, Peppas NA (1983) Mechanisms of solute release from porous hydrophilic polymers. Int J Pharm 15:25–35

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lasserre J-P, Fack F, Revets D, Planchon S, Renaut J, Hoffmann L, Gutleb AC, Muller CP, Bohn T (2009) Effects of the endocrine disruptors atrazine and PCB 153 on the protein expression of MCF-7 human cells. J Proteome Res 8:5485–5496

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li X, Wu T, Huang H, Zhang S (2012) Atrazine accumulation and toxic responses in maize Zea mays. J Environ Sci 24:203–208

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, L., Xu, Z., Kah, M., Lin, D., Filser, J., 2019. Nanopesticides: a comprehensive assessment of environmental risk is needed before widespread agricultural application.

  • Mueller NC, Nowack B (2008) Exposure modeling of engineered nanoparticles in the environment. Environ Sci Technol 42:4447–4453

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oliveira HC, Stolf-Moreira R, Martinez CBR, Sousa GFM, Grillo R, de Jesus MB, Fraceto LF (2015b) Evaluation of the side effects of poly (epsilon-caprolactone) nanocapsules containing atrazine toward maize plants. Front Chem 3:61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ouyang W, Zhao X, Tysklind M, Hao F (2016) Typical agricultural diffuse herbicide sorption with agricultural waste-derived biochars amended soil of high organic matter content. Water Res 92:156–163

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Parsai, T., Kumar, A., 2020. Tradeoff between risks through ingestion of nanoparticle contaminated water or fish: Human health perspective. Sci. Total Environ. 140140.

  • Pascoli M, Lopes-Oliveira PJ, Fraceto LF, Seabra AB, Oliveira HC (2018) State of the art of polymeric nanoparticles as carrier systems with agricultural applications: a minireview. Energy. Ecol Environ 3:137–148

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pereira AES, Grillo R, Mello NFS, Rosa AH, Fraceto LF (2014) Application of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) nanoparticles containing atrazine herbicide as an alternative technique to control weeds and reduce damage to the environment. J Hazard Mater 268:207–215

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Preisler AC, Pereira AES, Campos EVR, Dalazen G, Fraceto LF, Oliveira HC (2020) Atrazine nanoencapsulation improves pre-emergence herbicidal activity against Bidens pilosa without enhancing long-term residual effect on Glycine max. Pest Manag Sci 76:141–149

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Recker RA, Mitchell PD, Stoltenberg DE, Lauer JG, Davis VM (2015) Late-season weed escape survey reveals discontinued atrazine use associated with greater abundance of broadleaf weeds. Weed Technol 29:451–463

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sathiakumar N, MacLennan PA, Mandel J, Delzell E (2011) A review of epidemiologic studies of triazine herbicides and cancer. Crit Rev Toxicol 41:1–34

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schnoor B, Elhendawy A, Joseph S, Putman M, Chacón-Cerdas R, Flores-Mora D, Bravo-Moraga F, Gonzalez-Nilo F, Salvador-Morales C (2018) Engineering atrazine loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles to ameliorate environmental challenges. J Agric Food Chem 66:7889–7898

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sousa GFM, Gomes DG, Campos EVR, Oliveira JL, Fraceto LF, Stolf-Moreira R, Oliveira HC (2018) Post-emergence herbicidal activity of nanoatrazine against susceptible weeds. Front Environ Sci 6:12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun JT, Pan LL, Zhan Y, Tsang DCW, Zhu LZ, Li XD (2017b) Atrazine contamination in agricultural soils from the Yangtze River Delta of China and associated health risks. Environ Geochem Health 39:369–378

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sun JT, Pan LL, Zhan Y, Tsang DCW, Zhu LZ, Li XD, (2017a) c. Environ. Geochem. Health 39:369–378

  • USEPA U (1997) Exposure factors handbook. Off. Res. Dev. Washingt

  • USEPA (2015) United States Environmental Protection Agency, Risk-Based Screening Table. http://www.epa.gov/risk/regional-screening-table

  • Wang J, Liu G, Liu H, Lam PKS (2017) Multivariate statistical evaluation of dissolved trace elements and a water quality assessment in the middle reaches of Huaihe River, Anhui. China Sci Total Environ 583:421–431

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Woodruff MA, Hutmacher DW (2010) The return of a forgotten polymer—Polycaprolactone in the 21st century. Prog Polym Sci 35:1217–1256

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zaya RM, Amini Z, Whitaker AS, Kohler SL, Ide CF (2011) Atrazine exposure affects growth, body condition and liver health in Xenopus laevis tadpoles. Aquat Toxicol 104:243–253

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhai Y, Monikh FA, Wu J, Grillo R, Arenas-Lago D, Darbha GK, Vijver MG, Peijnenburg WJGM (2020) Interaction between a nano-formulation of atrazine and rhizosphere bacterial communities: atrazine degradation and bacterial community alterations. Environ Sci Nano 7:3372–3384

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Indian institute of Technology Delhi (India) for supporting this research work.

Funding

Not applicable.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, India

    Shraddha Shahane & Arun Kumar

Authors
  1. Shraddha Shahane
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Arun Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

SS designed the study, implemented and written the manuscript. AK edited the manuscript and guided the writing process.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Arun Kumar.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Ethical Approval

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

Consent for Participate

Not applicable.

Consent for Publication

Not applicable.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 36 kb)

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Shahane, S., Kumar, A. Human Health Risk Estimation of Nanoatrazine. Expo Health 15, 857–867 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-022-00527-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-022-00527-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation