A modified QuEChERS method combined with GC–MS/MS was developed for faster and economic analysis of 200 pesticide residues in okra. The QuEChERS method was optimized using two models, Plackett-Burman (P-B) and Central Composite Design (CCD) which improved the accuracy and making the optimization process more efficient and precise. The significant factor included MWCNTs, PSA, magnesium sulfate, and activated charcoal which were used as d-SPE sorbents in a sample clean-up step to remove matrix interference. Calibration curves for the studied pesticides exhibited good linearity (r² > 0.99), with back-calculated concentrations within ≤±20 % across the tested range. The method was validated as per SANTE/11312/2021v2 and recoveries at 10 and 25 μg/kg were within 70 to 120 % with RSD ≤ 20 % for 188 compounds respectively. However, those outside the range were reproducible. LOQ for all targeted pesticide residues was set at 10 μg/kg. The method is rapid, efficient and offer high sensitivity to meet the analytical requirements for pesticide residue analysis and it was applied to analyse 120 okra samples from Ahmedabad and the subsequent health risk assessment shows minimal risk to consumers.

Pesticides, due to their persistence and widespread use, pose significant concerns for human health. This study presents the optimization and validation of a rapid, reliable, and efficient method for the determination of 61 pesticide residues in tomato, eggplant, and okra samples from Gujarat, India, using QuEChERS extraction coupled with UHPLC-q-TOF/MS and GC-MS/MS in Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) mode. SANTE/11312/ 2021 guidelines was utilized for validation, demonstrating excellent linearity (>0.99), with recovery ranging from 72-124 %. The limits of detection (LOD) ranged from 0.0004 to 0.0065 mg/kg, and the limit of quantifications LOQs ranged from 0.0014 to 0.021 mg/kg, with matrix effects of +/- 20 % and RSD values of < 20 %. A total of 25 % of market samples from the western regions of India showed multiple pesticide residues, cypermethrin and pyrethroids, being frequently detected (12.5 %) in eggplant; tebuconazole and monocrotophos detected in 16 (40 %) okra samples, with some exceeding the maximum residue limits (MRLs) prescribed by the EU. Although health risk assessment based on Hazard Quotient (HQ) and Hazard Index (HI) suggested no significant health risks for both adults and adolescents, further monitoring is recommended.

Air pollution, a significant global health concern, notably impacts human well-being. Children, owing to their distinctive physiology and behavior, are particularly susceptible to its adverse effects. This prospective study examines air quality variations and respiratory risks in children residing in critically polluted areas (CPA) compared to relatively non-polluted areas (NPA), utilizing a prospective design to understand the impacts of air pollution on children’s respiratory health, including measures like relative risk (RR) and attributable risk (AR). This prospective study tracked 739 students of 5th– 7th grade residing in CPA and NPA for one year, and measured the ambient and indoor air quality levels in both these areas. Throughout the study, based on the observed respiratory symptoms new episodes of upper and lower respiratory tract illnesses were recorded for each child on a weekly basis. Incidence rate, RR and AR for both the illnesses were compared. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 26.0. The study observes higher concentration for particulate matter and gaseous pollutants at CPA in comparison to NPA. Children living in CPA exhibited a notably greater weekly occurrence of both upper and lower respiratory tract illnesses compared to those in NPA, with RR of 1.26 (95 • By employing a prospective study design, this research offers a better understanding of the trends of children’s respiratory health in critically polluted areas compared to non-polluted areas, which is often missing in cross-sectional studies. • The study quantifies the attributable risk of air pollution, revealing that a substantial proportion of childhood respiratory illnesses can be attributed to industrial air pollution, emphasizing the need for environmental and public health interventions. • This research uniquely addresses the gap in the existing literature by focusing on critically polluted areas with high industrial emissions, shedding light on the specific health risks faced by children in these settings and emphasizing the necessity of targeted interventions.

A rapid and precise modified QuEChERS method for extraction was developed for simultaneous quantitation of multi-class pesticide residues in human biological matrices, viz. blood, serum and urine. In the modified QuEChERS method, targeted analytes in biological sample were extracted using acidified solution of acetonitrile and ethyl acetate along with anhydrous MgSO4. The collected aqueous layer was evaporated and dispersive solid-phase extraction clean-up was performed. The pesticide residues were assessed using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with multiple reaction monitoring mode. The developed method was validated as per European Union SANTE/12682/2019 guidelines and the evaluated method validation parameters, viz. linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantitation, accuracy, %relative standard deviation and matrix effect were found to be satisfactory. The proposed method is easy, comprehensible and efficient for simultaneous analysis of diverse range of pesticide residues within similar class. Hence, the present solitary method can be used for systematic analysis of biological samples.

The present study focused on the optimization of the QuEChERS extraction method for the determination of 61 pesticide residues and associated health risk assessment in 144 samples of commonly consumed vegetables, viz., eggplant, cabbage, green chilli, okra, and tomato. The samples were collected between January and April 2022 from three different districts within Gujarat, India. The QuEChERS method was optimized and utilized for the extraction of samples. The samples were analyzed by UHPLC-q-TOF/MS and GC–MS/MS. The modified QuEChERS method was successfully validated, and the obtained results were satisfactory as per the 2021 SANTE guidelines. The residue analysis of the vegetable samples showed that about 4

GC-MS/MS has been observed from past studies to be an appropriate choice for designing a simple, efficient and sensitive analytical technique. Accordingly, the linearity and working range, Method Limit of Detection (MLOD), Method Limit of Quantification (MLOQ), accuracy, precision (intra-day and inter-day), Matrix Effect (ME) and selectivity were analyzed for the assessment of 200 pesticide residues [organophosphorus pesticides (OPP), organochlorine pesticides (OCP), organonitrogen pesticides (ONP), synthetic pyrethroid pesticides (SPP), and herbicide methyl esters (HME)] in the banana matrix. The procedure involved QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) extraction and clean-up with Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) and Primary Secondary Amine (PSA) wherein the factors were optimized using the Plackett-Burman and central composite designs. The performance of the method in order to quantitate 200 pesticides at trace levels was evaluated by matrix-matched calibration. The linearity was observed to range from 1 to 100 μg L-1 with determination coefficient (r2) > 0.99. Recovery studies were conducted at 2 levels, 10 μg kg-1 and 25 μg kg-1, and the values obtained were in the range of 71-116% and 72-119%, respectively. The Relative Standard Deviation (RSD) was observed to be less than 20% in line with the recommended guidelines (SANTE/11312/2021). The MLOD and MLOQ were found to be in the range of 0.45-6.33 μg kg-1 and 1.44-9.59 μg kg-1 respectively. The developed method was applied satisfactorily to analyse banana samples cultivated in different regions of Gujarat, India.

An increasing concern for food safety has drawn attention to the overuse of pesticides, which pose a risk to public health. The present study determined 61 pesticide residues in 120 samples of cauliflower, green chili, cucumber, grapes, bananas and mangoes samples, and these were collected from markets in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Surendranagar, Anand and Sabarkantha districts of Gujarat state, India. The samples were extracted and analyzed using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-time of flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-q-TOF–MS) and Gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS). In addition, the health risk assessment associated with pesticide residues were evaluated by calculating the Hazard Quotient (HQ) and Hazard Index (HI), which indicate a value of less than 1 is safe for consumption. Out of 61 pesticide residues, 29 residues were detected in 107 samples; 68 samples showed multiple residues, and 39 samples found a single residue. Pesticides such as dimethoate, λ-cyhalothrin, fenvalerate, bifenthrin, and cyfluthrin were frequently detected in samples. HI in adults and adolescents confirmed a value less than 1 in cauliflower, cucumber, grapes and mango samples and greater than 1 in green chili and banana samples, respectively. The overall results depicted that, no considerable risk was observed in the selected food commodities. However, green chili and banana samples were found to exhibit marginal risk to human health. As a result, proper application, implementation of control plans, and continuous monitoring are required to prevent the risk and safeguard human health.

Background: Air pollution is a pressing global health concern, particularly in low- and middle-income countries like India. Children living near industrialized and critically polluted areas (CPAs) face heightened health risks due to their developing respiratory systems. This study aimed to assess the impact of industrial pollution on children's lung function in a CPA in western India. Methodology: The study evaluated 362 children studying in 5th to 7th standard from both a CPA and a relatively non-polluted area (NPA) for comparison. Ambient and indoor air quality measurements were taken, and pulmonary function tests were conducted to assess lung health. Group difference and regression analysis were performed with SPSS 26.0. Results: The CPA group showed significantly higher air pollution levels and a higher prevalence of obstructive and restrictive patterns in pulmonary function compared to the NPA group. The findings also revealed that children residing in CPA exhibited a significant decline of 530 ml forced expiratory flow rate (FEF 25–75%), and a reduction of 3.9% FEV1/FVC ratio when compared to children residing in relatively NPA. Conclusion: While this study's cross-sectional design has limitations, it provides valuable evidence of the impact of air pollution on children's lungs in a semi-urban industrialized area. To mitigate these health risks, integrating respiratory health check-ups, including pulmonary function tests, in existing health programs, like Rastriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), is recommended for early detection and intervention. Implementing initiatives such as enhancing green belts around schools and continuous air quality monitoring will be crucial.

The main purpose of this study was to determine pesticide contamination levels in commonly consumed vegetable and fruit samples collected from three different regions of Gujarat state, India. Samples (n = 312) were collected and extracted using modified QuEChERS method and quantified for presence of residues of 52 pesticides (organochlorine, organophosphate, carbamate and synthetic pyrethroids) by GC-MS/MS and UHPLC-QTOF/MS. Of the 52 pesticides, residues of 12 pesticides were detected and bifenthrin, fenvalerate and cypermethrin were frequently detected in maximum number of samples. The results observed that, 98.8 % tomato, 97.5 % banana, 90 % eggplant, 88.8 % pomegranate, 83.8 % orange, 75 % okra and 66.3 % of green chilli samples were below the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL). Acute and chronic dietary risk assessment was calculated due to consumption of vegetable and fruit samples for the Indian adolescent and adult population and results showed that the majority of samples had HQ (Hazard Quotient) and HI (Hazard Index) values were less than 1. Overall results revealed that, the studied commodities were safe for human consumption. However, monitoring studies may be carried out to protect the consumers.

The present study was initiated with the purpose to evaluate possible health risks associated with pesticide residues through consumption of vegetables and fruits by general population of Gujarat, India. A total of 1075 samples comprising of twelve different varieties of commonly consumed food commodities were collected from twenty-five divergent locations in Gujarat. The collected samples were extracted using QuEChERS method and analyzed for the presence of organophosphorus (OPs), organochlorine (OCs) and synthetic pyrethroids (SPs) pesticides using UHPLC-HR/MS, GC-μECD and GC-MS/SIM. The results indicated that 2.3% of vegetable and fruit samples showed the presence of pesticide residues exceeding maximum residue limits (MRLs). The results suggested that, detected residue levels in samples were within safe limits and their consumption will not pose any significant health risk to human. The outcomes present significant information regarding the status of vegetable and fruit contamination and pointed out the prerequisite for further studies with reference to monitoring of pesticides and other toxic contaminants in different samples for assessing cumulative health risk.

BACKGROUND:Combustion of kerosene and biomass fuel in the kitchen as cooking medium is one of the major sources of indoor air pollution. Such contaminated indoor air quality adversely affects the respiratory health of exposed individuals over a period of time. Homemaker women especially residing in slum areas are always vulnerable to indoor air-pollution-related health hazards.OBJECTIVES:The objective is to assess the relationship between various socio-demographic factors and usage patterns of cooking fuel; and to determine the effect of cooking medium namely biomass, kerosene on pulmonary function parameters.METHODS:A cross-sectional observational study was carried out during April 2012 - April 2016 among 531 nontobacco addicted adult primary homemaker women residing in slums of Ahmedabad city of Gujarat. Basic information-related socio-demographic parameters were collected on a pretested questionnaire. Pulmonary function test (PFT) parameters were evaluated with standard techniques. The statistical analysis was carried out with SPSS software (version 17.0). Statistical tests of significance between groups and mean along with multivariate linear regression analysis were applied.RESULTS:Predominant cooking medium for nearly 40% of slum households were kerosene and biomass. Mean value of forced expiratory volume in the 1st s (FEV1) and FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) were significantly lower among Kerosene and biomass users compared to LPG users. Multivariate regression analysis with involvement of PFT parameters, cooking medium, and environmental tobacco smoke exposure (ETS) shows, deprivation of both FEV1 and FEV1/FVC were significantly related with the usage of kerosene and biomass; whereas no relation found with ETS.CONCLUSION:Reduction of pulmonary function parameters among the study participants were related with kerosene and biomass fuel usage in the kitchen.

Developing fetus is connected to the mother by placenta to receive oxygen and nutrients. Maternal exposure to ambient air pollution not only affects maternal health but also provides a pathway for many toxic pollutants to cross the placental barrier and interrupt biochemical milieu. There are numerous scientific studies available describing possible negative health impact of air pollutants on reproductive health, pregnancy outcomes and fetal development yet no toxic effect is available recently. Studying the pollutants exposure effect on fetal development is crucial for the underlying mechanism between prenatal exposure and pregnancy outcomes. Present review meticulously provides the compiled data of 40 most recent studies with possible action mechanism of air pollutants on pregnancy outcomes and fetal development to find a better solution to exterminate or reduce the problem.