A multidisciplinary Brazilian research team has developed a biosensor to measure pesticide content on food produce, water and soil.
The technology is in its development phase, but if developed into a commercial product it could provide a cheap, affordable and portable method to monitor this type of contamination.
The biosensor is the result of a research carried out by Izabela Gutierrez de Arruda, a post-graduation student at Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC), in São Paulo State. The biosensor uses an enzyme inhibitor to detect the presence of a pesticide called methamidophos, an insecticide linked to neurological problems. Although enzyme inhibition is not necessarily a new method, the innovation here is in the use of an ultra-thin film to magnify the signals.
The researchers used an enzyme called acetylcholinesterase, which also occurs in the human brain. It works with the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which is involved in cognitive functions such as thought and memory. When it comes into contact with the molecules of the methamidophos insecticide, its action is inhibited and it will produce fewer protons in comparison with an enzyme that is not exposed to the same substance. The difference in proton numbers is displayed in a small device where the film had been introduced, showing the levels of contamination.
“The device will look like one of those used to measure glucose levels,” Gutierrez tells Gizmag. “Because of its small size, farmers could carry out measurements themselves and get instant results. Current methods usually use chromatography and spectrometry, which require technical expertise and expensive equipment, besides the fact that the measurements are not produced instantly.”
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more than 70% of non organic fruits and veggies sold in the US come with traces of potentially harmful pesticides. The environmental working group flagged the findings under 2022 shepherd's guide ...
- Pesticides in produce: 2023's list of most and least contaminated foodson March 15, 2023 at 2:10 pm
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- 10,000 Irish people call for synthetic pesticides to be phased outon March 19, 2023 at 8:00 am
More than 10,000 Irish people have signed a petition calling on the EU to introduce laws to phase out damaging pesticides.
- List of produce with most, least pesticides released by Environmental Working Groupon March 18, 2023 at 12:48 pm
This year, there are two surprising additions to the list of produce deemed to contain the most pesticides. Nonorganic or conventionally grown blueberries and green beans came in at No. 11 and No ...
- Pesticide use poses harm to SA’s wateron March 18, 2023 at 12:31 am
However, after application, they can enter surface water or groundwater, where they can potentially persist and cause harm to aquatic organisms or human health. The theme of this year’s World Water ...
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A five- to 10-percent spray waste can be a typical loss on some prairie farms. That is a lot of product missing the target, and it’s avoidable on most ...
- Pesticides in produce: 2023's list of most and least contaminated foodson March 15, 2023 at 2:10 pm
Blueberries, beloved by nutritionists for their anti-inflammatory properties, have joined fiber-rich green beans in this year's Dirty Dozen of nonorganic produce with the most pesticides ...
- Pesticides in produce: 2023's list of most and least contaminated foodson March 15, 2023 at 2:10 pm
more than 70% of non organic fruits and veggies sold in the US come with traces of potentially harmful pesticides. The environmental working group flagged the findings under 2022 shepherd's guide ...
- Wash your produce: 251 pesticides traced in recent studyon March 15, 2023 at 2:00 pm
Possibly dangerous amounts of pesticides are still being found in a lot of U.S. produce, and millions continue to eat contaminated greens every day, the Environmental Working Group said in its most ...
- Blueberries have joined green beans in this year’s Dirty Dozen liston March 14, 2023 at 9:00 pm
Editor’s Note: Sign up for CNN’s Eat, But Better: Mediterranean Style. Our eight-part guide shows you a delicious expert-backed eating lifestyle that will boost your health for life.
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