The excretion of thioethers in urine of applicators occupationally exposed to the soil fumigant 1,3-dichloropropene (DCP) was determined by the thioether assay. The mercapturic acid metabolite of E-1,3-dichloropropene, N-acetyl-S-(E-3-chloropropenyl-2-)-L-cysteine (E-DCP-MA), was the reference compound in the thioether assay. The mean recovery of E-DCP-MA was 58.5% (coefficient of variation (CV...

There is a great demand for safe and effective alternative fumigants to replace methyl bromide and other toxic fumigants for postharvest pest control. Nitric oxide, a common signal molecule in biological systems, was found to be effective and safe to control insects under ultralow oxygen conditions. Four insect species including western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thys...

Long-term survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in soil and in the rhizosphere of many crops after fumigation is relatively unknown. One of the critical concerns with food safety is the transfer of pathogens from contaminated soil to the edible portion of the plants. Multiplex fluorogenic polymerase chain reaction was used in conjunction with plate counts to quantify the survival of E. coli O157...

The application of fenamiphos either alone or in combination with soil fumigants is a common practice in greenhouses and potato-cultivation areas in Greece. However, repeated applications of fenamiphos in the same field for a number of years can lead to the development of enhanced biodegradation of the nematicide. Studies in previously treated greenhouse sites and potato field sites in Greece w...

More than 500 million ocean freight container units are shipped annually between countries and continents. Residual levels of fumigants, as well as naturally occurring off-gassing chemicals emanating from the goods, constitute safety risks, which may affect uniformed workers upon entering the container. The aim of this study was to assess workers' exposure during stripping of containers and is ...