Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Sector 67, S. A. S. Nagar,Mohali, Punjab-160 062, India, Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Polytechnic University, Via Ranieri 67, IT-60100 Ancona, Italy,Green Biotechnology Research Group, The Special Division for Human Life Technology, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science andTechnology, 1-8-31 Midorigaoka, Ikeda, Osaka-563-8577, Japan, and Department of Medicinal Chemistry & Natural Products,The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, School of Pharmacy-Faculty of Medicine, Jerusalem 91120, IsraelReceived March 2, 2004

Chitosan chemistry and pharmaceutical perspectives.

Antimicrobial properties of chitosan and mode of action: A state of the art review

Antimicrobial nanomaterials for water disinfection and microbial control: Potential applications and implications

"Nanoantibiotics": a new paradigm for treating infectious diseases using nanomaterials in the antibiotics resistant era.

The Chemistry and Applications of Antimicrobial Polymers: A State-of-the-Art Review

Off target ground deposits from spraying a semi-dwarf orchard.

Spray drift can be defined as the quantity of plant protection product that is carried out of the sprayed (treated) area by the action of air currents during the application process. This continues to be a major problem in applying agricultural pesticides. The purpose of this research is to measure and compare the amount of drift for different climatological conditions under field conditions. Spray drift was determined by sampling in a defined downwind area at different positions in a flat meadow using horizontal drift collectors (sedimenting spray drift) and pipe cleaners (airborne spray drift) for a reference spraying. Meteorological conditions were monitored during each experiment. A drift prediction equation for the reference spraying was set up to predict the expected magnitude of sedimenting drift at various drift distances and atmospheric conditions (wind speed and temperature). This equation can be used to compare measurements using other spraying techniques under different weather conditions to the reference spraying. In 2005, more measurements will be performed to validate the statements and the model reflected in this paper.

Spray drift as affected by meteorological conditions.

The results are described of the residue determination of quintozene, hexachlorobenzene, dichloran and pentachloroaniline in soil and lettuce after application of different quantities of quintozene just before and two weeks after planting. The results indicate that quintozene, hexachlorobenzene and dichloran are readily taken up by lettuce from the soil and that quintozene is metabolised to pentachloroaniline resulting in residues of these compounds in lettuce.

Residues of quintozene, hexachlorobenzene, dichloran and pentachloroaniline in soil and lettuce.

Herbicides are still used to control weeds on hard surfaces, including municipal, private and industrial sites. Used under unfavourable conditions, especially when rain occurs shortly after application, herbicides may run off to surface waters. Such losses of herbicides from hard surfaces are estimated to be much higher than for herbicides used in arable fields. In this study, three kinds of hard surface were evaluated: asphalt, concrete surface and gravel (fine and coarse). Three herbicides were applied: glyphosate, diuron and diflufenican. Adsorption isotherms of diuron and diflufenican to the three surfaces were determined. At different times after treatment with the herbicides, rainfall was simulated by use of a rain-droplet spray nozzle, and the run-off was collected for analysis. After this run-off event, the materials were immersed in water to measure desorption which, together with the compound in the run-off, gave a measure of the dislodgable residues. The apolar herbicides diuron and especially diflufenican adsorbed strongly to asphalt. The polar herbicide glyphosate lost 75% in run-off from asphalt but was adsorbed strongly to soil and concrete pavement.

Rainfastness and adsorption of herbicides on hard surfaces

Pesticides are used not only in agriculture but also by public services and households. Much information is available on the influence of agricultural applications on human health by occupational exposure and on the environment. There is still a need for adequate information on the impact of non-agricultural applications of pesticides. The POCER indicator (Pesticide Occupational and Environmental Risk indicator) has been developed at Ghent University for agricultural situations, as a tool for applicators and decision-makers, by calculating the impact of pesticide treatments on the applicator, the worker, the bystander, groundwater, surface water, bees, earthworms, birds, useful arthropods and persistence in soil. A few adaptations in the POCER calculation method can make the indicator also very useful for non-agricultural conditions. The impact of plant protection products on human health and environment in public services and households can be calculated and the scores can be compared with each other, resulting in an improved pesticide programme. Decision makers might use the POCER indicator to evaluate the reduction programme of public services and communities and offer them measurements to reduce the impact of pesticides. For example, wearing protective clothing or taking into account the distance between application and surface water can greatly reduce the impact score.

Walter Steurbaut

Papers

Off target ground deposits from spraying a semi-dwarf orchard.

Spray drift as affected by meteorological conditions.

Residues of quintozene, hexachlorobenzene, dichloran and pentachloroaniline in soil and lettuce.

Rainfastness and adsorption of herbicides on hard surfaces

The POCER indicator: a decision tool for non-agricultural pesticide use