Rapid industrialization in China during the last three decades has resulted in widespread contamination of Cd in agricultural soils. A considerable proportion of the rice grain grown in some areas of southern China has Cd concentrations exceeding the Chinese food limit, raising widespread concern regarding food safety. In this review, we summarize rice grain Cd concentrations in national Chinese markets and in field surveys from contaminated areas, and analyze the potential health risk associated with increased dietary Cd intake. For subsistence rice farmers living in some contaminated areas of southern China who mainly consume locally-produced Cd-contaminated rice, their estimated dietary Cd intake is now comparable to that for the population in the region of Japan where the Itai-Itai disease was first reported. Interventions must be taken urgently to reduce Cd intake for these farmers. We also analyze i) the main reasons causing elevated grain Cd concentrations in southern China, ii) the dominant biogeochemical processes controlling the solubility of Cd in paddy soils, and iii) molecular mechanisms for the uptake and translocation of Cd in rice plants. Based on these analyses, we propose a number of countermeasures to address soil Cd contamination, including i) mitigation of Cd transfer from paddy soils to rice grain, and ii) intervention in those farmers who consume home-grown Cd-contaminated rice. Liming to increase soil pH to 6.5 and gene editing biotechnology are effective strategies to decrease Cd accumulation in rice grain. For these local farmers with high-Cd exposure risk, local governments should monitor the Cd concentration in their home-grown rice and exchange those high-Cd rice with low-Cd rice in order to reduce their dietary Cd intake.

Spread of pathogens in pig farms not only causes transfection of diseases to other pigs or even farmers working in the farms, but also induces pollution to the living atmospheric environment of the residents around the farm. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a rapid and simple monitoring method. In this study, full genome sequences of common viruses were analyzed in pig farms, in combination with the design of primers, optimization of the reaction parameters, so as to establish a multiplex RT-PCR assay for the identification of classical swine fever virus (CSFV), Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), porcine circovirus Type 2 (PCV-2), porcine pseudorabies virus (PRV) and porcine parvovirus virus (PPV), which are common in pig farms. This method has a minimal detectable concentration of 10⁻³ ng/μL, which is highly specific. Furthermore, multiplex RT-PCR was applied to examine air samples from 4 pig farms located in different cities of China. The results were in line with those obtained by single PCR. Therefore, this study can be expected to provide essential technique support for the early warning mechanism as well as disease prevention and control system against the major viruses.

Vegetable production in solar greenhouses in northern China results in the excessive use of nitrogen (N) fertilizers and water via flooding irrigation. Both factors result in low N use efficiency and high environmental costs because groundwater becomes contaminated with nitrate (NO3−). Four consecutive tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.) cropping seasons were tested whether drip fertigation and/or the incorporation of maize straw (S) may significantly reduce NO3− and dissolved organic N (DON) leaching while increasing the water-use efficiency (WUE) and partial factor productivity of applied N (PFPN) of the tomatoes. The following treatments were used: ① conventional flooding irrigation with overfertilization (CIF, 900 kg N ha−1 season−1), ② CIF + S, ③ drip irrigation with optimized fertilization (DIF, 400 kg N ha−1 season−1), ④ DIF + S. We found that (1) DIF significantly increases the PFPN and WUE by 262% and 73% without compromising the yield compared with CIF, respectively. (2) For CIF, approximately 50% of the total N input was leached at a NO3−/DON ratio of approximately 2:1. (3) Compared with CIF, DIF reduced NO3− and DON leaching by 88% and 90%, respectively. Water percolation was positively correlated with N leaching (p < 0.001). (4) Straw application only reduced NO3− leaching losses in the first year and did not affect DON leaching overall, although DON leaching was increased in DIF in the first growing season. In conclusion, DIF significantly reduces NO3− and DON leaching losses by approximately 90% compared with the current farmer practice (CIF). Considering the significant DON leaching losses, which have been overlooked because previous measurements focused on NO3−, DON should be considered as a primary factor of environmental pollution in conventional solar greenhouse vegetable production systems.

Pesticides are used worldwide in farming activities to guarantee crop yields. In southeastern Mexico, groundwater is the primary source of water for humankind. However, because of the soil characteristics and of intensive agricultural practices, the aquifer is vulnerable to pollution as shown by the regular detection of pesticide residues in groundwater. Within this context, the dissipation and adsorption of four of most used pesticides (2,4-D, atrazine, diazinon, and glyphosate) by farmers in southeastern Mexico were studied to determine their fate in agricultural soil and estimate their risk for the aquifer. Forty-one days after their application, the four pesticides were entirely dissipated from the soil. 2,4-D and glyphosate were the most persistent according to DT₅₀. Diazinon was the most adsorbed to the soil at equilibrium time. All pesticides were volatilized in substantial amounts, reaching 10.1, 22.3, 22.4, and 43.4% of initial amount 72 h after application of glyphosate, atrazine, 2,4-D, and diazinon, respectively. Volatilization was dependent on time and pesticide type (P < 0.05). Following their KOC, diazinon and glyphosate were found to be the most prone to leach. Therefore, in the absence of mitigation measures, their use represents a significant threat for the groundwater in Southeastern Mexico.

Our study evaluated 163 individuals, being 74 soybean farmers, occupationally exposed to pesticides, and 89 individuals from Goias municipalities, Central Brazil, with similar conditions to the exposed group, comprising the control group. Of the 74 soybean farmers, 43 exposed directly to pesticides and 31 exposed indirectly. The exposed group consisted of individuals aged 19 to 63 years, 21 women and 53 men, and the control group had ages ranging from 18 to 64 years, being 36 women and 53 men. 18.9% of the exposed group were poisoned by pesticides, and the most common symptoms were headache and gastrointestinal problems. The genotype frequencies of the rs2031920 (T>C) polymorphism in the CYP2E1 gene present significant differences between the exposed and control groups (p = 0.02), showing that 24.3% of the exposed group were heterozygotes against 6.7% in the control group. For the OGG1 gene, two SNPs, rs1052133 (G>C) and rs293795 (T>C), were evaluated and the genotype frequencies were not statistically different between the exposed and control groups. The DNA damage was distinct (p < 0.05) in the three analyzed comet parameters (tail length, Olive tail moment, %DNA) between groups. However, there was no influence of age and alcohol consumption between the groups associated with the polymorphisms in the CYP2E1 and OGG1 genes and DNA damage. We also did not find altered hematological and biochemical parameters in the exposed group. Thus, this pioneering study at Goias State carried out an overview of the health of soybean farmers. We evaluated classic laboratory exams, associated with exposure markers (comet assay) and susceptibility markers (genetic polymorphisms), emphasizing the need to expand the Brazilian health assessment protocol. We found, in soybean farmers, increased DNA damage and a higher number of heterozygotes in CYP2E1 gene, compared with the control group, despite the lack of association with age, educational level, smoking, drinking habits, and genetic polymorphisms.

One of the innovations introduced toward tackling the heightening of environmental impact is green technology. In the agricultural industry, the implementation of green fertilizer technology (GFT) for the modern development of environmentally friendly technology is a necessity. Within the Malaysian agriculture sector, the GFT application is needed to increase production levels among all crops. One of the essential commodities of all crops has always been paddy, given its status as the staple food among the country’s population. Paddy production with the adoption of GFT potentially opens the path toward sustainable development in the industry as well as it also provides the food safety aspect. Moreover, this helps farmers to improve their productivity on paddy production in Malaysia. This paper attempts to evaluate the contributing socio-psychological factors, innovation attributes of environmental factors, and channels of communication to decision-making among farmers in Malaysia on GFT. Furthermore, this research also aims to assess the moderating role of cost between the farmer’s behavioral intention and the adoption of GFT. The sampling process followed the stratified sampling technique—overall, 600 survey questionnaires were dispersed and 437 effective responses were received. The structural analysis results obtained have revealed significant positive effect for perceived awareness, attitude, group norm, perceived behavioral control, environmental concern, agro-environmental regulations, relative advantage, compatibility, trialability, and observability, and on farmer’s behavioral intention, a significant effect for paddy farmer’s behavioral intention in order to adopt of GFT. Further, the interaction effects of cost on the link between farmer’s behavioral intention and adoption of GFT are statistically significant. Though, the finding could not back an outcome for the subjective norm, complexity, and mass media on farmer’s behavioral intention. Finally, critical outcomes obtained in this research contribute to deepening the thoughtfulness of paddy farmers’ adoption of GFT. This study concludes with policy recommendations and future directions of the research.

Effluents form the swine livestock industry contain a high concentration of pollutants and require complex treatment systems. The most recurrent form to treat Swine wastewater is by a conventional anaerobic–aerobic treatment. For example, an up-flow anaerobic blanket sludge reactor followed by an activated sludge reactor. However, in many countries, a high percentage of producers are small or medium-sized farms that can afford neither complex treatment systems nor specialized operations. The present study assessed the performance of a novel and different combinations of treatment processes, based on changing the anaerobic systems that require a specialized operation for one very simple to operate for farm owners. The assessed system is composed by a septic tank in combination with an up-flow anaerobic filter packed with volcanic rocks and an aerobic biofilter packed with waste wood chips. The effect of the hydraulic residence time and the volumetric organic loading in the septic tank and up-flow anaerobic filter and the effect of surface hydraulic loading in the aerobic biofilter were also evaluated. The system efficiently removed chemical oxygen demand (86–93%), total suspended solids (91–97%), volatile suspended solids (86–97%), and ammoniacal nitrogen (86–87%), showing a constant removal efficiency under a VOL of between 5 and 14.6 kg COD m⁻³ d⁻¹in the up-flow anaerobic filter. The advantages of this system are that the packing materials can be available in rural zones and are sustainable; the whole system is cost-effective and easy to handle; thus, farmers can operate and maintain it with their own means.

Air emissions from animal feeding operations (AFOs) can affect public health, environment, and quality of life. Although regulations or lawsuits may force AFOs to reduce air emissions, treatment options are limited and expensive. Trapping particulate matter (PM) emitted from AFOs is important for reducing emissions since many odorous and environmentally important gases are also transported on PM. Since PM emitted by AFOs have relatively high particle density and diameter, its partial filtration might be feasible and effective in reducing air emission. A porous windbreak wall made of lumber and mosquito screen, coupled with a vegetative strip of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) covering three fans, was evaluated in a tunnel-ventilated swine finishing barn. The system imposed acceptable pressure on the fan (< 13 Pa) and was readily cleaned by rain. The system reduced total suspended particulate (TSP) emission moderately (average reduction of 28%), while reduction in ammonia emissions was low. Odor 10 m downstream of the fans was reduced greatly by 71%. Soil inside the system and vegetation accumulated appreciable amounts of nitrogen and sulfur; the vegetation also trapped appreciable amounts of PM. Overall, this low-cost, retrofittable, and modular system could be used by swine farmers to reduce their emissions, alone or in combination with other mitigation methods to obtain greater reduction in emissions.

A study of pesticides in the Bizerte lagoon watershed on the Mediterranean coast of Tunisia showed that herbicides and fungicides are the most commonly used compounds. A survey was made of selected farmers. Pesticide contamination was monitored in the water column and sediments at four selected sampling sites (lagoon (A) and in three oueds—Chegui (B), Garaa (C), and Tinja (D)). Polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS) were used to assess pesticide contamination. Thirty-two pesticides were investigated; the total concentration of active ingredients ranged from 35.9 ng L⁻¹ in Tinja oued to 1246 ng L⁻¹ in Chegui oued. In the lagoon, the total concentration of pesticides was 67.7 ng L⁻¹. In the sediments, the highest concentration was measured in Chegui oued in the spring (31 ng g⁻¹ dw). The main compounds found in the analyzed sediments were prosulfocarb and tebuconazole molecules.

Voles (Cricetidae) cause extensive damage to a variety of crops throughout much of the Northern Hemisphere. The removal of vegetation from crop fields at the end of the growing season, combined with a subsequent burrow fumigant application of aluminum phosphide, has the potential to substantially curtail vole activity but has not been thoroughly examined. We set up a study to test the impact of these management tools in perennial globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus) fields in Monterey County, CA, during 2010 and 2011, to determine their potential utility as part of an integrated pest management (IPM) program for managing California voles (Microtus californicus). We used both chewing indices and mortality estimates derived via radiotelemetry to assess the efficacy of aboveground vegetation removal and aluminum phosphide applications on vole abundance. We determined the impact of plowing artichoke fields on vole activity as well. Both removal of vegetation and applications of aluminum phosphide substantially reduced vole presence within treated fields. Plowing also reduced vole abundance to the point of little residual activity following treatment. These management practices appear to be effective at eliminating voles from crop fields. Combining these tools with management practices designed to slow down reinvasion by neighboring vole populations (e.g., barriers, repellents, traps) has the potential to substantially reduce farmer reliance on rodenticides for vole management, although rodenticides will still be needed to curtail populations that reestablish within crop fields. Such an IPM approach should substantially benefit both farmers and agro-ecosystems.