Adsorption of Propazine, Simazine and Bisphenol A on the Surface of Nanoparticles of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles of Carbon and Metallic Oxides

Abstract

Simazine and propazine are selective triazine herbicides currently in use to control broad-leaved weeds and annual grasses around the world. Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial chemical used in the production of polycarbonate plastics often found in consumer goods, such as plastic containers, baby bottles etc. These synthetic compounds are known to increase the risk of cancer, cause adverse reproductive effect in reptiles, mammals, birds, humans, and lead to other health problems. They have become some of the principal agents of contamination in water bodies around the world through herbicide runoff, industrial waste and leaching. Some triazines such as atrazine are banned in most European countries for over ten years due to their adverse reproductive effect in mammals, birds and humans; however propazine and simazine are still in use around the world. The removal of these compounds from contaminated water is an exigent challenge. In this study, we investigated their affinity for the surface of nanoparticles (NPS) and standard metallic oxides in an effort to exploit the unique potential applications of NPS for water purification systems. We studied the adsorption of the two triazines and BPA on the surface of NPS of iron (III) oxide, NPS of carbon, bulk iron (III) oxide and aluminum oxide at pH 6 and pH 8 using UV-Visible spectroscopy. Result indicates that these compounds have different affinity towards the surface of metallic oxides and carbon at various pHs. In general, there is relatively high adsorption of some of these compounds on the surface of NPS compared to bulk particles. NPS of carbon have shown the highest affinity for all the three compounds. The lower pH was found to be favorable for all of the compounds except for BPA. BPA have shown high adsorption at pH 8 than at pH 6.

Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) and Male Reproductive Health: Challenging the Future with a Double-Edged Sword

“…Across Europe, simazine was one of the triazine herbicides most frequently detected above regulatory levels [82]. Triazines such as atrazine and simazine display similar modes of action and have been implicated in a variety of cancers according to different studies [95]. In addition, long-term consumption of high doses caused tremors, damage to the testes, kidneys, liver, and thyroid, and decreased sperm production in laboratory animals [95].…”

“…Triazines such as atrazine and simazine display similar modes of action and have been implicated in a variety of cancers according to different studies [95]. In addition, long-term consumption of high doses caused tremors, damage to the testes, kidneys, liver, and thyroid, and decreased sperm production in laboratory animals [95]. Due to its endocrine disruptor-like characteristics and large production volume, simazine was included in a final list of chemicals tested in the US EPA's endocrine disruptor screening program in 2009 [96].…”

The adverse role of endocrine disrupting chemicals in the reproductive system

“…Furthermore, amitraz (AMZ), a formamidine pesticide widely used as an insecticide and acaricide, has been shown to induce alterations in bovine sperm, potentially affecting male fertility at concentrations found in the environment ( 307 ). Similarly, exposure to other pesticides such as diazinon (DZN) ( 308 ), pyridaben (PDB) ( 309 ), bifenthrin (BF) ( 310 ), flurochloridone (FLC) ( 311 ), fipronil (FPN) ( 312 ), etoxazole (ETX) ( 313 ), imidacloprid (IMI) ( 314 , 315 ), atrazine (ATR) ( 316 , 317 ), cypermethrin (CYP) ( 314 , 318 ), chlorpyrifos (CPF) ( 314 , 319 – 322 ), chlorpyrifos ( 323 , 324 ), simazine ( 325 ), endosulfan ( 191 ), and deltamethrin ( 318 ) could lead to a significant decrease in sperm count, motility, normality, vitality, and an increase in deformity rates. Moreover, a significant decrease in daily sperm production, epididymal sperm count, motile, viable, and hypo-osmotic swelling-tail swelled sperm was observed in mancozeb-treated rats ( 326 ).…”