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Cycle 6 (2017 Deadline)
Mapping of pesticide residue and oocysts on vegetable and fruits using low-cost field based assays
PI: Basant Giri, chembasant@gmail.com, Kathmandu Institute of Applied Sciences
U.S. Partner: Toni Barstis, Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, Indiana
Project Dates: December 2017 - January 2024
Project Overview:
Contamination of vegetables and fruits by pesticides and endoparasites is a major public health concern in developing countries, including Nepal. Pesticides are widely used worldwide to protect crops from pests, but their excessive and unmanaged use is harmful to humans and the ecosystem. Pesticides are well-known toxins that cause acute and delayed health effects, including disruption of the central and peripheral nervous systems and cancer. Similarly, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 8% of total deaths reported in Southeast Asia are caused by diarrhea. In Nepal, several instances of diarrheal outbreaks are reported every year. Human exposure to pesticides and parasites is due to contaminated food and water. Concerns over food pollution are rising in Nepal, but science-based understanding of the level of pollution is limited, due in part to the unavailability of reliable, economical, easy-to-use, and rapid field test methods to be used as important early warning tools for consumers. Conventional methods for determining pesticide residues on food involve sophisticated, time-consuming, expensive chromatographic methods that require advanced lab facilities and skilled operators. Similarly, endoparasite oocysts in food products are identified using expensive, high resolution optical microscopes, immunofluorescence-based microscopy, and polymerase chain reaction techniques that are not suitable for field screening of samples in developing countries. This project aims to develop (1) a paper-based pesticide residue assay and (2) smartphone-based oocyst assay methods. Both of these high throughput, low-cost, easy methods will be first developed and validated in the laboratory and later tested with vegetable samples at various locations across Nepal. It will be the first large-scale field testing of these methods with real samples. Other activities on the project will include providing training to students and government technicians, organizing workshops for concerned stakeholders, creating online map with field results, and disseminating information. Bringing reliable assay methods for pesticide residue and oocysts for public use with the possibility of commercialization will be the major output of the project. The USG-supported partner will provide technical advice and training for both the lab development and field testing components.
In addition, the team will involve undergraduate students from the Tri-Chandra Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University. They will learn to use the newly developed assay methods and go into the field to test food pollution levels. In addition, two Master’s students from the Central Department of Environmental Science, Tribhuvan University, will be given the opportunity to carry out their thesis work in the framework of this project. The PI and his colleagues will share their field screening findings and involve the Plant Protection Directorate (PPD) of the Government of Nepal. PPD technicians will be trained in the new methods and be given some of the assay tools. Two workshops and one symposium will also be organized to share the results of the project.
See more by visiting PEER project website.
Final Summary of Project Activities
In this project, the primary objectives were to develop two innovative devices: a paper-based analytical device (PAD) for detecting pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables, and a smartphone-based microscope to identify (oo)cysts of Giardia and Cryptosporidium in food samples. The PAD, named PesticidePAD, utilizes an enzyme inhibition assay and includes a custom Android app for semi-quantitative analysis, helping determine if samples are safe for consumption. The smartphone microscope, optimized with a ball lens and specific stains, effectively detects protozoan parasites in samples. The research involved collecting and testing over 1,124 samples from various vegetable markets across Nepal, analyzing both pesticide residues and parasite contamination. The team published 9 peer-reviewed papers, developed lab modules, filed patents, and designed curriculum for short courses. They presented their findings at 16 domestic and international conferences, enhancing visibility and collaboration opportunities. Capacity building was a significant focus, with the team acquiring advanced laboratory equipment and training 12 students and researchers. They also provided short courses to over 40 students from Nepalese colleges. Collaborations were fostered with institutions like Saint Mary’s College and NAAMII, and relationships with government agencies and NGOs were strengthened. Throughout the project, the team organized 10 events, engaging around 500 participants, including government officials, researchers, and students. They received a supplemental grant to validate and optimize their technologies further, aiming to enhance detection accuracy and disseminate findings on pesticide impacts. Future plans include expanding testing, conducting workshops, and continuing collaborations to promote sustainable agriculture and public health awareness in Nepal.
Publications: Giri, B., Pandey, S., Shrestha, R. et al. Review of analytical performance of COVID-19 detection methods. Anal Bioanal Chem 413, 35–48 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-020-02889-xShrestha R, Duwal R, Wagle S, Pokhrel S, Giri B, Neupane BB (2020) A smartphone microscopic method for simultaneous detection of (oo)cysts of Cryptosporidium and Giardia. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 14(9): e0008560. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0008560
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