Combined exposure to selected pesticide formulations containing neonicotinoids and triazoles and its effect on non-target organisms

The scope of project is to investigate synergistic effects of combinations of the neonicotinoid insecticide acetamiprid and the triazole fungicide containing tebuconazole and prothioconazole, used in agriculture, on the lymphocytes of ruminants, on bees and aquatic crustaceans. The genotoxic effect on lymphocytes will be monitored using the induction of chromosome aberrations, sister chromatid exchanges, micronuclei and DNA breaks. Double-strand breaks are the most serious DNA damage leading to genome instability, mutations, and cancer. The experiments will be enriched by monitoring changes in the activity, expression, and epigenetic mechanisms (methylation) of some detoxification genes and acetylcholinesterase. The toxicity on non-target organisms such as bees and aquatic crustaceans (shrimps) represents an addition to methods from the point of view of biomonitoring of environmental exposure to pesticides. Biophysical methods will provide data on interactions between pesticides and biomacromolecules.