Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Chirality in Nature02:30

Chirality in Nature

Chirality is the most intriguing yet essential facet of nature, governing life’s biochemical processes and precision. It can be observed from a snail shell pattern in a macroscopic world to an amino acid, the minutest building block of life. Most of the snails around the world have right-coiled shells because of the intrinsic chirality in their genes. All the amino acids present in the human body exist in an enantiomerically pure state, except for glycine - the sole achiral amino acid. The...
Microbial Bioremediation of Pesticides01:28

Microbial Bioremediation of Pesticides

Pesticides often feature structurally complex chemical architectures, incorporating halogen groups and multiple aromatic rings. These characteristics confer high chemical stability, rendering many pesticides resistant to natural degradation processes. This resistance poses significant environmental concerns, as persistent pesticide residues can accumulate in ecosystems and affect non-target organisms.Despite the inherent stability of many pesticides, certain microorganisms possess the metabolic...
Anticholinesterase Agents: Poisoning and Treatment01:26

Anticholinesterase Agents: Poisoning and Treatment

Anticholinesterases, also known as cholinesterase inhibitors, work by blocking the breakdown of acetylcholine, leading to its accumulation in the synaptic cleft. This accumulation indirectly enhances both muscarinic and nicotinic actions. These agents are classified as reversible or irreversible based on their mechanism of action.     
Irreversible agents form a strong bond with the cholinesterase enzyme, making it inactive. The breakdown of the phosphorylated enzyme is slower than the...
Chemical Agents for Microbial Control01:27

Chemical Agents for Microbial Control

Chemicals play important roles in controlling microbial growth by targeting microbial structures and functions as sanitizers, antiseptics, disinfectants, and sterilants.Alcohols are commonly used sanitizers, effectively disrupting lipid membranes, which compromises cell integrity. They are also used as antiseptics and disinfectants due to their rapid action and versatility.Phenols and their derivatives phenolics , known for denaturing proteins and disrupting cell membranes, are particularly...
Production of Biopesticides01:18

Production of Biopesticides

Biopesticides offer a sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides, utilizing microbial agents to control agricultural pests. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a widely employed bacterium known for its potent insecticidal activity. Bt biopesticides are favored for their specificity to insect pests, minimal environmental impact, and natural degradability.Mechanism of Bt Toxin Action Bt produces insecticidal crystal (Cry) proteins during its sporulation phase. These proteins form parasporal...
Prochirality02:05

Prochirality

The concept of prochirality leads to the nomenclature of the individual faces of a molecule and plays a crucial role in the enantioselective reaction. It is a concept where two or more achiral molecules react to produce chiral products. A typical process is the reaction of an achiral ketone to generate a chiral alcohol. Here, the achiral reactant reacts with an achiral reducing agent, sodium borohydride, to generate an equimolar mixture of the chiral enantiomers of the product. For example, an...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Lake water and sediment chemistry responses to reductions in mercury, other heavy metals, and sulfur dioxide emissions from the Flin Flon smelter, Manitoba, Canada, with historic comparisons to other emitters.

The Science of the total environment·2026
Same author

Particle size determines the distribution of chemical composition and antibiotic resistance genes in urban atmospheric bioaerosols.

Journal of hazardous materials·2026
Same author

A critical perspective on the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry's adherence to founding principles-opportunities for the future.

Environmental toxicology and chemistry·2025
Same author

Fractionation of Anthropogenic Particles (Microplastics and Microfibers) along a 2200 km Transect of Canadian Sediments.

ACS ES&T water·2025
Same author

Molecular docking for screening chemicals of environmental health concern: insight from a case study on bisphenols.

Environmental science. Processes & impacts·2025
Same author

Formal E-waste facilities as a source of mercury to air and soil in Türkiye.

Waste management (New York, N.Y.)·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Vegetated Treatment Systems for Removing Contaminants Associated with Surface Water Toxicity in Agriculture and Urban Runoff
08:49

Vegetated Treatment Systems for Removing Contaminants Associated with Surface Water Toxicity in Agriculture and Urban Runoff

Published on: May 15, 2017

Chiral current-use herbicides in Ontario streams.

Perihan Binnur Kurt-Karakus1, Terry F Bidleman, Derek C G Muir

  • 1Center for Atmospheric Research Experiments, Environment Canada, 6248 Eighth Line, Egbert L0L 1N0, Ontario, Canada.

Environmental Science & Technology
|December 17, 2008
PubMed
Summary

This study monitored herbicide concentrations in Ontario streams, finding higher metolachlor levels in agricultural areas. Stereoisomer analysis suggests complex input and degradation pathways for mecoprop and metolachlor.

More Related Videos

Protocols for Robust Herbicide Resistance Testing in Different Weed Species
10:52

Protocols for Robust Herbicide Resistance Testing in Different Weed Species

Published on: July 2, 2015

Application of Two-spotted Spider Mite Tetranychus urticae for Plant-pest Interaction Studies
08:53

Application of Two-spotted Spider Mite Tetranychus urticae for Plant-pest Interaction Studies

Published on: July 4, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Vegetated Treatment Systems for Removing Contaminants Associated with Surface Water Toxicity in Agriculture and Urban Runoff
08:49

Vegetated Treatment Systems for Removing Contaminants Associated with Surface Water Toxicity in Agriculture and Urban Runoff

Published on: May 15, 2017

Protocols for Robust Herbicide Resistance Testing in Different Weed Species
10:52

Protocols for Robust Herbicide Resistance Testing in Different Weed Species

Published on: July 2, 2015

Application of Two-spotted Spider Mite Tetranychus urticae for Plant-pest Interaction Studies
08:53

Application of Two-spotted Spider Mite Tetranychus urticae for Plant-pest Interaction Studies

Published on: July 4, 2014

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Ecotoxicology

Background:

  • Herbicides like mecoprop, dichlorprop, and metolachlor are widely used in agriculture and urban settings.
  • Understanding their environmental fate, including concentrations and stereoisomer composition in surface waters, is crucial for risk assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the concentrations and enantiomeric/stereoisomeric fractions of mecoprop, dichlorprop, and metolachlor in Ontario streams.
  • To compare herbicide levels and stereoisomer profiles between agricultural and urban watersheds.
  • To explore potential sources and degradation pathways based on stereoisomer data.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 393 stream water samples collected from Ontario in 2003-2004.
  • Quantification of mecoprop, dichlorprop, and metolachlor concentrations using analytical techniques.
  • Separation and quantification of mecoprop enantiomer fractions (EFs) and metolachlor stereoisomer ratios (S/R) using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).

Main Results:

  • Metolachlor concentrations were significantly higher in agricultural watersheds compared to urban ones.
  • Mecoprop concentrations did not differ significantly between watershed types.
  • Mecoprop EFs indicated a mix of racemic and enantiomerically enriched forms, suggesting ongoing product replacement and potential stereoselective degradation.
  • Metolachlor S/R ratios were significantly higher in agricultural watersheds, with variations linked to land use (row crops vs. fruit growing).

Conclusions:

  • Herbicide contamination in Ontario streams is influenced by watershed type, with metolachlor showing a clear agricultural signature.
  • Stereoisomer analysis provides insights into herbicide input sources (racemic vs. enriched forms) and environmental transformation processes.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the stereoselective degradation mechanisms of these herbicides in aquatic environments.