Rapid on-site detection of pyrethroids: a class of long-neglected environmental pollutants

Pyrethroid insecticides are widely applied in agricultural production; however, they remain highly toxic to aquatic organisms. Therefore, the development of rapid on-site detection methods of pyrethroids is crucial for environmental risk assessment and regulatory monitoring. To address this issue, a novel strategy was designed based on fluorescent variations of silicon quantum dots (SiQDs). A series of SiQDs functionalized with phenylhydrazine derivatives were fabricated and evaluated, among which the optimized LOD was 0.13 μM (6.57 μg/kg). The structure-property relationship was systematically elucidated through theoretical calculations integrated with machine learning approaches. By employing a smartphone-assisted portable fluorescence device, on-site and real-time monitoring of pyrethroids' residues in real-world waters and olives was successfully achieved with high accuracy and precision. Using zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model invertebrate, toxicological assessment confirmed the environmental friendliness of the newly developed method. Therefore, the present approach holds great promise for applications in environmental protection, and the advancement of green pest control technologies.