Carbendazim (CBZ) abuse can lead to pesticide residues, which may threaten the environment and human health. In this paper, a portable three-electrode sensor based on laser-induced graphene (LIG) was proposed for the electrochemical detection of CBZ. Compared with the traditional preparation method of graphene, LIG is prepared by exposing the polyimide film to a laser, which is easily produced and patterned. To enhance the sensitivity, platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) were electrodeposited on the surface of LIG. Under optimal conditions, our prepared sensor (LIG/Pt) has a good linear relationship with CBZ concentration in the range of 1–40 μM, with a low detection limit of 0.67 μM. Further, the sensor shows good recovery rates for the detection of CBZ in wastewater, which provides a fast and reliable method for real-time analysis of CBZ residues in water samples.

In this study, a colorimetric sensor was developed for the detection of organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) using a heterogeneous nanozyme with phosphatase-like activity. Herein, this heterogeneous nanozyme (Au-pCeO₂) was obtained by the modification of gold nanoparticles on porous cerium oxide nanorods, resulting in synergistic hydrolysis performance for OPs. Taking methyl parathion (MP) as the target pesticide, the catalytic performance and mechanism of Au-pCeO₂ were investigated. Based on the phosphatase-like Au-pCeO₂, a dual-mode colorimetric sensor for MP was put forward by the analysis of the hydrolysis product via a UV-visible spectrophotometer and a smartphone. Under optimum conditions, this dual-mode strategy can be used for the on-site analysis of MP with concentrations of 5 to 200 μM. Additionally, it can be applied for MP detection in pear and lettuce samples with recoveries ranging from 85.27% to 115.87% and relative standard deviations (RSDs) not exceeding 6.20%, which can provide a simple and convenient method for OP detection in agricultural products.

Owing to the rapid development of the cosmetic industry, cosmetic safety has become the focus of consumers’ attention. However, in order to achieve the desired effects in the short term, the illegal addition of hormones in cosmetics has emerged frequently, which could induce skin problems and even skin cancer after long-term use. Therefore, it is of great significance to master the illegal addition in cosmetics and effectively detect the hormones that may exist in cosmetics. In this review, we analyze the illegally added hormone types, detection values, and cosmetic types, as well as discuss the hormone risks in cosmetics for human beings, according to the data in unqualified cosmetics in China from 2017 to 2022. Results showed that although the frequency of adding hormones in cosmetics has declined, hormones are still the main prohibited substances in illegal cosmetics, especially facial masks. Because of the complex composition and the low concentration of hormones in cosmetics, it is necessary to combine efficient sample preparation technology with instrumental analysis. In order to give the readers a comprehensive overview of hormone analytical technologies in cosmetics, we summarize the advanced sample preparation techniques and commonly used detection techniques of hormones in cosmetics in the last decade (2012–2022). We found that ultrasound-assisted extraction, solid phase extraction, and microextraction coupled with chromatographic analysis are still the most widely used analytical technologies for hormones in cosmetics. Through the investigation of market status, the summary of sample pretreatment and detection technologies, as well as the discussion of their development trends in the future, our purpose is to provide a reference for the supervision of illegal hormone residues in cosmetics.

Background: In recent years, the problem of female alopecia has been increasing and has shown a trend toward youthfulness. However, there are fewer studies on young female alopecia in the existing literature. Aim: We aimed to study the possible causes of hair loss in young Chinese females aged 18–35 with oily scalps. Method: Scalp physiological parameters were measured by non‐invasive measurement techniques, scalp lipids were measured by UPLC‐MS/MS, scalp microbiota were measured by macro‐genome sequencing, and the results were analyzed in a multidimensional combined analysis. Result: The problematic population showed significant differences in several scalp physiological indices, lipid composition, and microbial community structure compared with the normal population, and eight closely related differential lipids, as well as microorganisms with high relative abundance at the phylum and genus levels, were screened. Conclusion: Abnormalities in specific lipids and metabolic pathways, as well as microbiological changes, are associated with hair loss and oily scalp problems.