TY - JOUR
T1 - Characterization of α-cypermethrin exposure in Egyptian agricultural workers
AU - Singleton, Steven T.
AU - Lein, Pamela J
AU - Farahat, Fayssal M.
AU - Farahat, Taghreed
AU - Bonner, Matthew R.
AU - Knaak, James B.
AU - Olson, James R.
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - Pyrethroids are neurotoxic insecticides that exert their effects by prolonging the open time of sodium channels, which increases the duration of neuronal excitation. α-cypermethrin (αCM) is derived from the 8-stereoisomers that together make up the pyrethroid cypermethrin, which is one of the most common pyrethroids being used in agriculture throughout the world. The objective of this study was to characterize the occupational exposure to αCM in a cohort of Egyptian agriculture workers (n= 37) before, during and after 6-10 consecutive days of application of αCM to cotton fields. Daily spot urine specimens were collected and analyzed by GC-MS NCI for the αCM metabolites 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA) and cis-3-(2',2'-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxylic acid (cis-DCCA). Prior to αCM application, median urinary levels of 3-PBA (4.59. nmol/g creatinine) were greater than cis-DCCA (0.33. nmole/g creatinine) demonstrating low background exposures to pyrethroids. During the application period for αCM, median urinary levels of both biomarkers increased (13.44. nmol 3-PBA/g creatinine and 7.76. nmol cis-DCCA/g creatinine) and ranged from 2.3-93.96. nmol 3-PBA/g creatinine and 0.09-90.94. nmol cis-DCCA/g creatinine, demonstrating that workers had a wide range of exposures to αCM. The data also demonstrate that pesticide applicators had greater exposures to αCM than workers who play a supporting role in the seasonal application of pesticides on the cotton crop. Urinary cis-DCCA and 3-PBA concentrations were elevated at 7-11 days after the cessation of αCM application, compared to baseline levels. This study is the first to use these biomarkers to quantify occupational exposures specifically to αCM. This urinary biomarker data will be useful for estimating daily internal dose, comparing exposures across job categories within the Egyptian pesticide application teams, and for modeling human exposures to αCM.
AB - Pyrethroids are neurotoxic insecticides that exert their effects by prolonging the open time of sodium channels, which increases the duration of neuronal excitation. α-cypermethrin (αCM) is derived from the 8-stereoisomers that together make up the pyrethroid cypermethrin, which is one of the most common pyrethroids being used in agriculture throughout the world. The objective of this study was to characterize the occupational exposure to αCM in a cohort of Egyptian agriculture workers (n= 37) before, during and after 6-10 consecutive days of application of αCM to cotton fields. Daily spot urine specimens were collected and analyzed by GC-MS NCI for the αCM metabolites 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA) and cis-3-(2',2'-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxylic acid (cis-DCCA). Prior to αCM application, median urinary levels of 3-PBA (4.59. nmol/g creatinine) were greater than cis-DCCA (0.33. nmole/g creatinine) demonstrating low background exposures to pyrethroids. During the application period for αCM, median urinary levels of both biomarkers increased (13.44. nmol 3-PBA/g creatinine and 7.76. nmol cis-DCCA/g creatinine) and ranged from 2.3-93.96. nmol 3-PBA/g creatinine and 0.09-90.94. nmol cis-DCCA/g creatinine, demonstrating that workers had a wide range of exposures to αCM. The data also demonstrate that pesticide applicators had greater exposures to αCM than workers who play a supporting role in the seasonal application of pesticides on the cotton crop. Urinary cis-DCCA and 3-PBA concentrations were elevated at 7-11 days after the cessation of αCM application, compared to baseline levels. This study is the first to use these biomarkers to quantify occupational exposures specifically to αCM. This urinary biomarker data will be useful for estimating daily internal dose, comparing exposures across job categories within the Egyptian pesticide application teams, and for modeling human exposures to αCM.
KW - Biological monitoring
KW - Occupational exposure
KW - Pyrethroids
KW - Urine
KW - α-cypermethrin
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84896978780&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84896978780&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ijheh.2013.10.003
DO - 10.1016/j.ijheh.2013.10.003
M3 - Article
C2 - 24269189
AN - SCOPUS:84896978780
VL - 217
SP - 538
EP - 545
JO - International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health
JF - International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health
SN - 1438-4639
IS - 4-5
ER -