4.6 Article

Characterization of α-cypermethrin exposure in Egyptian agricultural workers

Journal

Publisher

ELSEVIER GMBH, URBAN & FISCHER VERLAG
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2013.10.003

Keywords

Biological monitoring; Pyrethroids; alpha-cypermethrin; Urine; Occupational exposure

Funding

  1. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) [R01 ES016308]
  2. EPA STAR grant [R833454]
  3. EPA [R833454, 909258] Funding Source: Federal RePORTER

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Pyrethroids are neurotoxic insecticides that exert their effects by prolonging the open time of sodium channels, which increases the duration of neuronal excitation. alpha-cypermethrin (alpha CM) 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 alpha CM in a cohort of Egyptian agriculture workers (n =37) before, during and after 6-10 consecutive days of application of aCM to cotton fields. Daily spot urine specimens were collected and analyzed by GC-MS NCI for the alpha CM metabolites 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA) and cis3-(2',2'-dichloroviny1)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxylic acid (cis-DCCA). Prior to alpha CM 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 aCM, median urinary levels of both biomarkers increased (13.44 nmol 3-PBA/g creatinine and 7.76 nmol cisDCCA/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 alpha CM. The data also demonstrate that pesticide applicators had greater exposures to alpha CM 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 alpha CM application, compared to baseline levels. This study is the first to use these biomarkers to quantify occupational exposures specifically to alpha CM. 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 alpha CM. (c) 2013 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

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