Characterization of Urinary Pesticide Metabolite Concentrations of Pregnant Women in Suriname

Prenatal exposure to pesticides and the association with adverse health outcomes have been examined in several studies. However, the characterization of pesticide exposure among Surinamese women during pregnancy has not been assessed. As part of the Caribbean Consortium of Research in Environmental and Occupational Health research program, 214 urine samples were collected from pregnant women living in three regions in Suriname with different agricultural practices: capital Paramaribo, the rice producing district Nickerie, and the tropical rainforest, the Interior. We used isotope dilution tandem mass spectrometry to quantify urinary concentrations of biomarkers of three pesticide classes, including phenoxy acid herbicides and organophosphate and pyrethroid insecticides, all of which are commonly used in agricultural and residential settings in Suriname. We observed that participants residing in Nickerie had the highest urinary metabolite concentrations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and pyrethroids compared to those from Paramaribo or the Interior. Paramaribo had the highest concentrations of organophosphate metabolites, specifically dialkyl phosphate metabolites. Para-nitrophenol was detected in samples from Paramaribo and the Interior. Samples from Nickerie had higher median urinary pesticide concentrations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (1.06 mu g/L), and the following metabolites, 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (1.26 mu g/L), 2-isopropyl-4-methyl-6-hydroxypyrimidine (0.60 mu g/L), and 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (1.34 mu g/L), possibly due to residential use and heavy rice production.

Automated summary

This study assessed pesticide exposure among pregnant women in different agricultural practices in Suriname. The participants from the Nickerie region had the highest urinary concentrations of pesticide metabolites, possibly due to residential use and heavy rice production.