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Environmental and biological monitoring of exposure to organophosphorus pesticides: Application to occupationally and non-occupationally exposed adult populations

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 16, pages 417–426 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to assess non-dietary exposure of workers and the general population in the Paris area to some organophosphorus (OP) pesticides. In total, 21 workers from different occupational places (two greenhouses, three florist shops and three veterinary departments) and 20 subjects assumed to be non-occupationally exposed were recruited. Indoor air, hand wipes, and three first morning urine samples were collected. Seven OPs were measured by GC/ECD and GC/TSD, and six urinary dialkylphosphate metabolites by GC/PFPD. All indoor air samples from the workplaces and only one-third of the samples from the residences contained at least one of the seven OPs. However, almost all participants were dermally exposed to OPs. Total OP indoor air and cutaneous levels were significantly higher for workers than for the general population (air median=185 pmol/m3 versus nondetectable, P<0.0001; hands median=1250 pmol/hands versus 475 pmol/hands, P=0.03). From the air, gardeners and florists were mainly exposed to methyl-OPs and veterinary staff to ethyl-OPs (mainly diazinon). From their hands, all subjects were exposed to methyl-OPs, with gardeners and florists exposed to somewhat but not significantly higher levels. Ethyl-OPs were more found frequently and at higher levels on the hands of veterinary workers. Total OP levels in indoor air and from hand wipes were significantly correlated (Spearman R=0.34, P=0.03). DAP detection frequencies and levels were not different between workers and the general population (workers median=168 nmol/g creat and general population median=241 nmol/g creat, P=0.31), and did not correlate with air or hand levels. Subjects not occupationally exposed showed significant residential exposure to OPs, more frequently from their hands than from the air. Different occupations were associated with different exposure profiles and levels. The lack of differences in DAP levels between the different groups of exposure suggests that dietary exposure to OP residues and exposure to other OPs are involved.

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Acknowledgements

We thank all study participants for their cooperation, and Robin Aujay, Laure Malleret, Jerome Beaumont, Sebastien Fable, Didier Granier, Halina Koszdras, Fabrice Marlière, and Marie-Pierre Strub (INERIS) for sampling advice and laboratory support.

Ghislaine Bouvier received a doctoral grant from the Agence de l'Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l'Energie (ADEME) and the Institut National de l'Environnement Industriel et des Risques (INERIS).

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  1. Environmental and Public Health Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences, René Descartes University, Paris, France

    Ghislaine Bouvier, Isabelle Momas & Nathalie Seta

  2. Chronic Health Effects Department, Health Risks Evaluation Unit, Institut National de l'Environnement Industriel et des Risques (INERIS), Verneuil en Halatte, France

    Olivier Blanchard

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Correspondence to Ghislaine Bouvier.

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Bouvier, G., Blanchard, O., Momas, I. et al. Environmental and biological monitoring of exposure to organophosphorus pesticides: Application to occupationally and non-occupationally exposed adult populations. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 16, 417–426 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jes.7500473

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