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Transfer efficiencies of pesticides from household flooring surfaces to foods

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 13, pages 454–464 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

The transfer of pesticides from household surfaces to foods was measured to determine the degree of excess dietary exposure that occurs when children's foods contact contaminated surfaces prior to being eaten. Three household flooring surfaces (ceramic tile, hardwood, and carpet) were contaminated with an aqueous emulsion of commercially available pesticides (diazinon, heptachlor, malathion, chlorpyrifos, isofenphos, and cis- and trans-permethrin) frequently found in residential environments. A surface wipe method, as typically used in residential exposure studies, was used to measure the pesticides available on the surfaces as a basis for calculating transfer efficiency to the foods. Three foods (apple, bologna, and cheese) routinely handled by children before eating were placed on the contaminated surfaces and transfers of pesticides were measured after 10 min contact. Other contact durations (1 and 60 min) and applying additional contact force (1500 g) to the foods were evaluated for their impact on transferred pesticides. More pesticides transferred to the foods from the hard surfaces, that is, ceramic tile and hardwood flooring, than from carpet. Mean transfer efficiencies for all pesticides to the three foods ranged from 24% to 40% from ceramic tile and 15% to 29% from hardwood, as compared to mostly non-detectable transfers from carpet. Contact duration and applied force notably increased pesticide transfer. The mean transfer efficiency for the seven pesticides increased from around 1% at 1 min to 55– 83% when contact duration was increased to 60 min for the three foods contacting hardwood flooring. Mean transfer efficiency for 10-min contact increased from 15% to 70% when a 1500 g force was applied to bologna placed on hardwood flooring. Contamination of food occurs from contact with pesticide-laden surfaces, thus increasing the potential for excess dietary exposure of children.

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Abbreviations

ASE:

accelerated solvent extraction

BQL:

below quantitation limit

DCA:

9,10-dichloroanthracene

ECD:

electron capture detector

GC:

gas chromatography

QA:

quality assurance

QC:

quality control

RH:

relative humidity

RSD:

relative standard deviation

TE:

transfer efficiency

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Acknowledgements

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through its Office of Research and Development collaborated in the research, described here under NERL 98-01 to the Postgraduate Research Participation Program at the National Exposure Research Laboratory administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, through an interagency agreement between the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Postdoctoral Research Fellow, National Exposure Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

    Cynthia A Rohrer

  2. National Council on the Aging, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

    Thomas E Hieber

  3. National Exposure Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

    Lisa J Melnyk & Maurice R Berry

Authors
  1. Cynthia A Rohrer
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  2. Thomas E Hieber
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  3. Lisa J Melnyk
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  4. Maurice R Berry
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Correspondence to Maurice R Berry.

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through its Office of Research and Development funded and managed the research described in this paper. It has been reviewed in accordance with the Agency's peer and administrative review policies and approved for publication. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation for use.

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Rohrer, C., Hieber, T., Melnyk, L. et al. Transfer efficiencies of pesticides from household flooring surfaces to foods. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 13, 454–464 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jea.7500300

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