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Assessing transferable residues from intermittent exposure to flea control collars containing the organophosphate insecticide chlorpyrifos

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 17, pages 656–666 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Children can be exposed to pesticides from numerous residential sources such as carpet, house dust, toys and clothing from treated homes, and flea control remedies on pets. In the present studies, 48 pet dogs (24 in each of two studies) of different breeds and weights were treated with over-the-counter flea collars containing chlorpyrifos (CP), an organophosphorus insecticide. Transferable insecticide residues were quantified on cotton gloves used to rub the dogs for 5 min and on cotton tee shirts worn by a child (Study 2 only). First morning urine samples were also obtained from adults and children in both studies for metabolite (3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol) quantification. Blood samples were obtained from treated dogs in Study 1 and plasma cholinesterase (ChE) activity was monitored. Transferable residues on gloves for all compounds were highest near the neck of the dogs and were lowest in areas most distant from the neck. Rubbing samples (over the collar) at two weeks post-collar application contained 447±57 μg CP/glove while samples from the fur of the back contained 8±2 μg CP/glove. In Study 2, cotton tee shirts worn by children at 15 days post-collar application for 4 h showed CP levels of 134±66 ng/g shirt. There were significant differences between adults and children in the levels of urinary metabolites with children generally having higher urinary levels of metabolites than adults (grand mean±SE; 11.6±1.1 and 7.9±0.74 ng/mg creatinine for children and adults, respectively, compared to 9.4±0.8 and 6.9±0.5 ng/mg creatinine before collar placement). Therefore, there was little evidence that the use of this flea collar contributed to enhanced CP exposure of either children or adults.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by grants from the US Environmental Protection Agency's Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program (Grant Numbers R825170 and R828017). Although the research described in the article has been funded wholly or in part by the US Environmental Protection Agency's STAR program, it has not been subjected to any EPA review and therefore does not necessarily reflect the views of the Agency, and no official endorsement should be inferred. We thank Ms. Susan Waldrop, Ms. Nicole Holifield, Ms. Melissa Joyce, and Mr. Collin Zumwalt for assistance with cholinesterase assays and chemical analyses, and Dr. Carolyn Boyle for statistical advice. This research was also supported by the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Station (MAFES) and the College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University. This article is MAFES publication number J-11059 and the Center of Environmental Health Sciences publication number 111.

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Author notes

  1. J Scott Boone

    Present address: United States Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Chemistry Branch, John C. Stennis Space Center, MS, USA

  2. John W Tyler

    Present address: Western University of Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Pomona, CA, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Environmental Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi, Mississippi State, USA

    Janice E Chambers, J Scott Boone, M Keith Davis, John E Moran & John W Tyler

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  1. Janice E Chambers
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Correspondence to Janice E Chambers.

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Chambers, J., Boone, J., Davis, M. et al. Assessing transferable residues from intermittent exposure to flea control collars containing the organophosphate insecticide chlorpyrifos. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 17, 656–666 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jes.7500570

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