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Permethrin exposure from fabric-treated military uniforms under different wear-time scenarios

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 24, pages 572–578 (2014)Cite this article

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Abstract

The objective of the project was to ascertain whether urinary biomarkers of permethrin exposure are detected after wearing post-tailored, fabric-treated military uniforms under two different wear-time exposure scenarios. Study A occurred over 3.5 days and involved six participants wearing treated uniforms continuously for 30–32 h. Urine collection occurred at scheduled time points before, during, and after wearing the uniform. Study B, conducted over 19 days, included 11 participants wearing treated uniforms for 3 consecutive days, 8 h each day (with urine collection before, during, and after wear). Urinary biomarkers of permethrin (3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3PBA), cis- 2,2-(dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (cDCCA), trans- 2,2-(dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (tDCCA)) were detected during and after wear. Biomarker detection generally occurred over the 10- to 12-h period after putting on the uniform and subsided 24 h following uniform removal (in both Study A and B scenarios). Those wearing permethrin-treated uniforms under the longer wear-time scenario (Study A) excreted significantly higher cumulative mean levels compared with those in Study B (3.29 times higher for 3PBA and 2.23 times higher for the sum of c/tDCCA (P≤0.001)). Findings suggest that wearing permethrin-treated clothing does increase absorbed, internal dose levels of permethrin above population levels and is significantly related to wear-time duration.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the contribution of SFC Darnell Dobbins and Ms Nicole Longcore in the data collection and early data analyses stages of this project. We also greatly appreciate the experience and input from Melynda Perry (Textile Chemist, Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center Natick, MA) who also conducted the permethrin analyses of the uniforms. Moreover, we thank the Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for performing the pyrethroid metabolite analyses of the urine samples.

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Author notes

  1. Gina E Adam: LTC Adam is currently affiliated with the US Army Medical Materiel Development Activity, Ft Detrick, MD.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Military Performance Division, US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, MA, USA

    Susan P Proctor, Alexis L Maule, Kristin J Heaton & Gina E Adam

  2. Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

    Susan P Proctor, Alexis L Maule & Kristin J Heaton

  3. VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA

    Susan P Proctor

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  1. Susan P Proctor
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  2. Alexis L Maule
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Correspondence to Susan P Proctor.

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The views expressed are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy of the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense.

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Proctor, S., Maule, A., Heaton, K. et al. Permethrin exposure from fabric-treated military uniforms under different wear-time scenarios. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 24, 572–578 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/jes.2013.65

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