Profiles of neonicotinoid insecticides and their metabolites in paired saliva and periodontal blood samples in human from South China: Association with oxidative stress markers

Abstract

Neonicotinoid insecticides (NEOs) are widely used around the world. The distribution of NEOs in paired saliva and periodontal blood samples was not previously documented in China. In this study, the concentrations of six NEOs and three corresponding metabolites were measured in 188 paired saliva and periodontal blood samples collected from South China. NEOs and their metabolites were frequently detected (68–94%) in paired saliva and periodontal blood, with median levels of 0.01–0.99 ng/mL. 1-Methyl-3-(tetrahydro-3-furylmethyl) urea was the most predominant NEO in paired saliva (39%) and periodontal blood (42%). Gender-related differences in NEOs and their metabolite concentrations were found: males showed lower levels than females. We calculated the concentration ratios between saliva and periodontal blood (S/PB ratios), and found that the median S/PB ratios of NEO and their metabolites were higher than 1, indicating that NEOs and their metabolites were easily excreted via saliva. 8-Hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) was measured in paired saliva and periodontal blood as a marker of oxidative stress. 8-OHdG concentrations in saliva and periodontal blood were significantly and positively correlated (p < 0.05) with the concentrations of most NEOs and their metabolites in saliva and periodontal blood samples. These findings indicated that exposure to NEOs and their metabolites is associated with oxidative stress. This study is the first to report NEOs and their metabolites in paired saliva and periodontal blood samples collected from South China.