Urinary levels of non-persistent pesticides (organophosphates, N-methylcarbamates, and pyrethroids) in children living in an agricultural community in Spain

Abstract

Background: Limited information is available on biomonitoring of non-persistent pesticides in general population of Spain, mainly in susceptible populations such as children. Objective: To evaluate the exposure to non-persistent pesticides in children living in a community with intensive agriculture in South-East Spain. Methods: We conducted a longitudinal study in children 3-11 years old during the periods of low (LSP) and high (HSP) spread of pesticides (n= 160, n= 257, respectively). Children were selected from the schools by a simple random sampling. First morning urine samples were collected and kept at –40ºC until they were analyzed. Six dialkylphosphate (DAP) metabolites of organophosphate, four N- metabolites of N- methylcarbamate and five pyrethroids metabolites were analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS. Information on sociodemographic characteristics, pathological history, lifestyles, parental occupations, environmental exposures at home and diet was obtained by questionnaires applied to the mothers. Results: Forty one percent of urine samples in LSP and 71% of samples in HSP had measurable concentrations of at least one DAP metabolite. The geometric means of ?DAP levels were 9.94 nmol/L and 20.56 nmol/L in LSP y HSP, respectively. 3-Phenoxybenzoic acid was observed in 12.5% of urine samples in HSP. The rest of metabolites was found in a low percentage (<3%) of samples in both periods. Conclusions: Levels of non-persistent pesticides in child urine were higher in HSP than LSP, although they were lower compared to those observed in similar studies carried out in Europe and America. Funding: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Exp.: PI10/01101)