Aerial spraying is cost-effective.

Leishmaniasis has been of concern to the U.S. military and has re-emerged in importance because of recent deployments to the Middle East. We conducted a retrospective probabilistic risk assessment for military personnel potentially exposed to insecticides during the "Leishmaniasis Control Plan" (LCP) undertaken in 2003 at Tallil Air Base, Iraq. We estimated acute and subchronic risks from resmethrin, malathion, piperonyl butoxide (PBO), and pyrethrins applied using a truck-mounted ultra-low-volume (ULV) sprayer and lambda-cyhalothrin, cyfluthrin, bifenthrin, chlorpyrifos, and cypermethrin used for residual sprays. We used the risk quotient (RQ) method for our risk assessment (estimated environmental exposure/toxic endpoint) and set the RQ level of concern (LOC) at 1.0. Acute RQs for truck-mounted ULV and residual sprays ranged from 0.00007 to 33.3 at the 95th percentile. Acute exposure to lambda-cyhalothrin, bifenthrin, and chlorpyrifos exceeded the RQ LOC. Subchronic RQs for truck-mounted ULV and residual sprays ranged from 0.00008 to 32.8 at the 95th percentile. Subchronic exposures to lambda-cyhalothrin and chlorpyrifos exceeded the LOC. However, estimated exposures to lambda-cyhalothrin, bifenthrin, and chlorpyrifos did not exceed their respective no observed adverse effect levels.

Exposures to LLINs were estimated using several different age groups to incorporate different body weights and sleeping behaviors. These age groups were separated by gender and Abstract. Despite the demonstrated ability of bed nets that have been factory-impregnated with long-lasting insecticides (LLINs) to protect people from malaria and despite the ambitious plans for their widespread use, the health risks from the LLINs themselves have not been adequately investigated and reported in the peer-reviewed science literature. Here, we use a probabilistic risk assessment approach to estimate the risks to Africans from inhalation, dermal, and oral exposures to the newer LLINs with permethrin, α-cypermethrin, or deltamethrin as the insecticide active ingredient. We estimated exposures to LLINs using 17 age groups to incorporate different body weights and sleeping behaviors. Risk quotients (exposure divided by toxic threshold) at the 50th and 90th percentiles for non-cancer risks were < 1.0 for lifetime adjusted risk and all youth and adult age groups. Risk quotients for infants and toddlers (0-3 years) and child groups from 3 to 10 years were ≥ 1.0 for specific bed nets.

The nomadic herding population of the Darhad Valley, in northern Mongolia, collects and utilizes a salt precipitate, called hujir, which develops at the saline system, Tohi. This culturally important indigenous dietary supplement is consumed daily as an ingredient in a salty milk-tea and because of its essential micro-and macronutrients it is a beneficial and necessary part of their daily diet. Despite its benefits, there are increasing health concerns among the Darhad people as a result of consuming hujir. Therefore, we conducted a dietary risk assessment. Consumption rates were obtained from interviews with nomadic herders of the valley and a chronic exposure assessment was completed using chemical analyses on hujir samples. A combination of chronic toxicity threshold values, dietary reference intake recommendations, and drinking water guidelines were used to estimate dietary risks related to hujir consumption. Exposures to arsenic, fluoride, and nitrate were as high as 33, 1.2, and 1.3 times the chronic oral reference dose, respectively. Exposures to antimony, arsenic, and lead were 1.7, 19, and 14 times the drinking water guidelines, respectively. Given these results, additional studies are needed to better understand possible health effects associated with hujir consumption in the Darhad population, especially for arsenic.