Biologic monitoring of exposure to organophosphorus pesticides in 195 Italian children.

Abstract

One hundred ninety-five 6- to 7-year-old children who lived in the municipality of Siena (Tuscany, Italy), underwent biologic monitoring to evaluate urinary excretion of several alkylphosphates that are metabolites of organophosphorus pesticides. We evaluated dimethylphosphate (DMP), dimethylthiophosphate (DMTP), dimethyldithiophosphate (DMDTP), diethylphosphate (DEP), diethylthiophosphate (DETP), and diethyldithiophosphate (DEDTP). We obtained urine samples taken in the children's schools, and each sample was accompanied by a questionnaire about lifestyle and dietary habits. We found DMP and DMTP in detectable concentrations in the greatest number of samples (96 and 94%, respectively). The DMP values were geometric mean (GM) 116.7, [geometric standard deviation (GSD) 2.5], and a range of 7.4-1,471.5 nmol/g creatinine. The corresponding DMTP values were GM 104.3 (GSD 2.8) and a range of 4.0-1,526.0 nmol/g creatinine. DMDTP, DEP, DETP, and DEDTP concentrations were GM 14.1, (GSD 3.0), and a range of 3.3-754.6 nmol/g creatinine in 34% of the children; GM 33.2, (GSD 2.4), and a range of 5.1-360.1 nmol/g creatinine in 75% of the children; GM 16.0, (GSD 2.9), and a range of 3.1-284.7 in 48% of the children; and GM 7.7, (GSD 2.1), and a range of 2.3-140.1 in 12% of the children, respectively. The significant variable for urinary excretion of these metabolites in children was pest control operations performed inside or outside the house in the preceding month; however, the presence of a vegetable garden near the house rarely emerged. The urinary excretion of alkylphosphates in children was significantly higher than in a group of the adult population resident in the same province.

Evaluation of take-home organophosphorus pesticide exposure among agricultural workers and their children.

“…Dimethyl DAP metabolite levels were much higher than diethyl DAP metabolite levels in both child and adult urine, which concurs with findings in previous studies (Aprea et al 2000;Koch et al 2002;Lu et al 2001). However, the median DMTP level in the urine of the children in this study (5.8 µg/L) was lower than that of children of applicators (21 µg/L), as reported in a 1995 study occurring in a similar geographic region (Loewenherz et al 1997).…”

Paraoxonase gene variants are associated with autism in North America, but not in Italy: possible regional specificity in gene–environment interactions

“…14,15 The difference between North America and Europe is especially broad for household use, conceivably due to differences in pest diffusion, climate, and housing construction materials and techniques (Persico et al, manuscript in preparation). Noticeably, exposure to low-dose pesticides in the Italian general population is not unusual, 16 but it has been shown to almost entirely stem from OP ingestion with wine and fresh foods, such as vegetables, milk, and water, 16,17 while inhalation of OP insecticide is more prevalent in North America. 18 The present data also provide initial support for possible gene-gene interactions between RELN and PON1 alleles.…”

“…14 The agricultural use of OPs is equally intensive in the USA and in Italy, whereas household use by home owners and exterminators is largely more widespread and intensive in North America than in Europe (see Discussion). [14][15][16][17][18] We therefore hypothesized that a subgroup of genetically vulnerable individuals characterized by decreased Reelin gene expression, if exposed prenatally to OPs during critical periods in neurodevelopment, could undergo altered neuronal migration resulting in an autism spectrum disorder, 6 and that this pathogenetic pathway should be more likely to occur in North American than in European households.…”

Measurement of dialkyl phosphate metabolites of organophosphorus pesticides in human urine using lyophilization with gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and isotope dilution quantification

“…Since the 1970s, urinary dialkylphosphate (DAP) metabolites of OP pesticides have been quantified in human urine as a dosimeter for exposure and bodily adsorption of OP pesticides (Bradway and Shafik, 1977;Reid and Watts, 1981;Bardarov and Mitewa, 1989;Fenske and Leffingwell, 1989;Weisskopf and Seiber, 1989;Drevenkar et al, 1991;Aprea et al, 1994Aprea et al, , 1996aAprea et al, , b, 1999Aprea et al, , 2000Davies and Peterson, 1997;Loewenherz et al, 1997;Moate et al, 1999;Simcox et al, 1999. Fenske et al, 2000Hardt and Angerer, 2000;Heudorf and Angerer, 2001;Lu et al, 2001;Oglobline et al, 2001a, b;Bravo et al, 2002;CDC, 2002;Cocker et al, 2002;Garfitt et al, 2002a, b).…”