Occurrence of Phenylpyrazole and Diamide Insecticides in Lactating Women and Their Health Risks for Infants

Abstract

To investigate the exposure of infants to phenylpyrazole and diamide insecticides during lactation, we collected 3467 breast milk samples of lactating women from 100 cities of 24 provinces in China and prepared 100 pooled samples together city-by-city. Among phenylpyrazole insecticides, fipronil and its metabolites (63–100%) were widely detected in breast milk, with total detection concentrations ranging from 178 to 2947 ng/L (median: 921 ng/L). Among diamide insecticides, chlorantraniliprole and flubendiamide were detected in breast milk, but their detection frequencies (20–85%) and concentration levels (nondetected to 89.9 ng/L) were far lower than those of total fipronils. The average estimated daily intake of infants exposed to total fipronils through breast milk is 209 ng/kg-bw/day by upper-bound scenario evaluation, which is higher than the acceptable daily intake (200 ng/kg-bw/day). This study indicates that infants have far higher exposure levels to fipronil than adults, while exposure levels to other types of phenylpyrazoles and diamide insecticides are low.

Concentrations, Compound Profiles, and Possible Sources of Organic UV Filters in Human Milk in China

“…Samples were collected by the China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment following the Guidelines for Developing a National Protocol developed in the Fourth WHO-Coordinated Survey of Human Milk for Persistent Organic Pollutants in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme. The sampling methods were described in detail in a previous publication . Every volunteer was healthy and had given birth for the first time 3–8 weeks before a milk sample was collected.…”

“…The sampling methods were described in detail in a previous publication. 53 Every volunteer was healthy and had given birth for the first time 3− 8 weeks before a milk sample was collected. A total of 3467 milk samples were collected from volunteers in 24 Chinese provinces between 2017 and 2019.…”

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Development in Male Mice upon Exposure to Flubendiamide

“…Furthermore, in 3467 breast milk samples from lactating women in China, FLU was detected at 0−4.8 ng/L. 7 The latest national food safety standard (GB 2763-2021) in China details the maximum residue limits of FLU in multiple foodstuffs, which range from 0.01 to 10 mg/kg.…”

“…Pesticides are widely used to maximize crop production, but they are ubiquitous environmental contaminants that adversely impact water quality, biodiversity, and human health . Flubendiamide (FLU) is a widely used anthranilic diamide insecticide , that selectively activates the ryanodine receptors of insects and disrupts calcium homeostasis by dysregulating the release of intracellular stores into the cytosol, causing feeding cessation, muscle paralysis, and vomiting symptoms, ultimately resulting in death. , The widespread application of diamide insecticides has led inevitably to extensive contamination of various agricultural products by this chemical; this has been verified by its presence in both the environmental matrix and human samples. − …”

“…In Kimchi cabbage fields, agricultural workers have been found to receive 47.7 mg and 22.9 μg of FLU dermally and by inhalation, respectively, when applying the insecticide with hand-held sprayers. Furthermore, in 3467 breast milk samples from lactating women in China, FLU was detected at 0–4.8 ng/L . The latest national food safety standard (GB 2763-2021) in China details the maximum residue limits of FLU in multiple foodstuffs, which range from 0.01 to 10 mg/kg.…”