Biological monitoring of exposure to chlorpyrifos-methyl by assay of urinary alkylphosphates and 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol

• Published in: Journal of toxicology and environmental health 1997-04, Vol.50 (6), p.581-594
• Main Authors: APREA, C, SCIARRA, G, SARTORELLI, P, SARTORELLI, E, STRAMBI, F, FARINA, G. A, FATTORINI, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agriculture; Biological and medical sciences; Chlorpyrifos - analogs & derivatives; Chlorpyrifos - pharmacokinetics; Cholinesterases - analysis; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Erythrocytes - drug effects; Erythrocytes - enzymology; Humans; Insecticides - pharmacokinetics; Medical sciences; Occupational Exposure - analysis; Organophosphorus Compounds - urine; Pesticide Residues - analysis; Pesticides, fertilizers and other agrochemicals toxicology; Pyridones - urine; Toxicology
• ISSN: 0098-4108; 1087-2620
• DOI: 10.1080/009841097160285

The results of biological monitoring by assay of urinary 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol and alkylphosphates (DMP, DMTP) in groups of 9 and 2 workers exposed to chlorpyrifos-methyl during vine spraying and manual leaf thinning 5-11 d after spraying, respectively, are reported. The results are compared with those of a control group of 46 subjects not occupationally exposed to organophosphate insecticides. Significantly higher urinary excretion of metabolites (Mann-Whitney U-test) was found in both groups than in controls. Levels of 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (mean +/- SD) were 15.9 + 10.6 nmol/g creatinine (n = 33) for controls, 92.4 + 162.5 nmol/g creatinine (n = 20) for manual workers, and 675.5 + 1110.8 nmol/g creatinine (n = 48) for workers spraying and mixing the insecticide. Levels of DMP (mean +/- SD) were 63.8 + 100.1 nmol/g creatinine (n = 42), 123.0 + 79.0 nmol/g creatinine (n = 20), and 577.2 + 1003.2 nmol/g creatinine (n = 61), respectively, for the same 3 groups. Levels of DMTP (mean +/- SD) were 153.4 + 164.4 nmol/g creatinine (n = 43), 489.3 + 288.3 nmol/g creatinine (n = 20), and 297.6 + 215.4 nmol/g creatinine (n = 61), respectively, for the same 3 groups. Good correlations were found between urinary excretion of 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol and DMP (r = .776 for manual workers; r = .775 for workers mixing and spraying the insecticide) or DMTP (r = .558 and r = .746, respectively for the same 2 groups). The peak of excretion of the three metabolites was found in urine samples collected the night after the spraying or leaf thinning operations.