Acute health effects from community exposure to N-propyl mercaptan from an ethoprop (Mocap)-treated potato field in Siskiyou County, California.
A 145-acre potato field adjacent to Dorris, California, was treated with ethoprop (Mocap) to control nematodes. Ethoprop releases n-propyl mercaptan, a highly odorous and volatile gas, as a degradation product of the pesticide. An epidemiological investigation was undertaken by the California Department of Health Services because community residents sought medical attention for odor-related illness. Elevated health effects were found among those who reported smelling a strong odor (n-propyl mercaptan has a characteristic onion-like odor). In a logistic regression analysis, the most highly elevated 6-wk health effect incidence risks, expressed as odds ratios (ORs) adjusted for age, sex, and current cigarette smoking status, were for headache (OR = 5.08), diarrhea (OR = 3.80), runny nose (OR = 5.31), sore throat (OR = 3.58), burning/itching eyes (OR = 5.64), fever (OR = 3.59), hay fever attacks (OR = 3.50), and asthma attacks (OR = 6.0). Based upon these elevated health effects, it is recommended that human exposures to n-propyl mercaptan be minimized to the extent practicable.
Ames
R G
RG
Pesticide and Environmental Toxicology Section, California Department of Health Services, Berkeley.
Stratton
J W
JW
D000328:Adult; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000969:Antinematodal Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002140:California; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009812:Odorants; D063086:Organothiophosphates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012907:Smoking; D011198:Solanum tuberosum
D000969:Antinematodal Agents; D063086:Organothiophosphates; C001182:ethoprop