title: Biological monitoring of pyrethroid metabolites in urine of pest control operators.
abstract: Due to their low mammalian toxicity but high insectical activity, pyrethroids are increasingly used for pest control. The objective of the present study was the development of a biological monitoring program to determine exposure to pyrethroids. A diastereoselective detection of the major pyrethroid metabolites cis- and trans-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid, cis-3-(2,2-dibromovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid, 3-phenoxybenzoic acid and fluorophenoxybenzoic acid by capillary gas chromatography in combination with mass selective detection was applied. The limits of determination ranged between 0.5 and 1 microgram/l urine, depending on the metabolite concerned. It was demonstrated that pyrethroid metabolites were detectable in urine for a period of elimination up to 3.5 days after exposure to cyfluthrin. Fluorophenoxybenzoic acid was shown to be a suitable biomarker for exposure to cyfluthrin. The presented method was adequate for monitoring pyrethroids in occupationally exposed subjects.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hygiene, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leng
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kühn
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Idel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002849:Chromatography, Gas / Q000379:methods; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007306:Insecticides / Q000652:urine*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009570:Nitriles; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D010571:Pest Control; D011722:Pyrethrins / Q000652:urine*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D009570:Nitriles; D011722:Pyrethrins; C052570:cyfluthrin