title: Measurement of p-nitrophenol in the urine of residents whose homes were contaminated with methyl parathion.
abstract: During the last several years, illegal commercial application of methyl parathion (MP) in domestic settings in several U.S. Southeastern and Midwestern States has affected largely inner-city residents. As part of a multiagency response involving the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), and state and local health departments, our laboratory developed a rapid, high-throughput, selective method for quantifying p-nitrophenol (PNP), a biomarker of MP exposure, using isotope dilution high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. We measured PNP in approximately 16,000 samples collected from residents of seven different states. Using this method, we were able to receive sample batches from each state; prepare, analyze, and quantify the samples for PNP; verify the results; and report the data to the health departments and ATSDR in about 48 hr. These data indicate that many residents had urinary PNP concentrations well in excess of those of the general U.S. population. In fact, their urinary PNP concentrations were more consistent with those seen in occupational settings or in poisoning cases. Although these data, when coupled with other MP metabolite data, suggest that many residents with the highest concentrations of urinary PNP had significant exposure to MP, they do not unequivocally rule out exposure to PNP resulting from environmental degradation of MP. Even with their limitations, these data were used with the assumption that all PNP was derived from MP exposure, which enabled the U.S. EPA and ATSDR to develop a comprehensive, biologically driven response that was protective of human health, especially susceptible populations, and included clinical evaluations, outreach activities, community education, integrated pest management, and decontamination of homes.
authors.affiliation: National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. dbarr@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Dana B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Barr
authors.forename: Wayman E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: DiPietro
authors.forename: P Cheryl
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: McClure
authors.forename: Samuel E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Barr
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gehle
authors.forename: Raymond E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Grissom
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bravo
authors.forename: W Jack
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Driskell
authors.forename: Donald G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Larry L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Needham
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pirkle
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Sampson
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D002138:Calibration; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D007300:Insect Control; D007306:Insecticides / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D009111:Local Government; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008743:Methyl Parathion / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D009596:Nitrophenols / Q000652:urine*; D011786:Quality Control; D012016:Reference Values; D012042:Registries; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013219:State Government; D014481:United States; D014484:United States Environmental Protection Agency
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007306:Insecticides; D009596:Nitrophenols; D008743:Methyl Parathion; C024836:4-nitrophenol