title: Low pilot exposure to pyrethrin during ultra-low-volume (ULV) aerial insecticide application for control of adult mosquitoes.
abstract: Pilot exposure to pyrethrin was monitored after 2 aerial applications of a ultra-low-volume (ULV) pyrethrin insecticide for the control of adult mosquitoes. Pyrethrin exposure was estimated by measuring the excretion in urine of a common metabolite, trans-chrysanthemumdicarboxylic acid, of the natural pyrethrin mixture. Pyrethrin exposure estimated by total daily urine volume was well correlated (R2 = 0.8) with exposure estimated by the creatinine-adjusted volume of combined workday urine voids, indicating that a postapplication spot urine sample would be sufficient to measure pyrethrin exposure. Pilot exposure to pyrethrin was very low after both insecticide applications. The highest exposure was found on day 1, with a dose of 2.05 microg pyrethrin equivalents/day or a dosage of 0.03 microg pyrethrin equivalents/kg/day. These exposure rates represent approximately 1/2,800,000th of the low observed adverse effect level and 1/1,000th of the acceptable daily intake for pyrethrin. The aerial application of ULV pyrethrin insecticide for the control of adult mosquitoes does not result in undue exposure to a pilot who is trained and certified to conduct such control operations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
authors.forename: Alec C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Gerry
authors.forename: Xiaofei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leng
authors.forename: Allan D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Inman
authors.forename: Robert I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Krieger
mesh_terms: D000401:Aircraft; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009032:Mosquito Control / Q000379:methods*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011722:Pyrethrins / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D011722:Pyrethrins; C007051:chrysanthemic acid; C009119:pyrethrin I