title: Concentrations versus amounts of biomarkers in urine: a comparison of approaches to assess pyrethroid exposure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Assessment of human exposure to non-persistent pesticides such as pyrethroids is often based on urinary biomarker measurements. Urinary metabolite levels of these pesticides are usually reported in volume-weighted concentrations or creatinine-adjusted concentrations measured in spot urine samples. It is known that these units are subject to intra- and inter-individual variations. This research aimed at studying the impact of these variations on the assessment of pyrethroid absorbed doses at individual and population levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using data obtained from various adult and infantile populations, the intra and inter-individual variability in the urinary flow rate and creatinine excretion rate was first estimated. Individual absorbed doses were then calculated using volume-weighted or creatinine-adjusted concentrations according to published approaches and compared to those estimated from the amounts of biomarkers excreted in 15- or 24-h urine collections, the latter serving as a benchmark unit. The effect of the units of measurements (volume-weighted or creatinine adjusted concentrations or 24-h amounts) on results of the comparison of pyrethroid biomarker levels between two populations was also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Estimation of daily absorbed doses of permethrin from volume-weighted or creatinine-adjusted concentrations of biomarkers was found to potentially lead to substantial under or overestimation when compared to doses reconstructed directly from amounts excreted in urine during a given period of time (-70 to +573% and -83 to +167%, respectively). It was also shown that the variability in creatinine excretion rate and urinary flow rate may introduce a bias in the case of between population comparisons.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The unit chosen to express biomonitoring data may influence the validity of estimated individual absorbed dose as well as the outcome of between population comparisons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Université de Montréal, PO Box 6128, Main Station, Montreal, Quebec H3C3J7, Canada. marie-chantale.fortin@umontreal.ca
authors.forename: Marie-Chantale
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Fortin
authors.forename: Gaétan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carrier
authors.forename: Michèle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bouchard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D002648:Child; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007306:Insecticides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000652:urine*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011722:Pyrethrins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000652:urine*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007306:Insecticides; D011722:Pyrethrins; D003404:Creatinine