Determination of no-observed effect level (NOEL)-biomarker equivalents to interpret biomonitoring data for organophosphorus pesticides in children.
BACKGROUND
Environmental exposure to organophosphorus pesticides has been characterized in various populations, but interpretation of these data from a health risk perspective remains an issue. The current paper proposes biological reference values to help interpret biomonitoring data related to an exposure to organophosphorus pesticides in children for which measurements of alkylphosphate metabolites are available.


METHODS
Published models describing the kinetics of malathion and chlorpyrifos in humans were used to determine no-observed effect level - biomarker equivalents for methylphosphates and ethylphosphates, respectively. These were expressed in the form of cumulative urinary amounts of alkylphosphates over specified time periods corresponding to an absorbed no-observed effect level dose (derived from a published human exposure dose) and assuming various plausible exposure scenarios. Cumulative amounts of methylphosphate and ethylphosphate metabolites measured in the urine of a group of Quebec children were then compared to the proposed biological reference values.


RESULTS
From a published no-observed effect level dose for malathion and chlorpyrifos, the model predicts corresponding oral biological reference values for methylphosphate and ethylphosphate derivatives of 106 and 52 nmol/kg of body weight, respectively, in 12-h nighttime urine collections, and dermal biological reference values of 40 and 32 nmol/kg of body weight. Out of the 442 available urine samples, only one presented a methylphosphate excretion exceeding the biological reference value established on the basis of a dermal exposure scenario and none of the methylphosphate and ethylphosphate excretion values were above the obtained oral biological reference values, which reflect the main exposure route in children.


CONCLUSIONS
This study is a first step towards the development of biological guidelines for organophophorus pesticides using a toxicokinetic modeling approach, which can be used to provide a health-based interpretation of biomonitoring data in the general population.
Valcke
Mathieu
M
Environnementaux et Occupationnels, Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Montréal, Canada.
Bouchard
Michèle
M
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D002648:Child; D004390:Chlorpyrifos / Q000652:urine; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008294:Malathion / Q000652:urine; D008954:Models, Biological; D019055:No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000652:urine*; D010573:Pesticide Residues / Q000652:urine*; D010599:Pharmacokinetics; D012016:Reference Values
D015415:Biomarkers; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D010573:Pesticide Residues; D004390:Chlorpyrifos; D008294:Malathion