Sodium fluoroacetate (1080): assessment of occupational exposures and selection of a provisional biological exposure index.
OBJECTIVE
Sodium fluoroacetate (1080) is used for control of vertebrate pests in New Zealand. Little is known about chronic effects in humans, but animal studies demonstrate potential for adverse fetal, male fertility, and cardiac effects. We aimed to employ analyses of 1080 to help assess the degree of exposure of bait formulators and distributors, and identify specific tasks where exposure reduction appeared most indicated. We also aimed to utilise the (limited) 1080 toxicity data to assess the significance of the analytical results.


METHODS
Exposures during various activities were assessed by monitoring air levels and blood and urine concentrations. To help evaluate the results, a provisional "biological exposure index" (BEI) was later derived, by extrapolating from experimental data.


RESULTS
Early monitoring indicated exposures were highest in relation to (cereal) bait manufacturing and aerial carrot baiting procedures. A provisional BEI of 15 microg/L for 1080 in urine was proposed.


CONCLUSIONS
Further protective measures and ongoing workplace monitoring are required, particularly in the above situations. Compliance with the current BEI cannot guarantee complete safety. Any information regarding chronic adverse effects in humans, along with the associated urine levels, would assist risk assessment. Further investigation of the human kinetics of fluoroacetate would be helpful.
Beasley
Michael
M
National Poisons Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. michael.beasley@otago.ac.nz
Fisher
Penny
P
O'Connor
Cheryl
C
Eason
Charles
C
D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D005463:Fluoroacetates / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000652:urine; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012378:Rodenticides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D020711:Threshold Limit Values
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D005463:Fluoroacetates; D012378:Rodenticides; C014815:fluoroacetic acid