Beta-glucuronidase activity is a sensitive biomarker to assess low-level organophosphorus insecticide exposure.
Acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activities in blood are widely used as the biomarkers for organophosphorus insecticide (OP) exposure. In the present study, we conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate plasma beta-glucuronidase (BG), a sensitive biomarker candidate for OP exposure, BChE activities and urinary dialkyl phosphates (DAPs), OP metabolites. We assessed the relationship between these biomarker levels in the following groups: 32 controls (control), 21 pest control operators and their co-workers who had not sprayed OPs within 3 days prior to sample collection (PCO1), and 21 pest control operators who sprayed OPs within those 3 days (PCO2). Logarithmically transformed age-adjusted means of DAPs were 3.88, 5.62 and 6.45 nmol/g creatinine for control, PCO1 and PCO2, respectively (P<0.001 for difference, P<0.001 for trend). Logarithmically transformed age-adjusted means of BG were 1.40, 1.52 and 1.85 micromol/L/h for control, PCO1 and PCO2, respectively. BG activity, but not BChE, was increased according to their OP exposure level (P=0.038 for difference, P=0.026 for trend). It was concluded that plasma BG activity is more sensitive biomarker as well as urinary OP metabolites than BChE for low-level exposure in humans.
Ueyama
Jun
J
Department of Medical Technology, Nagoya University School of Health Sciences, Higashi-ku, Nagoya, Japan. ueyama@met.nagoya-u.ac.jp
Satoh
Tetsuo
T
Kondo
Takaaki
T
Takagi
Kenji
K
Shibata
Eiji
E
Goto
Masahiro
M
Kimata
Akiko
A
Saito
Isao
I
Hasegawa
Takaaki
T
Wakusawa
Shinya
S
Kamijima
Michihiro
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000383:Agriculture; D015415:Biomarkers; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase / Q000097:blood; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D007306:Insecticides / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D007306:Insecticides; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase; D005966:Glucuronidase