title: Urinary concentration of 3-phenoxybenzoic acid in elementary students in South Korea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pyrethroid pesticides are among the most commonly using insecticides in South Korean households and have been the subject of considerable interest among public health professionals for their potential health effects. The objective of this study is to examine the level of urinary 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA) among elementary students in South Korea.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate pyrethroid pesticide exposure levels by measuring the urinary metabolites of 3-PBA using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method in March 2011. Study participants were 70 Asan-area and Incheon-area elementary students.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All respondents had values above the detection limit, and the geometric means of 3-PBA in all children were 1.85 μg/L and 1.46 μg/g creatinine. Children with the top 10% urinary levels of 3-PBA were more likely to be girls, under nine years of age, living in a rural area, and living in a residential type apartment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  South Korean children have a higher concentration of urinary 3-PBA compared with those of other countries. Further research identifying exposure pathways and intervention efforts to reduce environmental pesticide use are needed in South Korea.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Public Health, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hye Mi
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8070-5996
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Jo
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea.
authors.forename: Mina
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1011-9446
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Public Health, Korea University, Seoul, Korea ; Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Won Jin
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0254-7267
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Children; Environmental exposure; Pesticide; Pyrethroid insecticide; Urinary metabolites