Determination of exposure to organic phosphorus and pyrethroid group pesticides in preschool children in Turkey

Pesticides are indispensable elements of modern agriculture, and their misuse and unconscious use are important chemical groups that can cause chronic toxicity problems such as cancer, endocrine disruption, asthma, allergy, neurotoxicity, as well as acute toxic effects in societies. Today's scientific data suggest that pesticide exposure, especially in childhood, may play an important role in the development of future health problems. Therefore, determining the pesticide levels in children in order to reveal the role of pesticides in the formation of health problems in terms of public health is of great importance in enlightening the health risks that may occur. In line with this purpose, this study was carried out to reveal the exposure levels of 3-6 years old preschool-children (mean age: 4,80 ± 1,10) living in Ankara (n=132) and Mersin (n=54) provinces to organic phosphorus insecticides and pyrethroid insecticides, which are widely used in our country. For this purpose, after obtaining spot urine samples (n: 186; boys n: 107, girls n: 79), as an indicator of pesticide exposure; Diethyl phosphate (DEP), Dimethyl phosphate (DMP), Diethyl thiophosphate (DETP), Dimethyl thiophosphate (DMTP) which are non-specific metabolites of organic phosphorus pesticides, 3,5,6-Trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCP) which is a metabolite of chlorpyrifos and metabolites of pyrethroid group pesticides; 3-Phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA), 4-Fluoro-3-Phenoxybenzoic acid (4-F-PBA), cis & trans- (2,2-Dichlorovinyl) -2,2-dimethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (cis & trans-DCCA) levels were determined in urine by Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and Liquid chromatography-QTOF (LC-QTOF) devices. In the study; TCP (0,079 µg/g creatinine), a metabolite of chlorpyrifos, and 3-PBA (0,2901 µg/g creatinine), a metabolite of pesticides in the pyrethroid group, were determined from the investigated metabolites in urine samples and the concentrations of these metabolites were determined. Urine samples taken from preschool-children living in Ankara and Mersin; 35% of TCP and 40% of 3-PBA were detected, and exposure values were in the range of 0,00-5,5542 µg/g creatinine for TCP and 0,00-7,0904 µg/g creatinine for 3-PBA. Pesticide levels obtained from children living in Ankara (TCP: 0,087 µg/g creatinine, 3-PBA: 0,21768 µg/g creatinine) and those living in Mersin province (TCP: 0,05942 µg/g creatinine, 3-PBA: 0,18813 µg/g creatinine) when pesticide levels were compared, a statistically significant difference was found between Ankara and Mersin provinces in terms of TCP (p <0,05). TCP and 3-PBA concentrations are generally boys (TCP: 0,04451 µg/g creatinine, 3-PBA: 0,10406 µg/g creatinine) and girls (TCP: 0,1257 µg/g creatinine, 3-PBA: 0,35136 µg/g creatinine), but no statistical difference was found (p> 0,05). In addition, risk analyzes for the detected pesticide metabolites were performed in the study, and the estimated daily intake (EDI) and hazard quotient (HQ) were calculated. The EDI value of chlorpyrifos, the pesticide of the TCP metabolite, is 0,00685 µg.kg.bw-1.day-1, and the EDI value of Cyhalothrin, the most used pyrethroid group insecticide representing 3-PBA metabolite, is 0,02328 µg.kg.bw-1.day-1. HQ values calculated for Chlorpyrifos and Cyhalothrin were calculated to be 0,00931 and 0,00068, respectively.These values indicate that there is a low health risk for children exposed to these two pesticides.