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Listen to this siteWednesday 12 May 2004
This research project aims to develop cost effective biomarkers of mixed pesticide exposure.
Study Duration : March 2004 to July 2006
Contractor : Health and Safety Laboratory
In its report on Risk Assessment of Mixtures of Pesticides and Similar Substances, the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) recommended a need for the development of methods to provide cost-effective biomarkers or other robust indicators of population exposure and body burdens of mixtures of pesticides and relevant veterinary residues.
This project aims to develop cost-effective biomarkers of mixed pesticide exposure. The pesticides have been selected on the basis of their occurrence as residues in food.
This project will concentrate on the some of the areas of particular concern noted by the COT; notably anticholinergic insecticides (organophosphates and carbamates) and the benzimidazole fungicides. The investigators' current method for pyrethroids will also be extended and a method for dithiocarbamates will be established.
Some of the chemicals falling into these categories have also been classed as potential endocrine disruptors. The methods will analyse both specific and generic markers and focus on developing common sample preparation procedures. Immunoassay procedures will be developed for screening purposes.
The researchers have successfully developed a combined liquid chromatography – mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method for the carbamate pirimicarb and the benzimidazole fungicides carbendazim, benomyl and thiabendazole in urine. An LC-MS method for dithiocarbamates which could be combined with the method for carbamates and benzimidazoles for screening purposes was also developed. In addition, immunoassay methods for organophosphates, carbamates and pyrethroids were created and an existing method for pyrethroids was expanded to cover a larger number of compounds.
While the LC-MS method has been shown to have the sensitivity necessary to detect pesticide exposure at the low levels expected following consumption below acceptable daily intakes, the immunoassays need further development in order to achieve sufficient sensitivity. When fully developed, these new assays will support the cost effective assessment of exposure to a wide range of pesticides. As they can be used for high throughput analysis they will be especially useful in facilitating large scale studies.
*The final report is available from the Agency’s Information Centre.
To obtain a copy, please contact the Enquiry Desk, Information Services, Food Standards Agency (tel: 020 7276 8181/8182 or email:
infocentre@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
)
For any enquiries concerning this research project, please contact the relevant Programme contact or email: science@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
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