An integrated approach to assess human health risk of neonicotinoid insecticides in surface water of the Yangtze River Basin, China

Neonicotinoids are widely used insecticides that have raised considerable concerns for both environmental and human health. However, there lack of comprehensive evaluation of their accumulation in surface water ecosystems and exposure to various human groups. Additionally, there's a distinct lack of scientific evidence describing the carcinogenic and non -carcinogenic impacts of neonicotinoids from surface water. Using an integrated approach employing the Relative Potency Factor (RPF), Hazard Index (HI), and Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS), the study assessed neonicotinoid exposure and risk to four demographic groups via dermal contact and mistaken oral intake pathways in the Yangtze River Basin (YRB), China. Neonicotinoid concentrations range from 0.1 to 408.12 ng/L, indicating potential risk (10-3 to 10-1) across the studied demographic groups. The Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR) for dermal contact was within a moderate range of 2.00 x 10-3 to 1.67 x 10-2, while the mistaken oral intake was also within a moderate range of 3.07 x 10-3 to 7.05 x 10-3. The Hazard Index (HI) for dermal exposure ranged from 1.49 x 10-2 to 0.125, while for mistaken oral intake, it varied between 2.69 x 10-2 and 0.14. The findings highlight the importance of implementing specific interventions to address neonicotinoid exposure, especially among demographic groups that are more susceptible. This research underscores the urgent need for targeted strategies to address neonicotinoid risks to vulnerable populations within the YRB while contributing to insights for effective policies to mitigate neonicotinoid exposure in surface water ecosystems globally.