Population-Based Biomonitoring of Exposure to Organophosphate and Pyrethroid Pesticides in New York City

BACKGROUND: Organophosphates and pyrethroids are the most common classes of insecticides used in the United States. Widespread use of these compounds to control building infestations in New York City (NYC) may have caused higher exposure than in less-urban settings. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of our study were to estimate pesticide exposure reference values for NYC and identify demographic and behavioral characteristics that predict exposures. METHODS: The NYC Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was a population-based, cross-sectional study conducted in 2004 among adults >= 20 years of age. It measured urinary concentrations of organo-phosphate metabolites [dimethylphosphate (DMP), dimethylthio-phosphate (DMTP), dimethyl-dithio-phosphate, diethylphosphate, diethylthiophosphate, and diethyldithiophosphate] in 883 participants, and pyrethroid metabolites [3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA), trans-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (trans-DCCA), 4-fluoro3-phenoxybenzoic acid, and cis-3-(2,2-dibromovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid] in 1,452 participants. We used multi-variable linear regression to estimate least-squares geometric mean total dialkyl-phospate (Sigma DAP) and 3-PBA concentrations across categories of predictors. RESULTS: The dimethyl organo-phosphate metabolites had the highest 95th percentile concentrations (87.4 mu g/L and 74.7 mu g/L for DMP and DMTP, respectively). The highest 95th percentiles among pyrethroid metabolites were measured for 3-PBA and trans-DCCA (5.23 mu g/L and 5.94 mu g/L, respectively). Concentrations of Sigma DAP increased with increasing age, non-Hispanic white or black compared with Hispanic race/ethnicity, professional pesticide use, and increasing frequency of fruit consumption; they decreased with non-green vegetable consumption. Absolute differences in geometric mean urinary 3-PBA concentrations across categories of predictors were too small to be meaningful. CONCLUSION: Estimates of exposure to pyrethroids and dimethyl organo-phosphates were higher in NYC than in the United States overall, underscoring the importance of considering pest and pesticide burdens in cities when formulating pesticide use regulations.