RESUMEN
A study of endosulfan excretion in human urine was carried out by using an agricultural worker involved with spraying, wearing protective overall, gloves and breathing mask. The urine samples were extracted with Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) cartridges and the compounds were separated and detected using Gas Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) due to their high sensitivity and selectivity in preventing most matrix interferences. The alpha- and beta-isomers of endosulfan were detected (total concentrations ranged between 5368 and 2239 pg/ml) but endosulfan-ether, -lactone or -sulphate were not found above the detection limits. The results obtained were compared with the concentrations found for a non-occupational exposed man. Statistical interpretation of the excretion-rate of the insecticide was performed by assuming that it can be described as a first-order kinetic. The constant rate and the half-lives were determined.
Asunto(s)
Endosulfano/orina , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Hidrocarburos Clorados , Insecticidas/orina , Exposición Profesional , Control de Plagas , Adulto , Humanos , MasculinoRESUMEN
A method was developed for determining the occupational exposure to endosulfan and its main metabolites (endosulfanether, -lactone and -sulfate) in human urine using dieldrin as an internal standard. Solid phase extraction (SPE) and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS-MS) have been used due to their high sensitivity and selectivity in avoiding most matrix interferences. The recovery efficiencies of the tested compounds yielded more than 89.2% at the fortification level of 10 ng ml(-1) in urine and their relative standard deviations were between 9.1 and 12.8%. The detection limit of each compound ranged between 6 and 18 pg ml(-1). Urine samples from nine pest control operators were analysed and total endosulfan concentrations between 94 and 2038 pg ml(-1) were found.