Analysis of Dust Samples for Organophosphorus Pesticide Oxon Metabolites. T. Moate, J. H. Shirai, and J. C. Kissel, SNBL-USA, Analytical Services, University of Washington
Azinphosmethyl and phosmet are organophosphorus pesticides widely used in tree fruit production. Seventeen household or vehicle dust samples known to contain at least one of these compounds were analyzed for their oxon metabolites. The dust samples were collected with vacuums from the homes and vehicles of people living and working in a rural agricultural region in the central part of Washington state. The oxons are of particular interest because they are more acutely toxic than the parent compounds and because they may form in the environment. Analysis for parent compounds alone could therefore potentially lead to underestimation of risk to exposed persons. The parent pesticides and their oxons were determined via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The limits of quantitation were 0.2 mg/g for parent pesticides and 0.4 mg/g for the oxons. Azinphosmethyl and phosmet determinations ranged from below the limit of quantitation to 45.6 mg/g. Corresponding oxon determinations ranged from non-detectable up to the limit of quantitation. A hypothesis that oxons pose a greater risk than their parent compounds in dust in this region is not supported by this work.
This work was supported by US EPA (R826886-01-0) and NIEHS (1 PO1 ES09601) via the Center for Child Environmental Health Risk Research.
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