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PESTICIDE TRANSFER EFFICIENCIES FROM HOUSEHOLD SURFACES TO FOODS
Citation:
Bernard, C E., M R. Berry Jr., AND L J. Melnyk. PESTICIDE TRANSFER EFFICIENCIES FROM HOUSEHOLD SURFACES TO FOODS. Presented at International Society of Exposure Analysis National Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, October 17-21, 2004.
Impact/Purpose:
The purpose of this research is to reduce uncertainties in exposure assessments of young children by improving EPA's ability to measure exposures in the context of aggregate and cumulative exposure assessments. The general objective of this research is to support FQPA children's exposure assessment efforts by improving procedures and reducing uncertainty in measurements for dietary exposure of young children, a critically needed area for improved risk assessment. Specifically, this research will evaluate a protocol and companion model for measuring or otherwise assessing the combined dietary intake of a young child as influenced by pesticides, or other environmental contaminants, which contaminate their foods during the eating process (indirect ingestion exposure). This research will continue to develop the important factors which are needed to characterize excess intake of pesticides by young children. Specifically, the research will measure pesticide surface transfer efficiencies for food contacts with surfaces and eating activity patterns of young children that define the frequency of contacts with contaminated surfaces. A series of reports/products are anticipated by the end of FY05.
Description:
Traditional dietary pesticide exposure assessments have focused on contamination during production (e.g., pesticides in agriculture). However, recent residential monitoring studies have demonstrated that a significant portion of infant and children's total exposure can result from food contamination in homes following residential pesticide usage. These exposures, termed excess dietary exposure, includes direct contact between foods handled by children and contaminated surfaces. Limited data exists concerning these transfers, but they have been shown to be a critical element in estimating children's excess dietary exposure. This study was conducted to determine the transfer efficiencies (%) of pesticides (organophosphate, pyrethroid, and pyrazole insecticides) from a household surface to bologna, apple, and Fruit Roll-Ups?, which are representative foods (i.e., meat, fruit, and snack foods) handled and eaten by children. The moisture and fat content of each food was also determined as tools for predicting transfer.
The highest transfer efficiencies were observed for the organophosphate pesticides to bologna (56-79%) with lower transfers to apples (20-37%) and Fruit Roll-Ups (6-17%). Transfer efficiencies of pyrethroid pesticides to bologna, apples, and Fruit Roll-Ups were 33-52%, 12-34% and 3%, respectively. Fipronil (pyrazole) had a similar transfer to pyrethroids (bologna 39-45%, apple 13-41%, and Fruit Roll-Up 4%). The average percent fat and moisture content for bologna, apples, and Fruit Roll-Ups were 30%, 1%, 7% and 54%, 85%, 11%, respectively. Although neither percent fat nor moisture content projected the ranking of transfer between the foods, combined they may provide a better prediction. These results suggest food type and chemical properties of the pesticide affect transfer. Study findings coupled with models under development will be used to generate more accurate estimates of excess dietary exposure to infants and children in homes where pesticides are used.