Risk assessment of airborne pesticides in a Mediterranean region of Spain.

Abstract

A risk assessment strategy based on the quantitative target analysis and semi-quantitative retrospective screening determination of pesticides in PM10 has been developed. The proposed methodology was applied to 345 real samples from nine stations of a Mediterranean area in Spain, and the risk was assessed for adult, children and infants. Forty pesticides were detected with average concentrations ranging from 8 to 30,000pgm-3. Each station showed its specific pesticide profile, which is linked to the different types of crops around each station. For adults, children and infants the estimated chronic inhalation risk, expressed as Hazard Quotient (HQ), was <1 for all pesticides. The cumulative exposure for organophosphates, neonicotinoids, benzimidazoles, carbamates, micro-organism and triazoles pesticides (HI, Hazard Index) were <1 for the three groups of populations assessed. For infants, the cancer risk estimated for the detected pesticides classified as possible and potential carcinogens were lower than 1.0 E-06, except for carbendazim and hexythiazox.

• Authors: Antonio López, Vicent Yusà, Amalia Muñoz, Teresa Vera, Esther Borràs, Milagros Ródenas, Clara Coscollà
• Journal: The Science of the total environment (Sci Total Environ) Vol. 574 Pg. 724-734 (Jan 01 2017) ISSN: 1879-1026 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 27664759 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Air Pollutants
• Pesticides

Topics

• Adult
• Air Pollutants (analysis)
• Child
• Environmental Exposure (analysis)
• Humans
• Infant
• Mediterranean Region
• Pesticides (analysis)
• Retrospective Studies
• Risk Assessment
• Spain