BACKGROUND: Chlorpyrifos (CPF), a widely used organophosphorus pesticide (OP), is metabolized to CPF-oxon, a potent cholinesterase (ChE) inhibitor, and trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPy). Urinary TCPy is often used as a biomarker for CPF exposure, whereas blood ChE activity is considered an indicator of CPF toxicity. However, whether these biomarkers are dose related has not been studied extensively in populations with repeated daily OP exposures. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the relationship between blood ChE and urinary TCPy during repeated occupational exposures to CPF. METHODS: Daily urine samples and weekly blood samples were collected from pesticide workers (n=38) in Menoufia Governorate, Egypt, before, during, and after 9-17 consecutive days of CPF application to cotton fields. We compared blood butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities with the respective urinary TCPy concentrations in each worker. RESULTS: Average TCPy levels during the middle of a 1- to 2-week CPF application period were significantly higher in pesticide applicators (6,437 microg/g creatinine) than in technicians (184 microg/g) and engineers (157 microg/g), both of whom are involved in supervising the application process. We observed a statistically significant inverse correlation between urinary TCPy and blood BuChE and AChE activities. The no-effect level (or inflection point) of the exposure-effect relationships has an average urinary TCPy level of 114 microg/g creatinine for BuChE and 3,161 microg/g creatinine for AChE. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate a dose-effect relationship between urinary TCPy and both plasma BuChE and red blood cell AChE in humans exposed occupationally to CPF. These findings will contribute to future risk assessment efforts for CPF exposure.
        
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Farahat FM, Ellison CA, Bonner MR, McGarrigle BP, Crane AL, Fenske RA, Lasarev MR, Rohlman DS, Anger WK, Lein PJ, Olson JR (2011) Biomarkers of chlorpyrifos exposure and effect in Egyptian cotton field workers Environmental Health Perspectives119: 801-6
Farahat FM, Ellison CA, Bonner MR, McGarrigle BP, Crane AL, Fenske RA, Lasarev MR, Rohlman DS, Anger WK, Lein PJ, Olson JR (2011) Environmental Health Perspectives119: 801-6