[Evidence of pesticide exposure by hair analysis]

The current report summarizes the development of an analytical method for the identification and the quantification of pesticides in hair by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and its application to 75 real samples. Hair strands [table: see text] were obtained from wine workers exposed to one or more pesticides. After decontamination, hair were cut into small pieces and incubated overnight at 45 degrees C in methanol. The solvent was evaporated to dryness, the dry extract was redissolved in methanol and injected in a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry system. The detector was operated in electronic impact and in negative chemical ionization mode of detection (reactant gas: methane). In the first series of 75 hair specimens, obtained before the period of pesticide use, none of the 15 target compounds was detected. In the second series of 75 specimens, obtained from the same subjects but after the use of pesticides, 14 tested positive for 9 different pesticides.