Increased urinary excretion of thioethers as a marker for detecting exposure to herbicide containing...

The possibility that urinary thioethers concentration might be a marker for detecting exposure to herbicide containing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid dimethylamine (2,4-DMA) was investigated in animals. Mice were treated with the herbicide containing 2,4-DMA consecutively for 4 days. Urinary concentrations of thioethers related either to body weight or creatinine concentration in urine in the group of animals treated with herbicide were significantly higher compared to control group. Results suggest that thioethers determination in urine might be a noninvasive and simple method for detecting exposure to herbicide containing 2,4-DMA.