Haemoglobin adducts as biomarkers of exposure to the herbicides propanil and fluometuron

Abstract Aromatic amine herbicides, including propanil, fluometuron, alachlor, trifluralin, and pendimethalin, were examined for their ability to form haemoglobin adducts in rats as potential biomarkers of exposure. Many aromatic amines are known to form haemoglobin adducts via conversion to the nitroso metabolite and binding of this metabolite to cysteinyl groups on haemoglobin. Since red blood cells are long lived, adducts formed with these cells may be reliable biomarkers of exposure with the potential for showing progressive accumulation. Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analyses of haemoglobin revealed that adducts were formed in rats treated with the rice herbicide propanil and the cotton herbicide fluometuron. Adducts were not detected with the herbicides alachlor, trifluralin, or pendamethalin.