Infantile Internal and External Exposure to Neonicotinoid Insecticides: A Comparison of Levels across Various Sources

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Toxicology
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Neonicotinoid insecticides (NEOs) are widely used, but infant exposure levels and sources remain largely unknown.
• Understanding infantile exposure is crucial for assessing potential health risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify neonicotinoid insecticide (NEO) concentrations in infants' biological samples and environmental sources in South China.
• To identify the primary sources and pathways of NEO exposure in infants.
• To compare exposure levels between different infant age groups and feeding methods.

Main Methods:

• Collected urine, whole blood, breast milk, infant formula, and tap water samples from infants in South China.
• Measured concentrations of six parent NEOs (p-NEOs) and N-desmethyl-acetamiprid (N-dm-ACE) using analytical techniques.
• Assessed internal exposure via blood and urine, and external exposure via environmental samples.

Main Results:

• Dinotefuran (DIN) was the most prevalent p-NEO in infant urine and blood; imidacloprid (IMI) was abundant in milk, formula, and tap water.
• Higher NEO and N-dm-ACE exposure was observed in older infants (181-360 days) compared to younger infants (0-180 days).
• Blood samples showed significantly higher median NEO concentrations than urine samples, indicating rapid partitioning into blood. Breast-fed infants had higher exposure than formula-fed infants.

Conclusions:

• Infants in South China are exposed to multiple neonicotinoid insecticides (NEOs) through various dietary and environmental routes.
• Breast milk, infant formula, and tap water are significant sources of NEO exposure for infants.
• This study provides the first comprehensive assessment of NEO levels and sources in infants, highlighting the need for further investigation into potential health impacts.