Pesticide Exposure Characterization Among Adult Males in a Chilean Agricultural Community Using Paired Silicone
Melissa DeSantiago1, Margarita Valenzuela2, Duncan Hay3
1Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States.
Abstract:
Human exposure to current-use and legacy pesticides in Chile remains largely understudied. In this pilot study, we collected silicone wristbands and urine samples to characterize pesticide exposure, assess between-matrix correlations, and identify potential exposure determinants. A total of 43 male agricultural workers enrolled in the Maule Cohort (MAUCO) were recruited in 2023. Participants wore wristbands for 8-11 days. A spot urine sample was collected upon wristband retrieval at the end of the sampling period (July-August 2023). We analyzed 20 pesticides on wristbands and 10 urinary pesticide biomarkers using GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS targeted methods. We estimated univariable associations between concentrations in both sampling matrices and individual demographic and behavioral factors collected via questionnaires. Participants (42-64 years) reported a median of 25 years in agricultural work, yet only 37% reported prior pesticide training. Among the frequently detected analytes (>80% detection frequency), we found significant and positive correlations between chlorpyrifos, cis-permethrin, and trans-permethrin, and their corresponding urinary metabolites (rs = 0.34-0.53; p < 0.05). When stratified by job title, the strongest correlations were found among field workers (rs = 0.49-0.71; p < 0.05). Field re-entry work was a significant determinant across both matrices, highlighting a potential modifiable exposure pathway. Silicone wristbands provide a complementary noninvasive method to estimate personal pesticide exposure, offering insights into critical exposure patterns in under-resourced settings.
