Advances on Biomonitoring of Organophosphorus and Organochlorine Pesticides

Abstract

Organophosphorus (OPs) and organochlorine (OCs) pesticides are synthetic organic compounds used mainly in agriculture to manage pest problems. Human is occupationally and environmentally exposed to pesticides via inhalation, ingestion and skin absorption. When the pollutant enters human body it is rapidly metabolized to more toxic compounds than the parent compound. Their ability to interfere with biochemical and metabolic pathways in humans makes them compounds of high concern. Acute and chronic exposure has been linked with neurological, cardiovascular, birth effects and male infertility. Human exposure to pesticides is estimated by measuring their metabolites in biological tissues and fluids such as blood, urine, amniotic fluid and hair. In this review study advances on biomonitoring of pesticides are presented. Measured levels of pesticides in urine matrices, amniotic fluid, meconium and hair are presented in order to monitor the human burden and biomonitoring data between occupationally and environmentally exposed populations are being compared

Keywords

• pesticides
• biomonitoring
• human toxicity
• occupational exposure
• environmental exposure