Chronic dietary exposure to pesticide residues and associated risk in the French ELFE cohort of pregnant women. (July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: de Gavelle, Erwan; de Lauzon-Guillain, Blandine; Charles, Marie-Aline; Chevrier, Cécile; Hulin, Marion; Sirot, Véronique; Merlo, Mathilde; Nougadère, Alexandre
• Is Part Of: Environment international. Volume 92/93(2016:Jul.)
• Page Start: 533
• Page End: 542
• Publication Date: 2016-07
• Subjects: ADI acceptable daily intake -- ANSES French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety -- CAG Cumulative Assessment Group -- CRA cumulative risk assessment -- EDI estimated daily intake -- EFSA European Food Safety Authority -- FFQ food frequency questionnaire -- ELFE Etude Longitudinale Française depuis l'Enfance (a French longitudinal study monitoring children from birth to adulthood) -- GEMS/Food Global Environment Monitoring System, Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment Program (WHO) -- HCH hexachlorocyclohexane -- HI hazard index -- HQ hazard quotient -- INSERM French National Institute of Health and Medical Research -- JMPR Joint FAO/WHO Meetings on Pesticide Residues -- INCA2 second individual and national food consumption study -- iTDS infant French total diet study -- LB lower-bound scenario -- LOD limit of detection -- LOQ limit of quantification -- MRL maximum residue level -- NOAEL no observed adverse effect level -- PCD diet potentially contributing to pesticide intake -- RAC raw agricultural commodity -- TDS2 second French total diet study -- TRV toxicological reference value -- UB upper-bound scenario -- UF uncertainty factor -- WHO World Health Organization; Pesticide residues -- Dietary exposure -- Pregnant women -- French ELFE cohort -- Risk characterization -- Cumulative risk assessment; Environmental protection -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Environmental monitoring -- Periodicals; Environmental Monitoring -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Protection -- Périodiques; Hygiène du milieu -- Périodiques; Environnement -- Surveillance -- Périodiques; Environmental health; Environmental monitoring; Environmental protection; Periodicals; 333.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2016.04.007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0160-4120

Abstract

Abstract: Dietary exposure to pesticide residues may present a risk to public health, especially for sensitive populations such as pregnant women. To characterize this risk, this study assessed chronic dietary exposure to pesticide residues based on the French ELFE cohort. A self-administered food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) about the last three months of pregnancy filled in by pregnant women in 2011 was used in combination with occurrence data from French Total Diet Studies completed by the results of national monitoring programs on pesticide residues in food. The dietary intake of pesticides (μg/kg of body weight/day) was estimated for 14, 099 pregnant women with a complete FFQ, for 317 substances under two occurrence scenarios to handle left-censored data: a lower-bound scenario (LB), where undetected results were set to zero, and an upper-bound scenario (UB), where undetected results were set to the detection limit if the substance was expected to be found in food and zero if it was not. The risk was assessed for 284 substances with a toxicological reference value (TRV) and a good coverage level of the diet potentially contributing to pesticide intake. The cumulative risk was also assessed for seven effects on nervous and thyroid systems using the hazard index and the Cumulative Assessment Groups defined by EFSA. Substances with the highest exposure levels under the LB scenario were, in decreasing order, imazalil, piperonyl butoxide, chlorpropham, thiabendazole, iprodione and propargite. Under the LB scenario, only for lindane did women have a statistically significant probability of exceeding the TRV (2.4%). Under the UB scenario, risk could not be excluded for nine other substances. A better management of left-censored data and more sensitive analyses of the main food contributors might help to refine the UB exposure and risk assessments. A statistically significant cumulative risk was found for neurochemical effects related to high intake levels of three organophosphate insecticides (chlorpyrifos, pirimiphos-methyl and dimethoate) mainly detected in fruits and cereals. Highlights: Chronic dietary exposure to pesticide residues was assessed for pregnant women. Two exposure scenarios to characterize the chronic risk. A risk could not be excluded for ten substances under the conservative scenario. Cumulative risk was assessed for seven effects on nervous and thyroid systems. A cumulative risk could not be excluded for neurochemical effects.