Shi-ming Song, Tao Zhang, Yingyan Huang
May 11, 2020
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Influential Citations
43
Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
Environmental science & technology
Abstract
Neonicotinoids (NEOs) are insecticides that are widely used around the world. Following exposure, NEOs get metabolized in human bodies. The biomarkers to assess human NEOs exposure are not well described due to the lack of information on the metabolites of NEOs (m-NEOs). In this study, five m-NEOs including N-desmethyl-acetamiprid (N-dm-ACE), 5-hydroxy-imidacloprid (5-OH-IMI), olefin-imidacloprid (Of-IMI), 1-methyl-3-(tetrahydro-3-furylmethyl) guanidine (DIN-G), and 1-methyl-3-(tetrahydro-3-furylmethyl) (DIN-U) were measured in 275 urine samples collected from 10 cities in China. All of the m-NEOs were frequently detected in urine samples with the median concentrations ranging from 0.42 (DIN-G) to 1.02 (5-OH-IMI) ng/mL. The urinary concentrations of N-dm-ACE and 5-OH-IMI measured in China were higher than those reported from Japan and the USA. In comparison to parent NEOs (i.e., acetamiprid, ACE; imidacloprid, IMI; and dinotefuran, DIN) concentrations reported in the same set of samples by our research group, the median ratios of m-NEO to corresponding parent NEO (m-NEO/NEO) ranged from 4.95 (DIN-G/DIN) to 37.7 (N-dm-ACE/ACE), indicating that NEOs are mainly present as metabolites rather than parent forms. Furthermore, the ratio of Σm-NEOs/ΣNEOs was significantly (p < 0.01) higher in females than that in males, suggesting that NEOs are more readily metabolized in females, or females are more highly exposed to m-NEOs. To our knowledge, this is the first study to measure Of-IMI, DIN-G, and DIN-U levels in urine samples from China. We recommend biomonitoring studies include N-dm-ACE, 5-OH-IMI and DIN-U (and DIN-G) for clear understanding of human exposure to ACE, IMI, and DIN, respectively.