Influence of azinphos-methyl metabolites in apples on organophosphate pesticide exposure estimates

AGRO 22

Amanda H. Ackerman and Kim A. Anderson. Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Food Safety and Environmental Stewardship Program, Agricultural Life Sciences Bldg Room 1007, Corvallis, OR 97331
Exposure to azinphos-methyl is typically assessed by determination of dialkylphosphate metabolites in urine. This approach assumes that metabolism of azinphos-methyl is the only source of urinary dialkylphosphate compounds. However, recent work has indicated that dialkylphosphates may be found on fruit treated with azinphos-methyl in the absence of metabolism. Exposure to these pre-existing dialkylphosphates would also lead to elevated urinary levels in exposed individuals. Apples were collected at regular intervals over a four-week period between treatment and harvest. Fate of azinphos-methyl and formation of dialkylphosphates in apples were studied using LC/APCI/MS. This technique offers several advantages over more commonly used GC analysis. Accurate quantitation by GC is problematic as azinphos-methyl is thermally unstable and the metabolites require extensive derivatization prior to GC analysis. These problems do not arise with LC, and the use of APCI/MS permits greater confidence in identification and quantitation of analytes.