Urinary dialkylphosphate metabolites and health symptoms among farmers in Thailand

ABSTRACT

Using a cross-sectional study, we investigated urinary DAPs levels and health symptoms related to the type of crop cultivation and farm tasks among 84 farmers in Phayao Province of northern Thailand. The results showed that the average of ∑DAPs levels was 10.93 ± 19.64 μg/g creatinine (range 1.48–163.90 μg/g creatinine). The compound found the most was DEP, followed by DETP, DEDTP, DMP, DMTP, and DMDTP, respectively. The type of crop cultivation may be associated with an increasing prevalence of respiratory tract, muscle system, and skin irritation. Farm tasks were associated with an increasing prevalence of muscle system and skin irritation. It was difficult to assess adverse health symptoms associated with urinary DAPs in low levels of exposure; therefore, further investigation is needed using more sensitive biomarkers and more sensitive health symptom measurement.

KEYWORDS:

• Dialkylphosphate
• farmer
• health symptom
• Northern Thailand
• organophosphate
• pesticide

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Research Institute for Health Sciences, Chiang Mai University, for their cooperation. The authors appreciate the scientists in the School of Medicine, University of Phayao, and officers in Health Promotion Hospital of Mae Peum Subdistrict for their assistance.

Funding

The study was funded by University of Phayao Grant 2014.