The German Environmental Specimen Bank (ESB): Monitoring Phased-out and Emerging Pesticides

Abstract

Introduction and methods: The ESB regularly collects human samples which are analyzed for various<BR>substances before being cryo-archived. Every year i. a. 24 h-urine and blood samples from 480 young adults(20-29 years of age) from four German cities are acquired. To document time trends in human exposure topesticides samples have been regularly analyzed for Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and Pentachlorophenol (PCP)since the 1980s. As initial retrospective analysis 40 urine samples acquired in 1996 and 2012 have beenanalyzed for N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine (Glyphosate). Results: ESB data reveal a major decrease in averageinternal exposures to HCB (1985: 2.7 ìg/L vs. 2010: 0.09 ìg/L blood plasma) and PCP (1985: 26.7 ìg/L vs.2010: 0.54 ìg/L blood plasma). Until the 1990s, HCB tends to be higher in females. No substantial gender difference for this period was observed for PCP. The internal Glyphosate exposure increased significantlybetween 1996 and 2012. The fraction of quantifiable levels increased from 40% to 70%. On average theconcentration increased from below LOD (0.15 ìg/L) to 0.21 ìg/L urine. The highest Glyphosate valuemeasured in 2012 resulted in 0.65 ìg/L urine. Against expectation the concentration of Glyphosates mainmetabolite Aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) did not increase in time. Also no significant correlation wasobserved between Glyphosate and AMPA levels. Conclusions and Outlook: ESB data document the effect ofbanning PCP and HCB in Germany in the 1980s. Concerning Glyphosate ESB measurements are in line withthe increasing application of this pesticide resulting in an increasing exposure of the population. Levelsmeasured in 2012 are well below toxicologically relevant concentrations. However, due to the ongoingdiscussion on health effects of Glyphosate further monitoring is warranted. Acknowledgements: The ESB isfunded by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB).<BR>Quelle: 24th Annual Meeting ofThe International Society of Exposure Science: Exposure Science Integration to Protect Ecological Systems,Human Well-Being, and Occupational Health; Abstrct Book ISES 2014 / International Society of Exposure Science, Cincinnati: 2014, S. 29