Monitoring Pesticide Exposure and Accumulation: An Improved Rapid Identifier for all Pesticide Classes

Project Summary The proposed program aims to quantify farmworker exposure to pesticides using Surface Enhanced Raman SpectroscopySERSand an inexpensive sensor which can also be used for urinalysisAn earlier programsupported by NIEHSprovided reliable results for organophosphateOPand organochlorineOCpesticidesFifty OP and OC pesticides and metabolites were evaluated in the laboratory in the low ppb rangeand acephate and methyl parathion were detected at farmworker campsIn this programwe will utilize an innovative SERS sensing element which can also detect triazine pesticidessuch as atrazinesimazine and cyromazineIn Phase I we developed a glycine coated sensor that stabilized the adsorbed triazine ring leading to significant signal enhancementThis novel sensor detects triazines down toppbis stable at temperatures and humidities encountered by farmworkersand can be used for urinalysesA newcombined sensorto be developed in Phase IIwill measure overpesticides and or metabolites at a small fraction of the cost of current analytical laboratory methodsIt will provide the NIHparticularly the NIEHS Exposure Biology programthe means to develop a large data set on daily exposure ingestion of pesticidesThis approach should allow epidemiological studies and predictions of long term health outcomesCore technology has been demonstratedThe Phase II program is designed to demonstrate the capabilities of a combined sensor and provide full analytical specificationsfinalize protocols for dosimetryurinecotton wipe and house dust collection measurementsPrecision and detection limits for pesticides metabolites of relevance and a thorough interference analysis will be quantitatively definedSystem blind testsstatistical software optimization using training sets and unknown verifications and field testing with volunteer North Carolina farmworkers will be performedSpectral dosimetry and urinalysis results will be correlated to worker activity through worker surveysAn automated system for third party evaluation will be completed in Phase II