Urinalysis of atrazine exposure in farm pesticide applicators

Abstract

This study compared three relatively common laboratory methods for the detection of atrazine (a triazine herbicide commonly used in US agriculture), and related metabolites in urine. Ninety-nine samples collected from atrazine applicators within 8 h post application were analyzed. Thirty-seven percent of applicators showed detectable levels (minimum = 1.0 ng/ml) of deethylatrazine (an atrazine metabolite typically found in environmental samples) in their urine, based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis (mean = 14.2 ng/ml). Fifty applicator samples were tested using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) designed for the mercapturate metabolic product. Most of these samples (80%) had detectable levels of the mercapturate product. A triazine in water ELISA was also used to test several diluted urine samples from atrazine applicators, and all samples were positive for triazines. Mediocre agreements between the three methods indicated that each detected distinct atrazine exposure products. The results indicate that single field applications of atrazine result in measurable pesticide doses to applicators and that the choice of field assay should depend on the exposure product to be evaluated.