Relationship between dietary pesticide intake and urinary excretion: a pilot study using duplicate portion analysis

Abstract

Dietary uptake is estimated using residue data from food commodities and predicting the effect of food processing, such as peeling. The aim of this study was to explore the value of the analysis of duplicate portions supplemented by the analysis of urinary metabolites. Forty-three participants, consuming organic and nonorganic diets collected a duplicate portion of food and beverages for 24 h. Urine was collected up to 36 h to account for metabolism and prolonged excretion of metabolites. Pesticide residues were analysed in food portions and urine samples using LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS. Multiple pesticide residues were detected per food portion. Out of 183 pesticides, 86 were detected in the diet. Glyphosate and AMPA were detected in 42 % and 30 % of all urine samples, respectively, while detection in the diet was low. A positive relationship between dietary intake and urinary excretion was found for 2,4-D and MCPA. No diet-urine relationship was observed for glyphosate and AMPA, indicating contribution from external routes of exposure. Hazard index (HI) indicated no exposure above the acceptable daily intake (ADI) for all participants. This study demonstrates how DPA combined with urine analysis gives insight into contribution of diet to total pesticide exposure compared to standard monitoring.