Exposure to Organophosphate and Neonicotinoid Insecticides and Its Association with Steroid Hormones among Male Reproductive-Age Farmworkers in Northern Thailand

Neeranuch Suwannarin, Tippawan Prapamontol, Tomohiko Isobe, Yukiko Nishihama, Yuki Hashimoto, Ampica Mangklabruks, Tawiwan Pantasri, Somporn Chantara, Warangkana Naksen and Shoji F. Nakayama
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Neeranuch Suwannarin: Ph.D. Degree Program in Environmental Science, Environmental Science Research Center, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Tippawan Prapamontol: Research Institute for Health Sciences (RIHES), Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Tomohiko Isobe: Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan
Yukiko Nishihama: Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan
Yuki Hashimoto: Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan
Ampica Mangklabruks: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Tawiwan Pantasri: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Somporn Chantara: Environmental Science Research Center, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Warangkana Naksen: Faculty of Public Health, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Shoji F. Nakayama: Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 11, 1-16

Abstract: Several studies indicated organophosphate (OP) and neonicotinoid (NEO) insecticides are endocrine disruptors; however, data are scarce. This cross-sectional study recruited 143 male farmworkers aged 18–40 years in Fang district, Chiang Mai province, northern Thailand. OP exposure was assessed by measuring urinary dialkylphosphate (DAPs) using a gas-chromatography flame photometric detector. Urinary NEOs, their metabolites (NEO/m) and serum steroid hormones were measured using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Characteristics of participants were determined by face-to-face interviews. DAPs and five NEO/m were detected in more than 60% of samples. The concentration of diethylphosphate was highest among DAP metabolites (geometric mean concentration (GM: 23.9 ng/mL) and the concentration of imidacloprid (IMI) was highest among NEO/m (GM: 17.4 ng/mL). Linear regression models showed that the IMI level was positively associated with testosterone, dehydrocorticosterone (DHC) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels. Imidacloprid-olefin and DHEA levels were positively associated. Thiamethoxam (THX) were inversely associated with DHC and deoxycorticosterone levels. Clothianidin (CLO), THX and N-desmethyl-acetamiprid levels were positively associated with the androstenedione level. CLO and THX levels were inversely associated with the cortisone level. In conclusion, the association between NEO insecticides exposure and adrenal androgens, glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids, suggest potential steroidogenesis activities. Our findings warrant further investigation.

Keywords: organophosphates; dialkylphosphates; neonicotinoids; insecticides; metabolites; occupational health; environmental health; reproductive hormones; steroid hormones; farmworker (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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