Excretion study of endosulfan in urine of a pest control operator

A study of endosulfan excretion in human urine was carried out by using an agricultural worker involved with spraying, wearing protective overall, glo ves and breathing mask. The urine samples were extracted with Solid Phase E xtraction (SPE) cartridges and the compounds were separated and detected us ing Gas Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) due to their hig h sensitivity and selectivity in preventing most matrix interferences. The alpha- and beta-isomers of endosulfan were detected (total concentrations r anged between 5368 and 2239 pg/ml) but endosulfan-ether, -lactone or -sulph ate were not found above the detection limits. The results obtained were co mpared with the concentrations found for a non-occupational exposed man. St atistical interpretation of the excretion-rate of the insecticide was perfo rmed by assuming that it can be described as a first-order kinetic. The con stant rate and the half-lives were determined. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ir eland Ltd. All rights reserved.