Indoor air pesticide in dwellings of breastfeeding mothers of the Valencian Region (Spain): levels, exposure and risk assessment

Abstract This study assessed the inhalation risk associated with indoor pesticide concentrations in the dwellings of 41 lactating mothers living in the Valencian Region, Spain, who were participants in the BETTERMILK project. Twenty-eight substances were investigated, including pyrethroid (PYRs), organophosphate (OPPs), and organochlorine (OCPs) pesticides. Bifenthrin, cypermethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, malathion, permethrin, and pyrimethanil were detected with frequencies ranging from 2% (malathion) to 80% (cypermethrin), and with an arithmetic mean concentration ranging from 4.1 ng m-3 (bifenthrin) and 12.1 ng m-3 (cypermethrin). The indoor air analysis was combined with several surveys to assess the possible relationships between indoor pesticide concentrations and the use of pesticides at home. Any of the evaluated pesticides were significantly associated with the evaluated variables (obtained p-value>0.05). Daily inhalation exposure (DIE) of the breastfeeding mothers and their infants was estimated, and a risk assessment was performed for these population groups. The HQs (Hazard Quotient) and HIs (Hazard Index for cumulative exposure) of the detected pesticides were lower than 1. The cancer risk for cypermethrin and permethrin in infants was found to be higher than 1.0 E-06.