Monitoring of pesticide residue levels in blood samples collected from the agricultural spray-workers in Menoufia governorate, Egypt

Abstract EN

Spray-workers during the activity of spraying crops are directly exposed to pesticides while mixing handling and spraying.

Also, they are exposed to pesticides indirectly through contaminated soil, air, drinking water, eating food, and smoking at workplaces.

Thus, the aim of this study was to monitor pesticide residues in blood samples collected from exposed agricultural workers (spraying workers) from four different locations (Shibin El-Kom, Tala and Quweisna) in Menoufia Governorate, Egypt during 2021.

A total of 461 Pesticides were analyzed using HPLC and GC-MS/MS system to determine pesticides residues in blood samples of spray workers.

Ten pesticides, one herbicide (Atrazine), four insecticide (Chlorpyrifos, Cyhalothrin-Lambda, DDE-p, p' and Malathion), four fungicide (Metalaxyl, Ortho Phenylphenol, Propiconazol and Pyrimethanil) and one pesticide synergist (Piperonyl butoxide) were detected.

Results shown that the most frequently pesticide found in blood samples of spray workers was Chlorpyrifos (in 7 blood samples) followed by Malathion (in 6 blood samples).

The highest concentration of pesticide residue in analyzed blood samples was Pyrimethanil fungicide with 0.035 mg/kg in blood samples from Quweisna.