Ethylene thiourea exposure induces neurobehavioral toxicity in zebrafish by disrupting axon growth and neuromuscular junctions

Ethylene thiourea (ETU) converted from ethylene bisdithiocarbamate (EBDC) fungicides has aroused great concern because of its prevalence and harmful effects. Although ETU-induced neurotoxicity has been reported, the potential mechanisms remain unclear. This study provided insights into its neurotoxic effects at environmentally relevant concentrations in zebrafish. Our findings showed that embryonic exposure to ETU decreased the hatch rate and delayed somite development. Furthermore, ETU treatment significantly reduced the dark velocity in the locomotion assay. The upregulated tendency of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) pathway (mknk1, atf4, mapkapk3) screened by transcriptome analysis implied motor neuron degeneration, which was validated by subsequent morphological observation, as axon length and branches were truncated in the 62.5 µg/L ETU group. However, although the rescue experiment with a p38 MAPK inhibitor (SB203580) successfully ameliorated axon degeneration, it failed to reverse the locomotion behaviors. Further exploration of transcriptome data revealed the varied expression of presynaptic scaffold protein-related genes (pcloa, pclob, bsna), whose downregulation might impair the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). Therefore, we reasonably suspected that ETU-induced neurobehavioral deficits might result from the combined effects of the MAPK pathway and presynaptic proteins. Considering this, we highlighted the necessity to take precautions and early interventions for susceptible ETU-exposed populations.

A novel analytical approach for the determination of ethylene-thiourea and propylene-thiourea in vegetal foodstuffs by high-performance liquid chromatography hyphenated to inductively coupled plasma-tandem mass spectrometry

This study reports a novel analytical approach for the simultaneous determination of ethylene-thiourea (ETU) and propylene-thiourea (PTU) in fruits and vegetables by (reverse phase) high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to inductively coupled plasma-tandem mass spectrometry (ICP-QQQMS or ICP-MS/MS). A baseline separation of ETU and PTU was achieved in less than 5 min. A robust method validation by using the accuracy profile approach was performed by carrying out four measurement series in duplicate at six different levels over a timespan of 4 weeks (different days). The recovery factors ranged from 87 to 101% for ETU and from 98 to 99% for PTU (depending on the spiking level). The coefficient of variation in terms of repeatability (CVr) ranged from 1 to 4.7% for ETU and from 1.8 to 3.9% for PTU (depending also on the analyte level) while the coefficient of variation in terms of intermediate reproducibility (CVR) ranged from 3.4 to 10% for ETU and from 1.8 to 10.8% for PTU. The limit of quantification was 0.022 mg kg-1 (wet weight) for ETU and 0.010 mg kg-1 (ww) for PTU. This novel approach was proved to be highly robust and suitable for the determination of ETU and PTU in foodstuffs of vegetal origin.

Assessment of Mancozeb Exposure, Absorbed Dose, and Oxidative Damage in Greenhouse Farmers

Mancozeb (MNZ) is a fungicide commonly employed in many countries worldwide. This study assesses MNZ absorption dynamics in 19 greenhouse farmers, specifically following dermal exposure, aiming to verify the efficacy of both preventive actions and protective equipment. For data collection, a multi-assessment approach was used, which included a survey to record study population features. MNZ exposure was assessed through the indirect measurement of ethylene thiourea (ETU), widely employed as an MNZ biomarker. The ETU concentration was measured with the patch method, detecting environmental ETU trapped in filter paper pads, applied both on skin and working clothes, during the 8 h work shift. Urine and serum end-of-shift samples were also collected to measure ETU concentrations and well-known oxidative stress biomarkers, respectively, namely reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs), and biological antioxidant potential (BAP). It was observed that levels of ETU absorbed and ETU excreted were positively correlated. Additionally, working clothes effectively protected workers from MNZ exposure. Moreover, following stratification of the samples based on the specific working duty (i.e., preparation and spreading of MNZ and manipulation of MNZ-treated seedlings), it was found that the spreading group had higher ETU-related risk, despite lower chronic exposure levels. AOPP and ROM serum levels were higher in MNZ-exposed subjects compared with non-exposed controls, whereas BAP levels were significantly lower. Such results support an increase in the oxidative stress upon 8 h MNZ exposure at work. In particular, AOPP levels demonstrated a potential predictive role, as suggested by the contingency analysis results. Overall, this study, although conducted in a small group, confirms that ETU detection in pads, as well as in urine, might enable assessment of the risk associated with MNZ exposure in greenhouse workers. Additionally, the measurement of circulating oxidative stress biomarkers might help to stratify exposed workers based on their sensitivity to MNZ. Pivotally, the combination of both ETU measurement and biological monitoring might represent a novel valuable combined approach for risk assessment in farmhouse workers exposed to pesticides. In the future, these observations will help to implement effective preventive strategies in the workplace for workers at higher risk, including greenhouse farmers who are exposed to pesticides daily, as well as to clarify the occupational exposure levels to ETU.

Systematic review of human biomonitoring studies of ethylenethiourea, a urinary biomarker for exposure to dithiocarbamate fungicides

Toxicological and epidemiological studies implicate exposure to dithiocarbamate (DTC) fungicides in adverse health outcomes. However, there is limited information about human exposure to these chemicals. This systematic review determined to which extent human populations worldwide, including children, pregnant women, and adults, are exposed environmentally or occupationally to DTC pesticides and how these exposures compare to the NHANES 2003-2008 population, using urinary ETU data as an outcome measure. PubMed, Embase, and SciFinder were searched using the keywords "ethylenethiourea" or CAS No.: 96-45-7, and urine or urinary. Duplicates and irrelevant studies were removed from the search results based on predetermined exclusion criteria. This screening process identified 17 relevant papers. One additional paper was found independent of this search. Data from studies were extracted using a pre-established data collection form. Ten, two, and five manuscripts reported urinary levels in environmentally exposed adults, children, and pregnant women, respectively. Median ETU levels ranged from 0.15 to 4.7 μg/g creatinine in adults (1994-2017), 0.24-0.83 μg/g creatinine in children (2011), and 2.6-5.24 ng/ml in pregnant women (2011). Eight studies reported urinary ETU levels in mostly agriculturally exposed populations, with median ETU levels ranging from 0.42 to 49.6 μg/g creatinine (1999-2011). With one exception, all studies were conducted between 1994 and 2011. ETU levels in the NHANES 2003-2008 population appeared to be generally lower than most studies identified in this review. This finding suggests that, historically, DTC fungicide exposures in the general population of high-income countries, such as the US, were low, whereas agricultural populations may have experienced higher exposure. Unfortunately, more recent exposure data are missing, especially in countries where DTC pesticides are not being phased out.

Environmental and biological monitoring for the identification of main exposure determinants in vineyard mancozeb applicators

Grapevine is a vulnerable crop to several fungal diseases often requiring the use of ethylenebisdithiocarbamate (EBDC) fungicides, such as mancozeb. This fungicide has been reported to have goitrogenic, endocrine disrupting, and possibly immunotoxic effects. The aim of this study was to assess workers' exposure in two scenarios of mancozeb application and analyse the main determinants of exposure in order to better understand their mechanism of influence. Environmental monitoring was performed using a modified Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) "patch" methodology and by hand-wash collection, while mancozeb's metabolite, ethylenethiourea (ETU), was measured in 24-h preexposure and postexposure urine samples. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used for determination of mancozeb and ETU in different kinds of samples. Closed tractor use resulted in 40 times lower potential exposure compared with open tractor. Coveralls reduced skin exposure 4 and 10 times in case of open and closed tractors, respectively. Gloves used during application resulted in 10 times lower hand exposure in open but increased exposure in closed tractors. This study has demonstrated that exposure to mancozeb is low if safe occupational hygiene procedures are adopted. ETU is confirmed as suitable biological marker of occupational exposure to mancozeb, but the absence of biological exposure limits significantly reduces the possibility to interpret biological monitoring results in occupationally exposed workers.

Iodine nutritional status and thyroid effects of exposure to ethylenebisdithiocarbamates

INTRODUCTION

Italy is still characterized by a mild iodine deficiency and is among the most intensive users of chemical products for agriculture in Europe. The aim of this study was i) to evaluate thyroid effects of exposure to mancozeb, a fungicide widely used in agriculture, in a sample of Italian grapevine workers, and ii) to verify whether the iodine intake may modulate the risk of thyroid disruption due to the mancozeb metabolite ethylenthiourea (ETU).

METHODS

One hundred seventy-seven occupationally exposed male workers (29 from Chianti, a mild iodine deficient area, and 148 from Bolzano an iodine sufficient province) and 74 non-occupationally exposed male controls (34 from Chianti and 40 from Bolzano) were enrolled in the study. Serum biomarkers of thyroid function, as well as urinary iodine and ETU concentrations were assessed. Moreover all the recruited subjects underwent clinical examination and thyroid ultrasound.

RESULTS

Multivariate comparisons showed lower mean serum levels of FT4 in Chianti-workers as compared to Bolzano-workers. Moreover, an increased urinary iodine excretion (>250µg/L) was more frequently found among more exposed workers (ETU>20µg/L) than among less exposed ones and this effect was more pronounced in Chianti- than in Bolzano-workers. Chianti-workers also showed a significantly higher frequency of very low thyroid volume (≤6.0ml) as compared to controls.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings showed a mild thyroid disrupting effect due to occupational exposure to mancozeb, more pronounced in workers residing in an area characterized by a mild to moderate iodine deficiency as compared to workers residing in an area covered by a long-lasting iodine prophylaxis program.

Manganese concentrations in drinking water from villages near banana plantations with aerial mancozeb spraying in Costa Rica: Results from the Infants' Environmental Health Study (ISA)

Elevated manganese (Mn) in drinking water has been reported worldwide. While, naturally occurring Mn in groundwater is generally the major source, anthropogenic contamination by Mn-containing fungicides such as mancozeb may also occur. The main objective of this study was to examine factors associated with Mn and ethylenethiourea (ETU), a degradation product of mancozeb, in drinking water samples from villages situated near banana plantations with aerial spraying of mancozeb. Drinking water samples (n = 126) were obtained from 124 homes of women participating in the Infants' Environmental Health Study (ISA, for its acronym in Spanish), living nearby large-scale banana plantations. Concentrations of Mn, iron (Fe), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and ethylenethiourea (ETU), a degradation product of mancozeb, were measured in water samples. Only six percent of samples had detectable ETU concentrations (limit of detection (LOD) = 0.15 μg/L), whereas 94% of the samples had detectable Mn (LOD = 0.05 μg/L). Mn concentrations were higher than 100 and 500 μg/L in 22% and 7% of the samples, respectively. Mn was highest in samples from private and banana farm wells. Distance from a banana plantation was inversely associated with Mn concentrations, with a 61.5% decrease (95% CI: -97.0, -26.0) in Mn concentrations for each km increase in distance. Mn concentrations in water transported with trucks from one village to another were almost 1000 times higher than Mn in water obtained from taps in houses supplied by the same well but not transported, indicating environmental Mn contamination. Elevated Mn in drinking water may be partly explained by aerial spraying of mancozeb; however, naturally occurring Mn in groundwater, and intensive agriculture may also contribute. Drinking water risk assessment for mancozeb should consider Mn as a health hazard. The findings of this study evidence the need for health-based World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on Mn in drinking water.

Exposure to pesticide mixtures and DNA damage among rice field workers

This study describes the use of pesticides mixtures and their potential association with comet assay results in 223 rice field workers in Colombia. Thirty-one pesticides were quantified in blood, serum, and urine (15 organochlorines, 10 organophosphorus, 5 carbamates, and ethylenethiourea), and the comet assay was performed. Twenty-four (77.42%) pesticides were present in the workers. The use of the maximum-likelihood factor analysis identified 8 different mixtures. Afterwards, robust regressions were used to explore associations between the factors identified and the comet assay. Two groups of mixtures--α-benzene hexachloride (α-BHC), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and β-BHC (β: 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.33-2.10) and pirimiphos-methyl, malathion, bromophos-methyl, and bromophos-ethyl (β: 11.97, 95% CI: 2.34-21.60)--were associated with a higher percentage of DNA damage and comet tail length, respectively. The findings suggest that exposure to pesticides varies greatly among rice field workers.

Ozonation and peroxone oxidation of ethylenethiourea in water: operational parameter optimization and by-product identification

The objective of this work was to study the degradation and mineralization of ethylenethiourea (ETU) in water by ozonation at different pH values and in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Degradation experiments were performed using an initial ETU concentration of 50 ppm for 180 min with a gas flux of 0.25 dm(3) min(-1) and an O3 production rate of 12.1 mg min(-1). Degradation of by-products was monitored by direct injection electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), ETU concentration was determined by HPLC-UV, and its mineralization was detected by total organic carbon (TOC) analysis. Optimum degradation of ETU in water was observed at pH = 11, whereas at pH = 3, the degradation of ETU was slowest, indicating that the reaction occurred through different mechanisms. The additional effects of hydroxyl radicals formed at the highest pH can be used to explain the results obtained in this study. Peroxone experiments were carried out in the presence of 400 and 800 mg L(-1) H2O2; the degradation of ETU was faster at 400 mg L(-1) H2O2. This was attributed to the scavenging effect of the excess H2O2. ETU treatment by ozonation produced several by-products of degradation such as ethylene urea and 2-imidazoline.

Aerial application of mancozeb and urinary ethylene thiourea (ETU) concentrations among pregnant women in Costa Rica: the Infants' Environmental Health Study (ISA)

BACKGROUND

Mancozeb and its main metabolite ethylene thiourea (ETU) may alter thyroid function; thyroid hormones are essential for fetal brain development. In Costa Rica, mancozeb is aerially sprayed at large-scale banana plantations on a weekly basis.

OBJECTIVES

Our goals were to evaluate urinary ETU concentrations in pregnant women living near large-scale banana plantations, compare their estimated daily intake (EDI) with established reference doses (RfDs), and identify factors that predict their urinary ETU concentrations.

METHODS

We enrolled 451 pregnant women from Matina County, Costa Rica, which has large-scale banana production. We visited 445 women up to three times during pregnancy to obtain urine samples (n = 872) and information on factors that possibly influence exposure. We determined urinary ETU concentrations using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

Pregnant women's median urinary ETU concentrations were more than five times higher than those reported for other general populations. Seventy-two percent of the women had EDIs above the RfD. Women who lived closest (1st quartile, < 48 m) to banana plantations on average had a 45% (95% CI: 23, 72%) higher urinary ETU compared with women who lived farthest away (4th quartile, ≥ 565 m). Compared with the other women, ETU was also higher in women who washed agricultural work clothes on the day before sampling (11%; 95% CI: 4.9, 17%), women who worked in agriculture during pregnancy (19%; 95% CI: 9.3, 29%), and immigrant women (6.2%; 95% CI: 1.0, 13%).

CONCLUSIONS

The pregnant women's urinary ETU concentrations are of concern, and the principal source of exposure is likely to be aerial spraying of mancozeb. The factors predicting ETU provide insight into possibilities for exposure reduction.

Combined determination and confirmation of ethylenethiourea and propylenethiourea residues in fruits at low levels of detection

In this work, a new method for the determination of ethylenethiourea (ETU) and propylenethiourea (PTU) in fruits and vegetables is presented. Different extraction and purification techniques, including matrix solid phase dispersion (MSPD) and solid-liquid extraction (SLE), followed by a clean-up step by solid phase extraction (SPE), were compared. The determination of ETU and PTU was performed by high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC/DAD) or by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry detection (GC/MS). The effect of several parameters on the extraction, separation and detection was studied. The proposed method based on solid-liquid extraction with acetonitrile, clean-up with Envicarb II/PSA cartridges and subsequent analysis by HPLC/DAD was characterised and applied to the analysis of fruits and vegetables from different countries. Analytes recoveries were between 71% and 94% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) ranging from 8% to 9.5%. Quantification limits obtained for ETU and PTU with the HPLC/DAD method were 7 and 16 μg kg⁻¹ in strawberries (fresh weight), respectively. For apples, they were 11 and 25 μg kg⁻¹, respectively.

Kinetic and thermodynamic investigation of mancozeb degradation in tomato homogenate during thermal processing

BACKGROUND

The kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of mancozeb degradation in tomato homogenates under the conditions prevailing in the manufacture of tomato products (at 60-100 °C for 0-60 min) were investigated. A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method was used to analyse residual mancozeb in tomato homogenate. Ethylenethiourea (ETU), the main toxic degradation product of mancozeb, was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-with photodiode array detector (PDA).

RESULTS

The degradation of mancozeb and the formation of ETU in tomato homogenates were adequately described as first-order kinetics. Dependence of the rate constant followed the Arrhenius relationship. Apparent activation energies, temperature coefficients, half time and time to reduce to 90% of the initial value of mancozeb were calculated as kinetic parameters. The thermodynamic parameters of mancozeb were also described as Δg(d) = - 2.440 and 7.074 kJ mol⁻¹; Δh(d) = - 32.555 and - 42.767 kJ mol⁻¹; Δs(d) = - 0.090 and - 0.150 kJ mol⁻¹ K⁻¹; K(e) = 0.414 and 9.797 L g⁻¹ for 333 and 373 K respectively.

CONCLUSION

Current findings may shed light on the reduction of mancozeb residue and its toxic degradation product during thermal processing of tomatoes and may also be valuable in awareness and prevention of potential risks from dietary exposure.

Sampling and Analytical Determination of Airborne Tetramethyl and Ethylene Thiourea

Tetramethyl and ethylene thiourea are collected from air using midget impingers containing 15 mL water. Ethylene thiourea may also be collected from air using PVC or cellulose ester membrane filters which are then extracted with water. Pentacyanoamineferrate reagent is added to the filter-extract or to the impinger contents to form a colored coordination complex. The absorbance of the solution is measured spectrophotometrically at 590 nm, and the unknown concentration of tetramethyl or ethylene thiourea samples is determined from calibration curves. The detection limit is 0.75 microg/sample for ethylene thiourea and 3 microg/sample for tetramethyl thiourea. Experimental results indicate that this method can be used as a general analytical method for the analysis of other thiourea-derived compounds.

Analysis of ethylenethiourea as a biomarker in human urine using liquid chromatography/triple quadrupole mass spectrometry

Ethylenebisdithiocarbamates (EBDCs) are widely used fungicides. Ethylenethiourea (ETU), the main metabolite and also a contaminant in the commercially available products, is of major toxicological concern. In this study, a method using liquid chromatography/triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) is described for the analysis of ETU in human urine after a single-step extractive derivatization using pentafluorobenzyl bromide (PFBBr). Analysis was carried out using selected reaction monitoring (SRM) in the positive ion mode. Quantification of ETU was performed using [(2)H(4)]-labeled ETU as internal standard (IS). The limit of detection (LOD) was determined to 0.05 ng/mL. The method was linear in the range 0.1-54 ng/mL urine and had a within-run precision of 3-5%. The between-run precision was determined at an average urine level of 2 and 10 ng/mL urine and found to be 9%. The inter-batch precision was 6%. To validate ETU as a biomarker of exposure, the method was applied in a human experimental oral exposure to the commercial fungicide Ridomil Gold, containing 64% mancozeb and 4.5% ETU. Two healthy volunteers received 8.9 microg/kg body weight (b.w.) Ridomil Gold in a single oral dose followed by urine sampling for 104 h post-exposure. The elimination half-life of ETU was estimated to 17-23 h.

Elucidation of the absolute configuration of JNJ-27553292, a CCR2 receptor antagonist, by vibrational circular dichroism analysis of two precursors

The absolute configurations of two precursors, that is, 1-(3',4'-dichlorophenyl)-propanol and 1-(3',4'-dichlorophenyl)-propanamine, of a potent 2-mercapto-imidazole CCR-2 receptor antagonist, JNJ-27553292, were determined using vibrational circular dichroism. As a consequence, the absolute configuration of the antagonist itself was also determined. The two precursor compounds were subjected to a thorough conformational analysis and rotational strengths were calculated at the B3LYP/cc-pVTZ level of theory. Based on these data, vibrational circular dichroism spectra were simulated, which in turn were compared with experimental spectra. Agreement between the spectra allowed the assignment of the absolute configuration, which is in agreement with the proposed configuration based on stereospecific reactions on similar compounds.

Determination of Ethylene Thiourea in Urine by HPLC-DAD

Ethylene thiourea (ETU) is a metabolite of ethylenebisdithiocarbamates (EBDCs); it is the best indicator of exposure to these fungicides. Therefore, high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode-array detection (HPLC-DAD) was optimized and validated for the determination of ETU in human urines. Urine samples were extracted by solid-phase extraction using Extrelut and analyzed using HPLC-DAD set at 231 nm. The analyses were carried out using a mobile phase of 0.01 M phosphate buffer (pH 4.5) on a C18 Uptisphere NEC-5-20, 250- x 4.6-mm x 5-microm column. The internal standard used was 4-pyridinecarboxylic acid hydrazide. The method was successfully validated in compliance with requirements set by the International Committee on Harmonization 1996. The lower limit of quantitation was at 1 microg/L, and the linearity was studied from 1 to 100 microg/L. There were 272 urine samples collected from farmers exposed to EBDCs in different regions in France analyzed in this study.

Determination of ethylenethiourea (ETU) and propylenethiourea (PTU) in foods by high performance liquid chromatography–atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation–medium-resolution mass spectrometry

A robust and sensitive method for the determination of ethylenethiourea (ETU) and iso-propylenethiourea (i-PTU) in foods is reported. ETU and i-PTU were extracted by blending with dichloromethane (DCM) in the presence of sodium sulphate, sodium carbonate, thiourea and ascorbic acid. 2H4-ETU and n-PTU were used as internal standards. After filtration the DCM was removed by rotary evaporation and the extract re-dissolved in water before analysis by reversed-phase liquid chromatography with detection by atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry using a double focusing mass spectrometer at a resolution of 5000. Mean recoveries of ETU and i-PTU from fruit-based, cereal-based and meat-based infant foods, potato chips and tinned potatos at 0.01 mg kg(-1) and from pizza and yoghurt at 0.02-0.1 mg kg(-1) were 95% and 97% respectively. Precision, including both repeatability and internal reproducibility, was in the range of 3.1-13.1%.

Application of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the determination of urinary ethylenethiourea in humans

Ethylenethiourea (ETU) is a major metabolite of ethylenebisdithiocarbamate pesticides: a sensitive and specific assay for its determination in human urine is proposed below. ETU is extracted on a diatomaceous earth column using dichloromethane and derivatized with the mixture of N-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-N-methyltrifluoroacetamide and tert-butyldimethyilsilyl chloride. The derivative is analyzed using GC/MS in the EI/SIM mode. The whole procedure is carried out in the presence of ethylenethiourea-d(4) as internal standard. The analytical features of the method are: high specificity, >90% recovery, range of linearity 0-200 microg/L, within- and between-run precision as coefficient of variation, <17 and <20%, respectively, limit of quantification 2 microg/L. In specimens stored in the dark at -20 degrees C ETU is stable for at least 6 months. The procedure was successfully applied to the biological monitoring of vineyard workers exposed to EBDTC and of a matched group of subjects from the general population.

Simultaneous determination of maneb and its main metabolites in tomatoes by liquid chromatography using diode array ultraviolet absorbance detection

Liquid chromatography (LC) with diode array ultraviolet absorbance (DAD UV) detection is used for the simultaneous determination of the fungicide maneb and its main metabolites (ethylenethiourea--ETU, ethylenebis (isothiocyanate) sulfide--EBIS, and ethyleneurea--EU) in tomatoes. The identity of EBIS, one of the main UV degradation products of maneb, was verified by both DAD UV detection and mass spectrometry. The analytes were extracted three times with 3 mL of 1:1:1 acetonitrile-dichloromethane-chloroform by 2 min of mechanical shaking and separated on a C-18 column by gradient elution with an acetonitrile-methanol-aqueous 100mM sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) mixture. The quantification limits of 0.45, 0.04, and 0.35 mg kg(-1) obtained for maneb, ETU, and EU, respectively, show that the proposed method is suitable for their determination in tomatoes.

Correlation between blood ethylenethiourea and thyroid gland disorders among banana plantation workers in the Philippines

Ethylenebisdithiocarbamates (EBDCs) are metabolized into ethylenethiourea (ETU), a possible human carcinogen and an antithyroid compound. In this study our goal was to correlate ETU levels with the incidence of thyroid gland disorders among banana plantation workers exposed to EBDC. We randomly selected 57 directly exposed workers and 31 indirectly exposed workers from four banana plantations and 43 workers from an organic farm; all subjects underwent complete medical examinations and laboratory tests. Results showed a higher mean thyroid-stimulating hormone measurement among exposed workers compared with the control group, although the levels were well within normal range. Nine of the exposed farmers had abnormal thyroid ultrasound findings, consisting mostly of solitary nodules, compared with three among the control group. Analysis of variance showed significantly different blood ETU levels among the directly exposed, indirectly exposed, and control groups (p < 0.001), but ETU levels in urine were not significantly different (p = 0.10). Environmental ETU levels were below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency remediation levels. Among farmers with solitary thyroid nodules, we found a very good direct correlation between the size of the nodule and blood ETU level. In this study we showed that blood ETU is a more reliable biomarker for EBDC exposure than urinary ETU; therefore, the determination of blood ETU should be part of medical surveillance efforts among workers exposed to EBDC to detect occurrences of thyroid gland disorders.

[Occupational exposure to fungicides in floriculture in Ecuador]

Floriculture represents one of the major sources of income in the Ecuadorian Andean Region that can be carried out either in open fields as in greenhouses by using chemical compounds, growing hormones and xenobiotics. Among pesticides, ethylenbisdithiocarbamate (EBDTCs) fungicides represent the most extensively used. The aim of the study was the assessment of exposure to EBDTCs in Ecuadorian floricultural workers by the determination of the urinary excretion of the main metabolite of these compounds, ethylenethiourea (ETU). For this purpose, thirty-six floriculture workers and 7 unexposed healthy subjects were recruited for the study. Median level of ETU excretion in agricultural workers before the work shift was 3.2 micrograms/g creatinine, ranging from 0.4 to 34.5 micrograms/g creatinine. After pesticide application, urinary ETU increased to 6.2 micrograms/g creatinine (1.5-26.5) microgram/g creatinine. Urinary ETU resulted significantly higher in overall workers, taken as pre- and post-shift samples, when compared to controls (0.7, 0.4-2.1 micrograms/g creatinine, p < 0.01). According to jobs, applicators showed the highest levels of ETU excretion whereas growing, post-harvesting and maintenance workers showed similar levels of exposure. Higher level ETU excretion was observed in greenhouse compared to open field workers.

[Environmental and biological reference values of plant pesticides]

A wide range of studies concerned with the definition of environmental and biological reference values for plant pesticides is reviewed. All phases of data production are critically assessed, including sampling, sample preparation and analysis, choice of population, statistical analysis and expression of results. The importance of the studies for the definition of reference values useful in the sectors of environmental hygiene and occupational toxicology is also examined. Most of the studies were based on American populations, though work on reference values has also recently been done by Italian authors, particularly the SIVR, which has published data on 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol and ethylenethiourea in urine. Because the number of the studies is small and more detail about variables is needed, the lists of reference values, given separately for American and Italian populations, also include proposals and attempts at definition of reference values. When available, biological reference values (BRV) are given separately for adults and children, emphasising the greater intake of the infant population due to higher food intake per unit body weight and greater exposure to contaminants present in the domestic environment. BRVs for plant pesticides generally depend on factors such as smoking, wine consumption and diet, major sources of residue intake for the human population.

Analytical method for the quantitative determination of urinary ethylenethiourea by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A direct, rapid and selective method for the quantitative determination of the ethylenethiourea (ETU) in human urine has been validated and is reported in the present study. It allows the accurate quantification of ETU in this complex matrix without the use of any internal standard as the sample cleanup is effective enough for the removal of interferences that could lead to ion suppression in the electrospray ionization (ESI) source. This simple and rapid purification system, based on the use of a Fluorosil phase of a BondElut column followed by a liquid-liquid extraction procedure, achieves mean extracted recoveries, assessed at three different concentrations (2.5, 10.0, and 25.0 microg/L), always more than 85%. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with positive ion tandem mass spectrometry, operating in selected multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode, is used to quantify ETU in human urine. The assay is linear over the range 0-50 microg/L, with a lower limit of quantification (LOQ) of 1.5 microg/L and a coefficient of variation (CV) of 8.9%. The lower limit of detection (LOD) is assessed at 0.5 microg/L. The overall precision and accuracy were determined on three different days. The values for within- and between-day precision are < or = 8.3 and 10.1%, respectively, and the accuracy is in the range 97-118%. The relative uncertainties for the LOQ and QC concentrations have been estimated to be 18 and 8%, respectively. The assay was applied to quantify ETU in human urine from growers that regularly handle ethylenebisdithiocarbamate pesticides in large crop plantations. The biological samples were collected at the start and end of the working day, and the ETU urine levels were found to vary between 1.9 and 8.2 microg/L.

Ethylenethiourea in urine as an indicator of exposure to mancozeb in vineyard workers

In the present study, the personal exposure to mancozeb and/or ethilenethiourea (ETU) in 13 Italian vineyard workers and in 13 subjects without occupational exposure to pesticides was investigated. With this aim, the level of ETU in urine and the dermal exposure to mancozeb were determined. Baseline urinary ETU results were lower than the analytical limit of detection for all controls (<0.5 microg/g creatinine) and for ten workers (median <0.5, range <0.5-3.4 microg/g creatinine). In workers, urinary ETU was significantly increased at the end of shift (2.5, <0.5-95.2 microg/g creatinine) compared with baseline levels. End-shift urinary ETU was higher in operators using open tractors (n=7) than in those using closed tractors (n=5) (16.2 vs. 2.4 microg/g creatinine), but the difference was not significant (P=0.073). End-shift urinary ETU was positively correlated with dermal exposure to mancozeb determined both over the clothes and on the skin (Spearman's rho=0.770 and 0.702, P=0.009 and 0.024, respectively). Wine consumption positively influenced the excretion of ETU.

Chlorine and chlorine dioxide treatment to reduce or remove EBDCs and ETU residues in a solution

Calcium hypochlorite (Ca(OCl)(2)) and chlorine dioxide (ClO(2)), common disinfecting and bleaching chemicals used in the food industry, are potent oxidizing agents. In this paper, the degradation effects of chlorine dioxide on mancozeb and ethylenethiourea (ETU) residues were investigated in a model system and compared with those of liquid chlorine, under various conditions such as differing concentration, pH, reaction time, and temperature. All samples were analyzed for residues by GLC and HPLC. Rate of mancozeb degradation was dependent on pH, with pH 4.6 being the most effective. Mancozeb residues decreased 40-100% with chlorine and chlorine dioxide treatments. ETU residue concentrations in mancozeb solutions were monitored over 60 min. Under controlled conditions, the ETU residue concentrations increased up to 15 min reaction time and then decreased in all three pH ranges. Treatment with both chlorine and chlorine dioxide at pH 4.6, yielded no ETU residues at both 10 and 21 degrees C. The results show that chlorine dioxide gives excellent degradation effects at lower concentrations than liquid chlorine.

A simple method for the determination of ethylene-thiourea (ETU) in biological samples

A direct, simple, and rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the determination of ethylene-thiourea (ETU) in biological fluids. Samples were chromatographed on a Lichrosorb RP8 (5 pm) column after extraction with dichloromethane. The mobile phase was a mixture of hexane/isopropyl alcohol/ethyl alcohol (93:6:1 v/v) added with 0.6 mL/L butylamine. Detection was done with a UV detector set at 243 nm. This method was validated to standard criteria. Calibration curves for ETU in 100 microL of 0.9% saline, 500 microL plasma, and 10 mL urine were linear (r2 > 0.99) from 0.05 to 30 microg/mL, 0.025 to 30 microg/mL, and 1 to 100 ng/mL, respectively. The lower limit of detection was 20 ng/mL in plasma, 25 ng/mL in 0.9% saline, and 0.5 ng/mL in urine.

Determination of ETU in tomatoes and tomato products by HPLC-PDA: evaluation of cleanup procedures

An HPLC-PDA method for the determination of ethylenethiourea (ETU), the main degradation product of the organic fungicides ethylene bis(dithiocarbamate)s (EBDCs), in tomatoes and tomato products is reported. Solid-matrix liquid-liquid (l-l) partitioning and separatory funnel l-l partitioning for the cleanup were examined. The effect of salt addition, pH, and phase ratio on analyte recovery at the cleanup step was studied. It was found that solid-matrix l-l partitioning afforded higher precision and more selective separation of the analyte. According to the method proposed, the samples were extracted with methanol/water (3:1, v/v) and cleaned up on an Extrelut 20 column. ETU was eluted with dichloromethane and separated on a reversed phase HPLC column. For tomato products with degrees Brix > 20 further purification through silica cartridge was adopted. The method was validated over the following ranges of concentrations: 0.01-0.5 mg/kg for tomatoes, 0.01-0.1 mg/kg for tomato juice, and 0.05-0.25 mg/kg for tomato paste. The accuracy (recoveries > 70%) and the precision obtained (%RSD < 10%) were satisfactory.

Degradation of ethylene thiourea (ETU) with three fenton treatment processes

Anodic Fenton treatment (AFT), an electrochemical, hydroxyl radical oxidation treatment system, was developed for the degradation of aqueous pesticides and other aqueous organic wastes. AFT of ethylene thiourea (ETU) was optimized and compared with electrochemical Fenton treatment (EFT) and classic Fenton treatment (CFT). ETU is a known carcinogen and is an impurity and degradation product of the widely used ethylenebisdithiocarbamate (EBDC) fungicide group. ETU was degraded effectively in all treatment methods, with CFT being the most rapid; however, significant differences in degradation product profiles were noted over the course of treatments. AFT displayed the most efficient degradation of primary degradation products of ETU.

Environmental and biological monitoring of exposure to mancozeb, ethylenethiourea, and dimethoate during industrial formulation

The results of environmental (11 subjects) and biological (57 subjects) monitoring of exposure to mancozeb, ethylenethiourea (ETU), and dimethoate are reported for employees of a firm producing commercial formulations containing these active ingredients. Urinary excretion [GM(GSD)] of ETU (microg/g creatinine) and alkylphosphates [dimethylphosphate (DMP) + dimethylthiophosphate (DMTP) + dimethyldithiophosphate (DMDTP)] (nmol/g creatinine) was 65.3(4.8) and 419.2(2.1), respectively, for employees engaged in the formulation of a product containing 80% mancozeb (n = 9), 36.6(1.9) and 296.4(2.4) for those formulating a product containing 35% mancozeb (n = 9), 9.5(6.1) and 1022.4(3.0) for those engaged in plant maintenance and internal transport of materials (n = 6), 10.3(4.2) and 322.8(3.3) for those engaged in packaging the mancozeb formulations (n = 16), 4.4(3.3) and 2545.4(3.9) for those formulating a product containing 40% dimethoate (n = 11), and 3.0(2.7) and 871.7(3.3) for those bottling the same dimethoate formulation (n = 10). Air concentrations (microg/m3) ranged from 25.3 to 194.4 for dimethoate, from 0.2 to 1.3 for ETU, and from 139.9 to 949.0 for mancozeb. Urinary excretion of ETU and alkylphosphates showed a significant correlation with mancozeb (r2 = .971), and ETU (r2 = .858), and dimethoate (r2 = .955) contamination of the hands. Potential dose estimates showed that the potential respiratory doses of mancozeb and dimethoate accounted, on the average, for 38% of the total potential dose. The potential respiratory dose of ETU was 7% of the total potential dose. Total estimated absorption did not exceed the accepted daily dose (ADI) for ETU and mancozeb, but the ADI for dimethoate was exceeded. Serum and erythrocyte cholinesterase activities in workers formulating dimethoate products were not significantly different before and after exposure.

Urinary excretion of ethylenethiourea in five volunteers on a controlled diet (multicentric study)

Urinary excretion of ethylenethiourea (ETU) was monitored for 8 days in a group of five male non-smoker volunteers on a diet, the items of which were assayed for ETU and carbon sulphide. Urinary excretion of ETU reflected the consumption of wine, fruit and vegetables. Urinary ETU concentrations ranged from 0.6 to 6.7 micrograms/g creatinine. ETU concentrations in the food eaten by the volunteers were generally below the detection limit whereas in wine 8.8 micrograms/l ETU was detected. Evolution of carbon sulphide by food samples ranged from 0.03 to 0.17 mg/kg. Mean (+/- S.D.) daily intake of ETU in wine was 3.5 +/- 0.2% of the acceptable daily intake (ADI): 0.070 +/- 0.004 micrograms/kg body wt. During the 8 days of the study, an average of 48.3% of the ETU ingested in wine was excreted unmodified by the kidneys. Twenty-four hour urinary excretion of ETU was significantly correlated with daily intake of ETU (r = 0.768) and CS2 evolved by the daily food items (r = 0.414).

Liquid chromatography with ultraviolet absorbance detection of ethylenethiourea in blood serum after microwave irradiation as an auxiliary cleanup step

The report describes a method of deproteinizing serum that combines the action of acids with microwave irradiation. The acid concentration is ten times smaller than in the usual acid deproteinization method and the results are similar. The main advantages of the proposed method are the maintenance of the pH of the supernatant at around 5, and the reduction of the concentration of the deproteinizing agent. The procedure was applied to the determination of ethylenethiourea in serum samples by HPLC with spectrophotometric detection. Using 0.5 ml of serum, 0.04 microgram of ethylenethiourea were determined with recoveries between 89 and 109%.

Determination of ethylenethiourea in food commodities by a two-step derivatization method and gas chromatography with electron-capture and nitrogen-phosphorus detection

Ethylenethiourea (ETU) is a decomposition product from ethylene-bis-dithiocarbamates (EBDCs), the most widely used class of fungicides in the world. ETU has been classified as a possible human carcinogen. The maximum permitted residue level (MRL) in the European Union was set at 0.05 ppm. Gas chromatographic determination of ETU can be achieved only after derivatization. ETU is extracted from food samples and cleaned up by a combination of two-step derivatization and liquid-liquid partitioning. In the first step, ETU is derivatized with benzyl chloride to form S-benzyl ETU, which is then trifluoroacetylated to form the final product, which is amenable to GC. The determination is carried out with capillary gas chromatography using electron-capture (ECD) and nitrogen-phosphorus detection (NPD) as selective detection methods in parallel. The responses of ECD and NPD were found to be of the same order of magnitude. Therefore, the parallel response was found to be a useful criterion for peak identification down to the limit of detection. Reproducibility of the two-step derivatization of ETU to form trifluoroacetylated S-benzyl ETU was found to be satisfactory. The recoveries from apple, pear, tomato and a common baby food, at various concentration levels, were found to be between 82-92%, with a limit of detection of less than 1 ppb. Commercial samples, submitted for routine monitoring of dithiocarbamates (DTC) were also monitored in our laboratory for the presence of ETU. Four of the twenty samples found positive for DTC were also found to be contaminated with ETU in the range of 0.01 to 0.37 ppm. Three of these food samples were found to contain ETU residues above the MRL of 0.05, while those food samples containing DTC residues between 0.2 and 0.8 ppm were all below the MRL of DTC. No relation exists between the DTC residues concentration and the level of ETU. The screening data were further confirmed by electron impact mass spectrometry in selected ion monitoring mode. Chromatograms of ETU residue analyses are presented to demonstrate the extremely sensitive detection method with real food samples.

Reference values of urinary ethylenethiourea in four regions of Italy (multicentric study)

The results of a study in which urinary ethylenethiourea (ETU) was assayed in the general population (167 subjects) of four Regions of Italy (Veneto, Lombardy, Piedmont and Trentino Alto Adige) are reported. The results are compared with those in a population of 97 subjects from Rovescala, a hillside wine-producing town a few kilometers from Pavia, where ethylenebisdithiocarbamates are sprayed by helicopter. It was found that an average of 24% of the populations of the four regions, taken together, had urinary ETU levels above detection limits (1.0 microgram 1(-1)) as compared to 37% of the population of Rovescala. The ranges of concentration were 0.8-8.3 micrograms 1(-1) for the four regions and 0.9-61.4 micrograms 1(-1) for Rovescala. Statistically significant variables for urinary ETU levels were smoking and wine drinking.

Headspace gas-liquid chromatographic determination of dithiocarbamate residues in fruits and vegetables with confirmation by conversion to ethylenethiourea

Ethylene-bis-dithiocarbamate (EBDC) residues were determined as carbon disulfide (CS2) by an improved headspace gas-liquid chromatographic (GLC) procedure. Among 837 samples of 30 agricultural commodities tested, 43% contained residues above the detection limit for the method: 100% of broccoli samples; 80% of cabbage, kiwifruit, and grape samples; and 71% of cucumber samples. Most of the residues in kiwifruit were on or near the skin. Elimination of false-positive detections by the improved method was confirmed with kiwifruit in 2 independent procedures. Whole fruits were washed with 5% EDTA to remove surface residues of EBDC. Analysis of washes for CS2 by the headspace procedure after treatment with acidic stannous chloride and for ethylene thiourea by LC after prolonged treatment at 60 degrees C qualitatively identified the EDTA-soluble residues as EBDC. Although the improved method does not produce false-positive results, peak area responses of CS2 and the internal standard, thiophene, are influenced by chemical composition of the matrix. With matrixes high in sugar or lipids, the apparent CS2 content may be overestimated by 4-fold. Accurate determination of EBDC residues in these sample types requires appropriate adjustments to matrixes.

Enhancement of ethylenethiourea recoveries in food analyses by addition of cysteine hydrochloride

The effectiveness of cysteine hydrochloride (Cys-HCl) as a preservative of ethylenethiourea (ETU) in product matrixes and during analysis was studied. ETU recoveries were adversely affected by certain product matrixes when fortified directly into the product. Recoveries in 8 selected food items were 0-92% when analyzed 30 min after fortification and 0-51% when analyzed after 24 h. When Cys-HCl was added to product prior to fortification, recoveries increased to 71-95% even after frozen storage for 2-4 weeks. Cys-HCl was added during analysis of 53 untreated items. Recoveries improved an average of 15% with Cys-HCl. Without Cys-HCl, recoveries were erratic (20-98%), but with Cys-HCl, recoveries were 68-113%. Other antioxidants (sodium sulfite, butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, and vitamins A and C) also were evaluated as ETU preservatives. When lettuce was treated first with sodium sulfite and then fortified with ETU, recoveries averaged 86%; without sodium sulfite, they averaged 1%. The other antioxidants were less effective for preserving ETU in lettuce, giving only 8-46% recoveries. The effect of oxidizers (potassium bromate, sodium hypochlorite, and hydrogen peroxide) on ETU recovery was also determined. Recovery of ETU from a baby food product (pears and pineapple) was 82%; with oxidizers, recoveries were 0-8%.

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry determination of ethylenethiourea hemoglobin adducts: a possible indicator of exposure to ethylene bis dithiocarbamate pesticides

Ethylenebisdithiocarbamates (EBDC) are an important class of fungicides used to control crop diseases and prevent mold. Ethylenethiourea (ETU), reported to be their main degradation and metabolic product in animals and man, may have teratogenic and carcinogenic properties. The feasibility of monitoring exposure to ETU on the basis of the formation of adducts to hemoglobin (Hb) was investigated. Rats given a single oral dose of ETU (from 62.5 to 500 mg/kg body wt) formed stable covalent ETU-Hb adducts. Mild acid hydrolysis of the protein regenerated ETU, allowing its detection by isotope dilution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The amount of released ETU increased with the dose. The dose-response curve fitted a linear model only between 62.5 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg. Acid-releasable ETU was also positively identified in the hemoglobin of workers exposed to Mancozeb, an EBDC formulation. In the exposed group, 40% had ETU-Hb adducts levels ranging from 0.5 to 1.42 pmol ETU/mg Hb. Such adducts might be useful for measuring EBDC exposure in humans.

[Evaluation of urinary excretion of ethylenethiourea in subjects occupationally and non-occupationally exposed to ethylenebis(dithiocarbamates)]

Ethylenebisdithiorcabamate (EBDC) fungicides are broken down metabolically and in the environment to ethylenethiourea (ETU), a suspected carcinogen. Urinary ETU was assayed in control groups and subjects occupationaly exposed to EBDC and was found to be an excellent indicator of exposure both to ETU and EBDC. Correct use of protective clothing greatly reduced exposure and urinary excretion of ETU. ETU was excreted, albeit in low concentrations, in a high percentage (91% and 30%) of subjects in both control groups, demonstrating its utility as an indicator of widespread EBDC contamination.

Gas chromatographic/nitrogen-phosphorus detection method for determination of ethylene thiourea in finished drinking waters: collaborative study

A joint U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)-AOAC interlaboratory method validation study was conducted on USEPA National Pesticide Survey (NPS) Method 6, "Determination of Ethylene Thiourea (ETU) in Finished Drinking Water by Gas Chromatography with a Nitrogen-Phosphorus Detector." The purpose of the study was to determine and compare the mean recoveries and precision for determination of ETU in reagent water and finished drinking waters. The study design was based on Youden's nonreplicate plan for collaborative tests of analytical methods. The waters were spiked with ETU at 6 concentrations levels, prepared as 3 Youden pairs. In the method, the test water is extracted by passing the sample through an absorbent matrix type tube. ETU is recovered from the tube with methylene chloride, the extract is solvent-exchanged to ethyl acetate, and an aliquot of each extract is analyzed by gas chromatography using a nitrogen-phosphorus detector. Twelve laboratories participated in the study. Data were analyzed using a USEPA computer program, which measured recovery and precision for ETU and compared the performance of the method between the 2 water types. Over the concentration range tested, the mean percent recoveries of ETU were 82-92% in reagent water and 85-98% in finished drinking water. The range of the between-laboratory relative standard deviations (RSDR) for the 6 concentrations was 5-24% in reagent water, but was only 4-9% in finished drinking water. The range of the within-laboratory relative standard deviations (RSDr) was 6-14% for reagent water and 6-10% for finished drinking water. Results for the 2 water matrixes showed no statistically significant differences.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Determination of methylene chloride acceptability and its "purification" for ethylenethiourea methodology

A liquid chromatographic-electrochemical method for the determination of ethylenethiourea (ETU) residues uses methylene chloride in the cleanup. Distilled-in-glass grade methylene chloride produced erratic ETU recoveries ranging from 0 to 106% for vacuum rotary evaporation of the solvent. ETU recoveries were found to be dependent on the bottle of methylene chloride used, not on supplier or lot. When GC2 grade methylene chloride from Burdick & Jackson Laboratories was used, ETU recoveries ranged from 92 to 110%. "Acceptable" ETU recoveries were defined as those values between 90 and 110%. Passing "unacceptable" methylene chloride through a column containing anhydrous sodium sulfate, sodium carbonate, and alumina was found to adequately purify methylene chloride. Treated methylene chloride provided acceptable ETU recoveries for up to 1 month after "purification."

Measurement of ethylenethiourea using thermospray liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

Reliable measurement of ethylenethiourea (ETU) is important because ETU is a potent thyroid carcinogen. A method for the separation and identification of ethylenethiourea (ETU) by applying reversed-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) followed by thermospray (TSP) mass spectrometry (MS) detection is described. Single ion recording detection applying HPLC-MS of ETU appeared to be highly selective and equally sensitive as an HPLC method applying UV detection reported in our earlier study (1). The detection limit for ETU was 100 pg per injection.

Liquid chromatographic determination of ethylenethiourea using pulsed amperometric detection

A liquid chromatographic method was developed using pulsed amperometric detection at a gold working electrode to measure residue levels of ethylenethiourea (ETU) in crops and groundwater. Use of the sequential pulsing program eliminates electrode fouling while preserving the sensitive and selective detection of ETU. Minimum detection limits in crops were 5-10 ppb (1.25-2.5 ng on-column) and 5 ppb (0.5 ng) in groundwater. The commercial availability of the pulsed electrochemical detector and its gold working electrode that remains functional with a minimum of conditioning is an improvement in method simplicity.

Determination of ethylenethiourea in crops using particle beam liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry

Several food crops were analyzed for residues of ethylenethiourea (ETU), a suspect thyroid and liver carcinogen present in EBDC fungicides, using a commercial particle beam (PB) LC/MS method. The PB/LC/MS detection limits for ETU in crops (5 ppb, 1.25 ng) are comparable to those obtained by LC with electrochemical detection. Spectra obtained from crop samples containing as little as 5 ng of ETU were matched with the NBS library reference EI spectrum. Isotopically labeled ETU was used as an internal standard for quantitation and determination of recoveries. No enhancement of molecular ion signal intensity from unlabeled ETU was observed upon coelution with the isotopically labeled variant. This MS method permits detection of ETU with increased selectivity without compromising sensitivity.

Environmental and biological monitoring of exposure to ethylenebisdithiocarbamate fungicides and ethylenethiourea

Exposure of workers to ethylenebisdithiocarbamates (EBDCs; maneb or mancozeb) in 29 potato farms was evaluated during the control of potato late blight. Concentrations of EBDCs and ethylenethiourea (ETU), an impurity and degradation product in EBDC formulations, in ambient air were evaluated during pesticide application. Biological monitoring of exposure to EBDCs was carried out by measuring the concentrations of ETU, a metabolite of EBDCs, in urine for 22 days after the end of the exposure. The estimated inhaled doses of ETU and EBDCs during the average four hour application period were 0.07 and 1.8 micrograms/kg, respectively. Only 1-10% of ETU on the clothes reached the skin. The creatinine corrected concentrations of ETU in urine were 0.1-2.5 micrograms/mmol creatinine 24 hours after exposure ended. The estimated half life for eliminating ETU through the kidneys was close to 100 hours. These results indicate that the measurement of ETU in urine is suitable for biological monitoring of exposure to EBDCs.

Ethylenethiourea (ETU) in relation to use of ethylenebisdithiocarbamate (EBDC) fungicides

Degradation of ethylenebisdithiocarbamate fungicides (EBDCs) is known to produce ethylenethiourea (ETU). This article reviews the literature available on the toxicology of EBDCs and ETU, the sources in plants and persistence of ETU, and its formation during heat treatment of plant products. Detoxification techniques developed are mentioned, and Maximum Residue Limits and the results of monitoring studies are given for several countries. Some aspects of the methods of analysis are discussed. Although EBDCs have in the past been regarded as relatively harmless, data on their subchronic and chronic toxicity indicate that these toxicological features should not be ignored. ETU has low acute toxicity but possesses carcinogenic, goiterogenic, teratogenic, and mutagenic activity in animal tests. The most prominent aspect of its toxicology is its action on the thyroid gland, which causes hyperplasia and a decrease in thyroid hormone levels. It is a potent teratogen in pregnant rats after either acute exposure or administration throughout organogenesis, inducing a wide spectrum of malformations to the progeny. The teratogenic potential is specific to rat, whereas administration to pregnant mouse, hamster, guinea pig, and cat causes limited or no teratogenicity, except at very high dose levels. The mutagenicity of ETU has not been clearly established, although some data exist that indicate that it indeed has mutagenic potential. ETU can react with nitrites to form N-nitroso-ETU, which is a mutagenic and teratogenic compound. Most of the ETU present in fresh agricultural products treated with EBDCs arises from the presence of ETU in formulations. Surface deposits of EBDCs on plants may be a secondary source. ETU may also be taken up by plants from the soil following the breakdown of EBDCs, but conflicting results have been obtained on this phenomenon. ETU on plant surfaces undergoes subsequent degradation. Although small amounts may persist up to 30 d after spraying, there is no indication that it accumulates in plants. Initial findings that ETU is formed during the heat processing of EBDC-treated foods are confirmed by the more recent literature. However, the variability of the results indicates a wide range of conversion due to processing. Boiling of spinach, pears, grapes, tomatoes, and wheat, treated with different EBDCs, resulted in 3-30% conversion to ETU. Apple juice, dried pomace, and applesauce contained more ETU than the EBDC-treated apples, from which these products were produced. This was also true for tomato juice and canned whole tomatoes. ETU may be produced in the smoke of tobacco containing high EBDC residues.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Liquid chromatographic-electrochemical determination of ethylenethiourea in foods by revised official method

AOAC official method 29.119-29.125 was revised to determine ethylenethiourea (ETU) directly by a liquid chromatographic-electrochemical (LC-EC) determinative technique and to improve ETU recovery. ETU is extracted from food products with a methanol-aqueous sodium acetate solution. A portion of the concentrated filtrate is added to a column of diatomaceous earth, and ETU is eluted with 2% methanol in methylene chloride to separate it from food coextractives, which are retained on the column. The eluate is collected in a siliconized flask and evaporated, the residue is dissolved in water, and 20 microL of solution is injected onto an LC graphitized carbon column. ETU is eluted from the LC column with a mobile phase of acetonitrile-aqueous 0.1M phosphoric acid-water (5 + 25 + 70), and the eluted ETU is detected by using an amperometric electrochemical detector equipped with a gold/mercury working electrode. Recovery data were obtained by fortifying 13 food products with ETU: baked potatoes; canned applesauce, mushrooms, creamed spinach, green beans, spinach, and tomatoes; cooked fresh cabbage and frozen collards; fresh celery and lettuce; grape jelly; and powdered sugar cake donuts. Raw celery was found to cause low ETU recoveries. Average percent recoveries of ETU from the other 12 food products were 92 with a standard deviation of 12 for the low (0.05 and 0.1 ppm) fortification levels and 90 with a standard deviation of 6 for the higher (0.5 and 1 ppm) fortification levels. The limits of quantitation were 0.01 and 0.02 ppm for food products with low and high sugar content, respectively.

Residues of EBDC fungicides and ETU in experimental and commercial beverages (beer and wine)

Residues of EBDC (ethylenebisdithiocarbamate) fungicides and ETU (ethylenethiourea; 2-imidazolidinethione) were monitored in beers and wines from different locations. No EBDC residues were detected in any of the samples examined. Concerning the ETU residues, the residue levels higher than the limit of method detection (0.01 ppm) were 22.6% and 7.3% in the commercial beer and wine samples respectively, but the number of samples containing more than 0.1 ppm of ETU was practically negligeable.

1-Phenyl-5-vinyl-2-imidazolidinethione, a proposed causative agent of Spanish toxic oil syndrome: synthesis, and identification in one of a group of case-associated oil samples

A method is described for the synthesis and characterization of N-(2-hydroxy-3-butenyl)-N'-phenylthiourea, and its cyclization product, 1-phenyl-5-vinyl-2-imidazolidinethione (PVIZT). Fourteen coded oil samples associated with toxic oil syndrome cases in Spain were examined by gas chromatography-electron impact mass spectrometry for the presence of PVIZT. Although these samples were obtained from households where cases of toxic oil syndrome had been recorded, they differed extremely with regard to their anilide and sulphur contents. In one sample PVIZT was detected at an estimated concentration of 1 mg/kg.