Relationship between exposure of airborne pesticides with concentration of pesticide residue in blood serum among farmers in Tanjung Karang, Malaysia

Pesticides are used to control pests and diseases, however not all sprayed pesticides will reach target area, hence causing exposure to farmers. To determine the concentration of pesticides in personal air samples, blood serum samples and health symptoms among paddy farmers and non-exposed group. This study was conducted in Tanjung Karang among 85 paddy farmers and 85 non-exposed individuals. Pesticides exposure was monitored using personal air sampler. Sorbents were extracted with acetone while blood serums were extracted with acetonitrile and analysed using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectromtery (UHPLC-MS/MS). All target pesticides (azoxystrobin, buprofezin, chlorantraniliprole, difenoconazole, fipronil, imidacloprid, isoprothiolane, pretilachlor, propiconazole, pymetrozine, tebuconazole, tricyclazole, trifloxystrobin) were detected in personal air samples of paddy farmers with the highest mean concentration 32.00 ng m-3 (chlorantraniliprole); while azoxystrobin, buprofezin, difenoconazole, imidacloprid, pymetrozine, tebuconazole, and tricyclazole were detected among non-exposed group with the highest mean concentration 2.51 ng m-3 (imidacloprid). All target pesticides were detected in blood serum of paddy farmers with the highest mean concentration 23.42 ng mL-1 (chlorantraniliprole), while buprofezin, difenoconazole, fipronil, imidacloprid, tebuconazole, tricyclazole were detected among non-exposed group with the highest mean concentration 1.47 ng mL-1 (difenoconazole). The concentrations of pesticide in personal air (except azoxystrobin and imidacloprid) and blood serum (except tricyclazole) were significantly higher in paddy farmers. The concentrations of all pesticides in personal air were significantly correlated with blood serum of paddy farmers; while for non-exposed group, buprofezin, difenoconazole, imidacloprid, and tricyclazole were significanty correlated. The findings suggested that exposure to pesticides were significantly higher in paddy farmers than non-exposed group. No significant associations between proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), lipid content, pesticides in personal air and blood serum with health symptoms. Notwithstanding, farmers should improve the use of PPE and maintain safe work practice to avoid long-term health effects