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Detection of the fungicide transformation product 4-hydroxychlorothalonil in serum of pregnant women from Sweden and Costa Rica

Krais, Annette M LU orcid ; de Joode, Berna van Wendel ; Liljedahl, Emelie Rietz LU ; Blomberg, Annelise J LU orcid ; Rönnholm, Anna LU ; Bengtsson, Marie LU orcid ; Cano, Juan Camilo ; Hoppin, Jane A ; Littorin, Margareta LU and Nielsen, Christel LU orcid , et al. (2024) In Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology 34(2). p.270-277
Abstract

BACKGROUND: 4-hydroxychlorothalonil (HCT, R182281), a transformation product of the fungicide chlorothalonil, was recently identified in human serum and breast milk. There are indications that HCT may be more toxic and environmentally persistent than chlorothalonil.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to investigate serum concentrations of HCT in pregnant women in Sweden and Costa Rica.

METHODS: We developed a quantitative analytical method for HCT using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. We measured HCT in 1808 serum samples from pregnant women from the general population in Sweden (1997-2015) and in 632 samples from 393 pregnant women from an agricultural population in Costa Rica (2010-2011). In Swedish samples, we... (More)

BACKGROUND: 4-hydroxychlorothalonil (HCT, R182281), a transformation product of the fungicide chlorothalonil, was recently identified in human serum and breast milk. There are indications that HCT may be more toxic and environmentally persistent than chlorothalonil.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to investigate serum concentrations of HCT in pregnant women in Sweden and Costa Rica.

METHODS: We developed a quantitative analytical method for HCT using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. We measured HCT in 1808 serum samples from pregnant women from the general population in Sweden (1997-2015) and in 632 samples from 393 pregnant women from an agricultural population in Costa Rica (2010-2011). In Swedish samples, we assessed time trends and investigated seasonality. In the Costa Rican samples, we evaluated variability between and within women and explanatory variables of HCT concentrations.

RESULTS: HCT was detected in all serum samples, and the limit of detection was 0.1 µg/L. The median HCT concentration in the Swedish samples was 4.1 µg/L (interquartile range [IQR] of 2.9 - 5.8 µg/L), and 3.9 times higher in the Costa Rican samples (median: 16.1 µg/L; IQR: 10.6 - 25.0 µg/L). We found clear seasonal variation with higher concentrations in the first half of each year among Swedish women. In the Costa Rican study, women working in agriculture and living near banana plantations had higher HCT concentrations, whilst higher parity and having a partner working in agriculture were associated with decreased HCT, and no clear seasonal pattern was observed.

IMPACT STATEMENT: For the first time, this study quantifies human exposure to the fungicide chlorothalonil and/or its transformation product 4-hydroxychlorothalonil (HCT, R182281) and finds higher serum concentrations in women from a tropical agricultural setting as compared with women from the general population in Sweden.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology
volume
34
issue
2
pages
8 pages
publisher
Nature Publishing Group
external identifiers
  • scopus:85165264467
  • pmid:37474645
ISSN
1559-064X
DOI
10.1038/s41370-023-00580-8
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
© 2023. The Author(s).
id
c274d761-7b73-47ec-8e46-c1139f08320f
date added to LUP
2023-07-25 14:29:40
date last changed
2025-05-05 15:24:43
@article{c274d761-7b73-47ec-8e46-c1139f08320f,
  abstract     = {{<p>BACKGROUND: 4-hydroxychlorothalonil (HCT, R182281), a transformation product of the fungicide chlorothalonil, was recently identified in human serum and breast milk. There are indications that HCT may be more toxic and environmentally persistent than chlorothalonil.</p><p>OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to investigate serum concentrations of HCT in pregnant women in Sweden and Costa Rica.</p><p>METHODS: We developed a quantitative analytical method for HCT using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. We measured HCT in 1808 serum samples from pregnant women from the general population in Sweden (1997-2015) and in 632 samples from 393 pregnant women from an agricultural population in Costa Rica (2010-2011). In Swedish samples, we assessed time trends and investigated seasonality. In the Costa Rican samples, we evaluated variability between and within women and explanatory variables of HCT concentrations.</p><p>RESULTS: HCT was detected in all serum samples, and the limit of detection was 0.1 µg/L. The median HCT concentration in the Swedish samples was 4.1 µg/L (interquartile range [IQR] of 2.9 - 5.8 µg/L), and 3.9 times higher in the Costa Rican samples (median: 16.1 µg/L; IQR: 10.6 - 25.0 µg/L). We found clear seasonal variation with higher concentrations in the first half of each year among Swedish women. In the Costa Rican study, women working in agriculture and living near banana plantations had higher HCT concentrations, whilst higher parity and having a partner working in agriculture were associated with decreased HCT, and no clear seasonal pattern was observed.</p><p>IMPACT STATEMENT: For the first time, this study quantifies human exposure to the fungicide chlorothalonil and/or its transformation product 4-hydroxychlorothalonil (HCT, R182281) and finds higher serum concentrations in women from a tropical agricultural setting as compared with women from the general population in Sweden.</p>}},
  author       = {{Krais, Annette M and de Joode, Berna van Wendel and Liljedahl, Emelie Rietz and Blomberg, Annelise J and Rönnholm, Anna and Bengtsson, Marie and Cano, Juan Camilo and Hoppin, Jane A and Littorin, Margareta and Nielsen, Christel and Lindh, Christian H}},
  issn         = {{1559-064X}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{270--277}},
  publisher    = {{Nature Publishing Group}},
  series       = {{Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology}},
  title        = {{Detection of the fungicide transformation product 4-hydroxychlorothalonil in serum of pregnant women from Sweden and Costa Rica}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41370-023-00580-8}},
  doi          = {{10.1038/s41370-023-00580-8}},
  volume       = {{34}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}