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Craig E. Bernard, Maurice R. Berry, and Lisa Jo Melnyk, USEPA
National Exposure Research Laboratory - Cincinnati

I I The Food Quality Protection Act (1996)
requires the US EPA to evaluate aggregate
human exposure of pesticides from dietary and
non-dietary pathways to reduce the levels of
uncertainty in exposures to children and
infants.

I ] Post-application exposure may occur to
pesticide residues deposited on surfaces
during spraying.

I Children and infants may be exposed to
surface residues through indirect dietary
exposure from either direct contact between
foods and contaminated surfaces (surface-to-
food transfer) and/or through an intermediate,
such as hands (surface-to-hands-to-food
transfer) (Akland et al., 2000 and Melnyk et
al., 2000).

I I Generating accurate measurements of
exposure through indirect dietary route
requires developing transfer efficiency data for
food items from household surfaces.

SCIENTIFIC APPROACH

OBJECTIVE

The objectives of this study were to determine the transfer efficiency (%) of three classes of pesticides from a household surface
(ceramic tile) to three different food items (bologna, apple, and Fruit Roll-Ups) and to compare foil coupons to wipe
measurements of surfaces.

Surface Treatment:

A customized spray chamber was used to spray
a Pesticide Spray Solution (PSS) onto the
c tiles.

Food Items:

Pesticide transfer efficiencies were measurec
for three different foods, with standardized
surface contact area. The foods were Fruit
Roll-Ups Blastin' Berry Hot Colors® (Betty
Crocker®), Thin Slice Bologna (made with
chicken & pork), and Red Delicious Apple
slices.

Surface Drying:

Following spraying, each c
transferred to a glove box where it
for an hour at constant temperature
humidity.

Surface Wipes:

Pesticide transfer to foods were compared to
the pesticides removed using surface wipes
(isopropanol moistened gauze pads), which
were wiped across the ceramic tile in both the
horizontal and Vertical direction.

Foil Coupons:

Foil coupons were also sprayed with PSS ir
order to assess the concentration of each
pesticide applied to the surfaces.

Sample Extraction, and Preparation:

Bologna and apples were extracted using an
ASE 300. The Fruit Roll-Ups were dissolved
water:acetonitrile, then liquid-liquid extraction
was performed using ethyl acetate:hexane.

Sample Analysis:

inalyzed for pesticide
incentration with an HP 6890 GC with jiECD.

Transfer Efficiency (TE):

TE is defined as the amount of pesiticide
recovered from the food item divided by the
pesiticide concentration or loading level.

TE = TA/CS X 100

TA: Pesticide Recovered from food
(ng/cm2) wipe.

CS: Pesticide surface concentration

(ng/cm2) or loading level determined
either by extraction of surface wipes
with gauze pads, total surface sample
extraction, or foil deposition coupons.

PESTICIDE TRANSFER TO FOODS

Figure 1. Surface Pesticide Concentration

Figure 2. Pesticide Transfer Efficiencies (%) from Ceramic Tile to Foods

Figure 3. Fat and Moisture Content of Bologna, Apple and Fruit Roll-Ups

RELEVANCE

PRODUCTS AND OUTCOMES

I. The amount of each pesticide removed from ceramic tile using surface wipes was similar to
the concentration of each pesticide captured on foil coupons (Figure 1). Either measurement
could be used to determine surface concentration.

II. The extent of pesticide transfer to the foods was less than the total availability of residues on
the ceramic tiles (Figure 2).

I Foods containing high fat and moisture have a higher potential for contamination when
contacting sprayed surfaces.

I Ultimately, these results suggest the extent of transfer is affected by the food type and
chemical properties of the pesticide itself.

I Findings from this study in conjunction with models under development will be used to
generate more accurate estimates of excess dietary exposure to infants and children in
homes where pesticides are used.

III. Among the foods tested, bologna had the highest transfer efficiencies for all seven pesticides
tested followed by apple and Fruit Roll-Up, respectively (Figure 2).

IV. The highest transfer efficiencies among the seven pesticides tested were observed for
organophosphates (malathion and chlorpyrifos), followed by pyrethroids and pyrazole (Figure 2).

REFERENCES

V. Within each class of pesticides, transfer was fairly uniform to each food (Figure 2). It may be
possible that transfer is pesticide class dependent.

VI. A combination of fat and moisture content (i.e. >30% each) may be used
to predict transfer capabilities of foods. (Figure 3).

Akland, G., Pellizzari, E.D., Hu, Y., Roberds, J.M., Rohrer, C.A., Leckie, J.O., and
Berry, M.R. (2000). Factors Influencing Total Dietary Exposures of Young Children.
Journal of Exposure Analysis and Environmental Epidemiology, 10: 710-722.

Melnyk, L.J., Berry, M.R., Sheldon, L.S., Freeman, N.C.F., Pellizzari, E.D., and Kinman,
R.N. (2000). Dietary Exposure of Children Living in Lead-Laden Environments.

Journal of Exposure Analysis and Environmental Epidemiology, 10: 723-731.

This poster was reviewed in accordance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's peer and administration review policies
and is approved for presentation. Mention of trade names or commercial products do not constitute endorsement or

Science and Innovation to Protect Health and the Environment


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