| Human Exposure and Risk From Indoor Use of Chlorpyrifos James E. Gibson, Robert K. D. Peterson, and Bradley A. Shurdut Dow AgroSciences LLC, Indianapolis, IN 46268 USA Abstract
The toxicity, exposure, and risk from chlorpyrifos are briefly discussed in juxtaposition with two recent articles in Environmental Health Perspectives concerning potential exposures to children. In studies conducted according to EPA guidelines, chlorpyrifos has been shown not to be mutagenic, carcinogenic, or teratogenic, nor does it adversely affect reproduction. Chlorpyrifos toxicity does not occur in the absence of significant cholinesterase inhibition. If exposures are less than those that cause significant cholinesterase depression, then no signs or symptoms related to chlorpyrifos exposure occur. The weight of empirical evidence indicates that the risk of adults or children experiencing an adverse health effect from exposure to chlorpyrifos through both nondietary and dietary sources is negligible. Both the research supporting the registration of these products and their long history of widespread use suggest that unless these products are seriously misused, their margins of safety are wide enough to protect everyone with the potential to be exposed. A weight-of-evidence review of the entire scientific knowledge base relating to chlorpyrifos products supports these conclusions. Key words: biomonitoring, chlorpyrifos, dislodgeable residues, exposure modeling, nondietary exposure, organophosphate insecticide, pesticide, risk. Environ Health Perspect 106:303-306 (1998) . [Online 28 April 1998] http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/1998/106p303-306gibson/ abstract.html Address correspondence to R.K.D. Peterson, Dow AgroSciences LLC, 9330 Zionsville Road 306/2C, Indianapolis, IN 46268 USA. Received 13 March 1998 ; accepted 8 April 1998.
The full version of this article is available for free in HTML format. |
