PNNL

Abstract

This chapter illustrates a number of current and future applications of pharmacokinetics to assess organophosphorus and carbamate insecticide biomontoring. These two major classes of pesticides share a common toxicological mode of action associated with their ability to target and inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Pharmacokinetics is associated with the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) of drugs and xenobiotics. Pharmacokinetic studies provide important data on the amount of toxicant delivered to a target site as well as species-, age-, and gender-specific, and dose-dependent differences in biological response. These studies have been conducted with organophosphorus and carbamate insecticides in multiple species, at various dose levels, and across different routes of exposure to understand how in vivo kinetics contributes to the observed toxicological response. Pharmacokinetic studies with these insecticides are also useful to facilitate extrapolation of dosimetry and biological response from animals to humans and for the assessment of human health risk. I that illustrate the utility of pharmacokinetic studies in biomonitoring to address human health concerns associated with these important insecticides.