Impact of pesticide coexposure: an experimental study with binary mixtures of lambda-cyhalothrin (LCT) and captan and its impact on the toxicokinetics of LCT biomarkers of exposure

This study aimed at gaining more insights into the impact of pesticide coexposure on the toxicokinetics of biomarkers of exposure. This was done by conducting an in vivo experimental case-study with binary mixtures of lambda-cyhalothrin (LCT) and captan and by assessing its impact on the kinetic profiles of LCT biomarkers of exposure. Groups of male Sprague–Dawley rats were exposed orally by gavage to LCT alone (2.5 or 12.5 mg/kg bw) or to a binary mixture of LCT and captan (2.5/2.5 or 2.5/12.5 or 12.5/12.5 mg/kg bw). In order to establish the temporal profiles of the main metabolites of LCT, serial blood samples were taken, and excreta (urine and feces) were collected at predetermined intervals up to 48 h post-dosing. Major LCT metabolites were quantified in these matrices: 3-(2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoroprop-1-enyl)-2,2-dimethyl-cyclopropane carboxylic (CFMP), 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA), 4-hydroxy-3-phenoxybenzoic acid (4-OH3PBA). There was no clear effect of coexposure at the low LCT dose on the kinetics of CFMP and 3-PBA metabolites, based on the combined assessment of temporal profiles of these metabolites in plasma, urine and feces; however, plasma levels of 3-PBA were diminished in the coexposed high-dose groups. A significant effect of coexposure on the urinary excretion of 4-OH3PBA was also observed while fecal excretion was not affected. The temporal profiles of metabolites in plasma and in excreta were further influenced by the LCT dose. In addition, the study revealed kinetic differences between metabolites with a faster elimination of 3-PBA and 4-OH3BPA compared to CFMP. These results suggest that the pyrethroid metabolites CFMP and 3-PBA, mostly measured in biomonitoring studies, remain useful as biomarkers of exposure in mixtures, when pesticide exposure levels are below the reference values. However, the trend of coexposure effect observed in the benzyl metabolite pathway (in particular 4-OH3BPA) prompts further investigation.