Indoor air pesticide in dwellings of breastfeeding mothers of the Valencian Region (Spain): Levels, exposure and risk assessment

This study assessed the inhalation risk associated with indoor pesticide concentrations in the dwellings of 41 lactating mothers living in the Valencian Region, Spain, who were participants in the BETTERMILK project. Twenty-eight substances were investigated, including pyrethroid (PYRs), organophosphate (OPPs), and organochlorine (OCPs) pesticides. Bifenthrin, cypermethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, malathion, permethrin and pyrimethanil were detected with frequencies ranging from 2% (malathion) to 80% (cypermethrin), and with an arithmetic mean concentration ranging from 4.1 ng m(-3) (bifenthrin) to 12.1 ng m-(3) (cypermethrin). The indoor air analysis was combined with several surveys to assess…