Human exposure to neonicotinoid insecticides and the evaluation of their potential toxicity: An overview

Neonicotinoid insecticides have become the fastest growing class of insecticides over the past few decades. The insecticidal activity of neonicotinoids is attributed to their agonist action on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). Because of the special selective action on nAChRs in central ne...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 192; pp. 59 - 65
Main Authors: Han, Wenchao, Tian, Ying, Shen, Xiaoming
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2018
Subjects:
agonists
Animals
application methods
central nervous system
crops
Ecotoxicology - methods
Exposure levels
Health
Human health effects
Humans
insecticidal properties
Insecticides - toxicity
insects
metabolites
neonicotinoid insecticides
Neonicotinoids
Neonicotinoids - toxicity
nicotinic receptors
pets
risk
Toxicity
Neonicotinoids
Human health effects
Exposure levels
Toxicity
ISSN:0045-6535, 1879-1298, 1879-1298
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Neonicotinoid insecticides have become the fastest growing class of insecticides over the past few decades. The insecticidal activity of neonicotinoids is attributed to their agonist action on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). Because of the special selective action on nAChRs in central nervous system of insects, and versatility in application methods, neonicotinoids are used to protect crops and pets from insect attacks globally. Although neonicotinoids are considered low toxicity to mammals and humans in comparison with traditional insecticides, more and more studies show exposure to neonicotinoids pose potential risk to mammals and even humans. In recent years, neonicotinoids and their metabolites have been successfully detected in various human biological samples. Meanwhile, many studies have focused on the health effects of neonicotinoids on humans. Our aims here are to review studies on human neonicotinoid exposure levels, health effect, evaluation of potential toxicity and to suggest possible directions for future research. •Neonicotinoids, as a novel class of insecticides, are used widely.•Neonicotinoids have been detected in human urine, serum, and hair.•In vivo/vitro studies suggested toxicity of neonicotinoids.•Large-scale epidemiological studies on human health effects are needed.
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ISSN:0045-6535
1879-1298
1879-1298
DOI:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.10.149