Increased levels of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine are attributable to organophosphate pesticide exposure among young children.

Oxidative damage has been proposed as an important mechanism linking pesticide exposure to health effects. A study of 268 young Shanghai children was conducted to examine the relationship between organophosphate pesticide (OP) exposure and a biomarker of oxidative DNA damage. Urine samples were analyzed for five nonspecific dialkyl phosphate (DAP) metabolites [dimethyl phosphates (DMs) and diethyl phosphates (DEs)] and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). The creatinine-adjusted median of 8-OHdG in urine samples was 3.99 ng/mg. Increased exposure to OPs was associated with greater levels of urinary 8-OHdG [total DAPs: ß (adjusted)=0.46 per log(10) unit increase, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.40-0.53, p=0.000; DMs: ß (adjusted)=0.34, 95% CI=0.28-0.41, p=0.000; DEs: ß (adjusted)=0.48, 95% CI=0.42-0.54, p=0.000]. Thus, the 8-OHdG biomarker is useful for increasing our understanding of the link between childhood exposure to OPs and health outcomes.