Walker, G; Hostrup, O; Hoffmann, W; Butte, W
Concentrations of 40 biocides and 2 synergists were determined in dust samples of 336 households from selected regions of Lower Saxony and Northrhine-Westphalia. Biocides were wood preservatives (1- and 2- chlornaphthalin, chlorothalonil, dichlofluanid, α- und β-endosulfane, fenobucarb, furmecyclox, lindone, parathion, pentachlorophenol (PCP), propiconazole, tebuconazole, tolylfluanid) and pyrethroids (bioallethrin, cyfluthrin, λ-cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, cyphenothrin, deltamethrin, empenthrin, fenvolerate, d-phenothrin, permethrin, resmethrin, tetramethrin) as well as other insecticides (bendiocarb, chlorpyrifos, p,p'- dichlorodiphenyl-trichloroethone (DDT), diozinon, dichlorvos, dimethoate, fenitrothion, malathion, methoprene, methoxychlor, pirimiphos-ethyl, pirimiphos-methyl, propetamphos, propoxur, fenchlorphos, tetrachlorvinphos). Furthermore piperonyl butoxide (PBO) and octachlordipropyl ether (S 421) were included in the analyses, as these synergists are present in various biocide- formulations. Regarding the population basis this study is representative for the age groups evaluated. Interviews of the volunteers concerning the use of biocides like wood preservatives, insecticides and agents to fight fleas together with the chemical analyses, performed with the '< 63-μm-fraction' of dust, resulted in a detailed knowledge of the indoor application of biocides. Wood preservatives and agents against insects and fleas are used by more than two thirds of the population, thus residues can be found in nearly every home; in two households only (< 1%) no biocide or synergist could be observed.