Contamination of drinking water by neonicotinoid insecticides in China: Human exposure potential through drinking water consumption and percutaneous penetration

Neonicotinoids (NEOs) are the most widely used pesticides and have posed a serious threat to human health. However, data on human exposure to NEOs are extremely scarce. To bridge this gap, human exposure potential of NEOs through drinking water consumption and percutaneous penetration was evaluated with the influences of 17 age groups, 4 seasons, 6 regions, and 2 genders. The results showed that drinking water in the present study had an upper middle level of NEO contamination. Anthropogenic activity and weather condition played important roles in the regional distribution of NEOs in tap water. For both children and adults, NEOs intake from drinking water exposure (NDE) and percutaneous exposure (NPE) in the south regions of China are significantly higher than those in the north regions, while the order of NDE and NPE by season is summer > spring = autumn > winter. Furthermore, human age and gender also have remarkable impacts on NDE and NPE. The age groups of children subjected to the highest NDE and NPE were 9 months – 2 years old and 9–12 years old, respectively. This study provides insights into the role of seasonal and regional influence, age and gender in the risk of drinking water and percutaneous exposure to NEOs.