As part of the National Human Exposure Assessment Survey ( NHEXAS ) , residential pesticide storage and use patterns were evaluated in a population -based sample of Minnesota households with children aged 3 ± 13. In -home interviews and inventories were conducted to identify pesticide products stored and used in and around 308 households. This statistically based sample represents more than 49,000 urban and rural households in the census tracts sampled. More than 850 unique products were identified using Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) registration numbers. Pesticide products were found in 97% and reported used in 88% of study households. Population -weighted mean values for pesticide storage and use were 6.0 and 3.1 products per household, respectively. The most common active ingredients found were diethyl toluamide ( DEET ) and related compounds, piperonyl butoxide, pyrethrins, dimethylamine 2 -[ 2 -methyl -4 -chlorophenoxy ] propionate ( MCPA ) and chlorpyrifos. Household socio -demographic characteristics explained little of the variability in pesticide storage and use patterns, and there were no significant differences in residential storage and use patterns between households located in urban versus non -urban census tracts. Although the prevalence of households with pesticide products was similar to recent national surveys, observed storage and use rates were almost twice those obtained in recent national studies, reflecting improved inventory techniques used by this study and / or increased rates of pesticide presence and use in study households.

The Monographs produced by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) apply rigorous procedures for the scientific review and evaluation of carcinogenic hazards by independent experts. The Preamble to the IARC Monographs, which outlines these procedures, was updated in 2019, following recommendations of a 2018 expert advisory group. This article presents the key features of the updated Preamble, a major milestone that will enable IARC to take advantage of recent scientific and procedural advances made during the 12 years since the last Preamble amendments. The updated Preamble formalizes important developments already being pioneered in the Monographs program. These developments were taken forward in a clarified and strengthened process for identifying, reviewing, evaluating, and integrating evidence to identify causes of human cancer. The advancements adopted include the strengthening of systematic review methodologies; greater emphasis on mechanistic evidence, based on key characteristics of carcinogens; greater consideration of quality and informativeness in the critical evaluation of epidemiological studies, including their exposure assessment methods; improved harmonization of evaluation criteria for the different evidence streams; and a single-step process of integrating evidence on cancer in humans, cancer in experimental animals, and mechanisms for reaching overall evaluations. In all, the updated Preamble underpins a stronger and more transparent method for the identification of carcinogenic hazards, the essential first step in cancer prevention.

Although children are exposed to a variety of environmental hazards, including pesticides, there is a scarcity of information available to estimate exposures realistically. This article reports on one of the first attempts to measure multi -pathway pesticide exposures in a population -based sample of urban and nonurban children. A design strategy was developed to assess multi -pathway pesticide exposures in children using personal exposure measurements in combination with complimentary measurements of biological markers of exposure, concentrations in relevant environmental media, and time spent in important microenvironments and participating in exposure -related activities. Sample collection and analysis emphasized measurement of three insecticides ( i.e., chlorpyrifos, diazinon, and malathion ) and one herbicide ( i.e., atrazine ) . These compounds were selected because of their frequent use, presence in multiple environmental media, expected population exposures, and related hazard / toxicity. The study was conducted during the summer of 1997 in Minnesota and involved a stratified sample of households with children ages 3 ± 12 years. Participants resided in either ( a ) the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul ( urban households ) , or ( b ) Rice and Goodhue Counties just south of the metropolitan area ( non -urban households ) . Results from a residential inventory documenting storage and use of products containing the target pesticides were used to preferentially select households where children were likely to have higher exposures. The study successfully obtained pesticide exposure data for 102 children, including measurements of personal exposures ( air, hand rinse, duplicate diet ) , environmental concentrations ( residential indoor / outdoor air, drinking water, residential surfaces, soil ) , activity patterns ( obtained by questionnaire, diary, videotaping ) , and internal dose ( metabolites in urine ) . Journal of Exposure Analysis and Environmental Epidemiology ( 2000 ) 10, 145 ± 158.

The purpose of this manuscript is to describe the practical strategies developed for the implementation of the Minnesota Children's Pesticide Exposure Study ( MNCPES ) , which is one of the first probability -based samples of multi -pathway and multi -pesticide exposures in children. The primary objective of MNCPES was to characterize children's exposure to selected pesticides through a combination of questionnaires, personal exposure measurements ( i.e., air, duplicate diet, hand rinse ) , and complementary monitoring of biological samples ( i.e., pesticide metabolites in urine ) , environmental samples ( i.e., residential indoor / outdoor air, drinking water, dust on residential surfaces, soil ) , and children's activity patterns. A cross -sectional design employing a stratified random sample was used to identify homes with age -eligible children and screen residences to facilitate oversampling of households with higher potential exposures. Numerous techniques were employed in the study, including in -person contact by locally based interviewers, brief and highly focused home visits, graduated subject incentives, and training of parents and children to assist in sample collection. It is not feasible to quantify increases in rates of subject recruitment, retention, or compliance that resulted from the techniques employed in this study. Nevertheless, results indicate that the total package of implemented procedures was instrumental in obtaining a high percentage of valid samples for targeted households and environmental media. Journal of Exposure Analysis and Environmental Epidemiology ( 2000 ) 10, 650 ± 661.

Southeast Asian immigrants and refugees, in particular the Hmong people of Laos, have settled in large numbers in metropolitan areas of Minnesota. These communities, accustomed to hunting and fishing for food in Laos, now fish in some of the most contaminated waters of Minnesota. Fishing and fish-preparation customs of their homeland emphasize using all fish caught and discarding very little waste. These practices result in a potentially high exposure to PCBs and mercury. Educational outreach efforts to inform this population of the potential health hazards from consuming the fish are hindered by language and cultural barriers. While most Hmong anglers welcome information about contaminants and fishing, the typical press releases and mailings that convey fish advisory information to the public do not reach this community. The Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources collaborated to determine the health messages and communication methods that would best meet the needs of these communities. Using the results of interviews and a behavioral survey, the Minnesota Department of Health has tailored fish consumption advisories to meet the unique needs of Southeast Asian anglers. Over the past four years, educational programs involving specialized advisories, translations, signs, a Hmong language video, and workshops have been used to inform Hmong anglers and other Southeast Asians about fish contaminants.