Soil toxicants that potentially affect children's health

Egendorf, Sara Perl; Gailey, Andrew D.; Schachter, Aubrey; Mielke, Howard W.

doi:10.1016/j.cppeds.2019.100741

Cited by 11 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…It is expected that in 2020 global use of pesticide active ingredients will reach about 3.5 million tons [2,3]. This trend results in a continuous increase in the environmental pesticide load and thereby the risk of human exposure via water, air, soil, and food [1,[4][5][6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, residents living near agricultural areas with intensive pesticide use have been shown to develop several health deficiencies, including asthma, confusion, anxiety, weakness, problems with speaking and orientation, poor memory, frequent urination, and increased salivation [22]. Chronic pesticide exposure can also affect the neurological and behavioural development in children resulting in altered reflexes, attention deficit hyperactivity, and psychomotor and neurological development disorders [5,23]. Importantly, even low levels of pesticide exposure over years can affect children's development, health, and behavior [23,24].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Year-round pesticide contamination of public sites near intensively managed agricultural areas in South Tyrol

Linhart¹,

Panzacchi

Belpoggi

et al. 2021

Environ Sci Eur

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Background In a previous study, we found that 45% of public playgrounds near intensively managed agricultural areas were contaminated with mainly endocrine active pesticide residues in spring. Here, we investigated potential contamination over the course of a year. Methods Residue data were analyzed from 96 grass samples collected in spring, summer, autumn, and winter by the South Tyrolean Medical Service in 19 public playgrounds, four schoolyards, and one marketplace located within intensively managed agricultural landscapes. Samples were analyzed for 281 substances using gas-chromatography and mass-spectrometry. Results A total of 32 pesticide residues and one preservative agent were found. Almost all of the sites (96%) were contaminated with at least one residue during the year; in 79% of the sites, more than one residue was found. Among the detected residues, 76% are classified as endocrine active substances, with the highest concentrations of the insecticide chlorpyrifos-methyl (0.71 mg kg−1), the herbicide oxadiazon (0.64 mg kg−1), and the fungicides captan (0.46 mg kg−1) and fluazinam (0.23 mg kg−1). The number of residues, their concentrations, and the proportion of contaminated sites varied across seasons (p < 0.001). Twenty-five residues were found in 83% of the sites in spring (median concentration 0.240 mg kg−1), nine in 79% of the sites in summer (0.092 mg kg−1), three in 50% of the sites in autumn (0.076 mg kg−1), and four in 17% of the sites in winter (0.155 mg kg−1). Playgrounds already examined in 2017 in the previous study, were more often contaminated with multiple pesticide residues in 2018 (p = 0.045). Conclusion This study confirms previous findings of widespread pesticide contamination of public sites within intensively managed agricultural areas. Moreover, pesticide residues were also found in periods with little or no pesticide application in the field (autumn and winter). It is worrisome that many of the detected residues are endocrine active substances and that some of them (thiacloprid, bupirimate, captan, folpet) are “suspected human carcinogens”, according to EU authorities. Thus, we call for more effective controls of pesticide applications to minimize pesticide drift into public places.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Year-round pesticide contamination of public sites near intensively managed agricultural areas in South Tyrol

Linhart¹,

Panzacchi

Belpoggi

et al. 2021

Environ Sci Eur

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“…The New Orleans twodecade long studies of soil Pb and pediatric blood Pb within inner city and outer city communities illustrates the discrepancy of Pb toxicants in surface soils and their effect on pediatric Pb 44 . Lead is one example of environmental toxicants that are detrimental to the health of children and human communities 45 . Toxicant contaminated urbanindustrial cities can benefit from policy measures that improve soil health.…”

Section: The Soil-health-plant-health-human-health-signaling Nexusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Novel Policies are Required to Reduce Pediatric Lead Exposure from Legacy Lead (Pb) in Soil and Air

Mielke

Paltseva

Gonzales

2022

MRAJ

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In 1925, a U.S. conference on lead (Pb) additives tacitly approved their use in petrol. Over five-decades an exponential increase of air lead occurred from commercial marketing of leaded petrol and the sale of automobiles. The ability to measure microgram quantities of Pb was unavailable to medical researchers until the late 1960s and early 1970s. The clinical application of advanced analytical technology demonstrated that pediatric lead exposure was excessive. Beginning in the mid-1970s, actions were taken to curtail Pb additive and decreases of pediatric lead poisoning coincided with decreased air Pb from leaded petrol use. Exogenous Pb exhaust particles are absorbed through inhalation and ingestion routes of exposure. Exogenous Pb is metabolically mistaken for calcium and stored endogenously in bones, teeth, and other tissues. Endogenous Pb has intergenerational effects. All organs, most notably the nervous system, are affected. Clinical studies indicate that there is no safe level of Pb exposure. A worldwide ban on leaded petrol was achieved on August 30, 2021. Banning leaded petrol corresponded with marked decreases in lead exposure. However, exogenous Pb dust persists in soil as a legacy from the era of leaded petrol. Soil Pb is remobilized into the air. Because of traffic congestion and Pb dust emissions, population centers are of particular concern. An exceedingly strong association exists between soil Pb and blood Pb indicating that at the community-scale Pb dust mitigation is necessary to decrease pediatric Pb exposure. Urban soil Pb and blood Pb studies indicate the risk of excessive exposure from legacy Pb dust in communities is highest where the median soil Pb is ≥ 50 mg/kg. The objective of this article is to demonstrate the practical application of an advanced hand-held analytical instrument to map Pb in children’s playgrounds adjacent to a major traffic corridor. We illustrate soil Pb mapping and then consider mitigation procedures for primary prevention of legacy Pb. Mapping soil Pb provides an informed basis for advising parents and encouraging community mitigation responses for reducing pediatric Pb exposure from legacy Pb dust. The soil health-plant health-animal/human health signaling nexus is compromised by legacy Pb. For the medical pediatric community, the existence of legacy lead requires new policies to address intervention of the soil-air-blood linkages of the Pb exposure pathway.

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“…Nevertheless, available data suggest that diet is the major human exposure pathway for organic contaminants of concern [4,5]. Because children are still developing, their frequent hand-to-mouth behavior renders them more vulnerable and susceptible to toxic contaminants exposure through the ingestion of food, water, soil and dust from surrounding environments [1,2,[6][7][8][9]. Therefore, a better understanding of the total chemical exposure and associated risks is needed to assess health risks.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating non-targeted analysis methods for chemical characterization of organic contaminants in different matrices to estimate children’s exposure

Cui

Cox

Mejias

et al. 2023

J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol

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Background Children are vulnerable to environmental exposure of contaminants due to their small size, lack of judgement skills, as well as their proximity to dust, soil, and other environmental sources. A better understanding about the types of contaminants that children are exposed to or how their bodies retain or process these compounds is needed. Objective In this study, we have implemented and optimized a methodology based on non-targeted analysis (NTA) to characterize chemicals in dust, soil, urine, and in the diet (food and drinking water) of infant populations. Methods To evaluate potential toxicological concerns associated with chemical exposure, families with children between 6 months and 6 years of age from underrepresented groups were recruited in the greater Miami area. Samples of soil, indoor dust, food, water, and urine were provided by the caregivers, prepared by different techniques (involving online SPE, ASE, USE, QuEChERs), and analyzed by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). Data post-processing was performed using the small molecule structure identification software, Compound Discoverer (CD) 3.3, and identified features were plotted using Kendrick mass defect plot and Van Krevelen diagrams to show unique patterns in different samples and regions of anthropogenic compound classifications. Results The performance of the NTA workflow was evaluated using quality control standards in terms of accuracy, precision, selectivity, and sensitivity, with an average of 98.2%, 20.3%, 98.4% and 71.1%, respectively. Sample preparation was successfully optimized for soil, dust, water, food, and urine. A total of 30, 78, 103, 20 and 265 annotated features were frequently identified (detection frequency >80%) in the food, dust, soil, water, and urine samples, respectively. Common features detected in each matrix were prioritized and classified, providing insight on children’s exposure to organic contaminants of concern and their potential toxicities. Impact statement Current methods to assess the ingestion of chemicals by children have limitations and are generally restricted by specific classes of targeted organic contaminants of interest. This study offers an innovative approach using non-targeted analysis for the comprehensive screening of organic contaminants that children are exposed to through dust, soil, and diet (drinking water and food).

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Soil toxicants that potentially affect children's health

Cited by 11 publications

References 47 publications

Year-round pesticide contamination of public sites near intensively managed agricultural areas in South Tyrol

Year-round pesticide contamination of public sites near intensively managed agricultural areas in South Tyrol

Novel Policies are Required to Reduce Pediatric Lead Exposure from Legacy Lead (Pb) in Soil and Air

Evaluating non-targeted analysis methods for chemical characterization of organic contaminants in different matrices to estimate children’s exposure

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