Variability in the take-home pathway: Farmworkers and non-farmworkers and their children

Abstract

Background Organophosphate pesticides (OPs) are related to ill health among adults including farmworkers who are exposed to OPs as part of their regular work. Children of both farmworkers and non-farmworkers in agricultural communities may also be affected by pesticide exposure. Methods Study groups of 100 farmworkers with a referent child (aged 2 to 6 years) and 100 non-farmworkers with a referent child were recruited to participate in three data collection periods over the course of a year. At each collection, participants provided three urine samples within 5 days, and homes and vehicles were vacuumed to collect pesticide residues in dust. Results In thinning and harvest seasons, farmworkers and their children had higher dimethyl urinary metabolites than non-farmworkers and their children. During the non-spray season, the urinary metabolites levels decreased among farmworkers to a level comparable to non-farmworkers. Farmworkers consistently had higher pesticide residues in their home and vehicle dust. Conclusions Differences exist between farmworkers and non-farmworkers in urinary metabolites and the differences extended throughout the agricultural seasons. OP metabolites are seen at much higher levels for farmworkers and their children than non-farmworkers and their children during agricultural seasons when OPs are in use. These metabolite levels were significantly higher than the nationwide NHANES IV survey and up to 10 fold higher than other rural agricultural studies.

Altered Hematological and Biochemical Parameters in Schoolchildren Living in an Agricultural Community of Merida State, Venezuela

“…Thus, concern has been raised with regard children residing near pesticide-treated farmlands, or whose parents are agricultural workers, because they have higher risk of developing cancer or other serious health problems [9,11,12,[16][17][18]. OP metabolites were seen at much higher levels for farmworkers and their children than non-farmworkers and their children during the agricultural season when OPs were in use [19].…”

Measurement of Organophosphate Pesticides, Organochlorine Pesticides, and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Household Dust from Two Rural Villages in Nepal

“…One study of farmworkers in the state of Washington in the United States found that during the thinning season, urinary metabolites of organophosphate dimethyl pesticides were significantly higher in the children of farmworkers than in non-farmworker children [10]. In addition, among individuals who work in conventional agriculture where pesticides are used, pesticide concentrations have been found to be elevated in vehicle and house dust when compared to a reference population [10,11].…”

Human Oral Buccal Microbiomes Are Associated with Farmworker Status and Azinphos-Methyl Agricultural Pesticide Exposure

“…The ϳ200-household Yakima Valley community agricultural cohort studied here provides seasonal longitudinal measures of exposure to OPs using blood samples collected in the spring/summer of 2005 and winter 2006 for adults and children (31). Sequenced buccal samples from 117 adult individuals were used to determine proportional abundances of oral microbiome bacteria detected in buccal swabs.…”

“…Sequenced buccal samples from 117 adult individuals were used to determine proportional abundances of oral microbiome bacteria detected in buccal swabs. Blood concentrations of azinphos-methyl have been determined by mass spectrometry in this family-based community pesticide exposure study (31). Samples were collected in spring/summer 2005 to measure pesticide exposure during the spring-to-summer fruit-thinning season, when the workers had a high likelihood of OP exposure.…”