Work characteristics and pesticide exposures among migrant agricultural families: a community-based research approach.

Abstract

There are few data on pesticide exposures of migrant Latino farmworker children, and access to this vulnerable population is often difficult. In this paper we describe a community-based approach to implement culturally appropriate research methods with a migrant Latino farmworker community in Oregon. Assessments were conducted in 96 farmworker homes and 24 grower homes in two agricultural communities in Oregon. Measurements included surveys of pesticide use and work protection practices and analyses of home-dust samples for pesticide residues of major organophosphates used in area crops. Results indicate that migrant farmworker housing is diverse, and the amounts and types of pesticide residues found in homes differ. Azinphos-methyl (AZM) was the pesticide residue found most often in both farmworker and grower homes. The median level of AZM in farmworker homes was 1.45 ppm compared to 1.64 ppm in the entry area of grower homes. The median level of AZM in the play areas of grower homes was 0.71 ppm. The levels of AZM in migrant farmworker homes were most associated with the distance from fields and the number of agricultural workers in the home. Although the levels of AZM in growers and farmworker homes were comparable in certain areas, potential for disproportionate exposures occur in areas of the homes where children are most likely to play. The relationship between home resident density, levels of pesticide residues, and play behaviors of children merit further attention.

Seasonal pesticide use in a rural community on the US/Mexico border

“…However, we only visited the homes at 6 month intervals and therefore do not have information about usage patterns during other seasons. Residential exposure to agricultural pesticides has been previously documented for families of agricultural workers (Simcox et al, 1995;Fenske et al, 2000;Lu et al, 2000;McCauley et al, 2001). The majority of families in this Rio Grande community did not work on farms, but merely lived in community adjacent to farm fields.…”

Nondietary ingestion of pesticides by children in an agricultural community on the US/Mexico border: Preliminary results

“…Recent studies have examined in detail the exposure and uptake of pesticides in children who reside in agricultural communities ( Loewenherz et al, 1997;Fenske et al, 2000;Lu et al, 2000;O'Rourke et al, 2000;Sumner and Langley, 2000;McCauley et al, 2001 ). One of the findings of these studies is that children who live in agricultural communities had five times higher pesticide metabolites in their urine than children who resided in nonagricultural communities .…”

Pesticide Exposure of Farmworkers’ Children

“…The contribution of the take-home pathway to household contamination may also be dependent on the number of people bringing the pesticides from the fields. In Oregon, the concentration of azinphos methyl in house dust was correlated with the number of farmworkers living in the house (McCauley et al 2001). The composition of the household may also be a factor.…”

“…During the sample collection period for these studies, chlorpyrifos and diazinon were still allowed for residential purposes and the large variability observed in reference homes most likely indicates indoor applications. Furthermore, concentration of pesticides in dust from farmworker homes was associated with household pesticide use in California and Washington , Bradman et al 1997 but not in Oregon (McCauley et al 2001, McCauley et al 2003. Several studies have demonstrated that proximity to fields where pesticides are applied is related to pesticide levels in house dust , McCauley et al 2001).…”

“…Furthermore, concentration of pesticides in dust from farmworker homes was associated with household pesticide use in California and Washington , Bradman et al 1997 but not in Oregon (McCauley et al 2001, McCauley et al 2003. Several studies have demonstrated that proximity to fields where pesticides are applied is related to pesticide levels in house dust , McCauley et al 2001). In addition to higher levels of pesticides in surface wipes, Quandt et al (2004) also reports that they detected a greater number of different pesticides in the wipes in relation to proximity.…”