Residential proximity to pesticide sprayed sites and sex and adrenal hormones in Ecuadorian adolescents

Abstract

Background: Pesticides frequently used in agriculture, including organophosphates, glyphosate or 2,4-D, have endocrine disrupting potential. We previously found that residential proximity to agricultural crops (pesticide spray sites) can increase the potential for chronic pesticide exposure of children and adolescents, but little is known about whether residential proximity to crops can affect their hormone levels. Methods: We examined 523 adolescents (12-17 years, ESPINA cohort) living in Pedro Moncayo, Ecuador, where ~21% of the adult population works in floriculture. Using multiple linear regression, we analyzed the association of hormones (DHEA, testosterone, estradiol, and cortisol) with residential proximity to floricultural greenhouses and greenhouse areas near homes. Multiple linear regression models were stratified by whether participants lived closer or farther than 300m from the nearest plantation. Results: We found that 10 percent increases in crop areas within 150m and 200m residential buffer regions were associated with reduced concentrations of testosterone by -0.66 (95%CI: -1.27, -0.06) percent and -0.76 (-1.28, -0.23) precent, respectively. Crop areas within 150m and 500m were also significantly associated with lower estradiol, measured in boys only, by -1.21 (-2.27, -0.14) percent and -0.64 (-1.28, -0.01) percent, respectively. Cortisol was significantly associated with areas within 300m among boys but not girls. Residential proximity to crops within 150m and 200m was inversely associated with testosterone among boys. Conclusions: This is the first study to evaluate geospatial determinants of off-target pesticide drift from crops to nearby homes, including residential proximity to crops and crop surface areas, in relation to hormone alterations. Endocrine disruption of adolescents growing up in agricultural settings is of concern. Keywords: Geospatial, drift, agriculture, pesticides, hormones.