Residential Pesticide Research Articles

Childhood and adolescent residential and farm pesticide exposures and inflammatory bowel disease incidence in a U.S. cohort of women

Background and aimsThere are few known risk factors for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic intestinal inflammation. Use of specific pesticides has been associated with higher incidence of IBD among pesticide applicators and their spouses, but no study has examined pesticide exposure in early life, a period where the human immune system undergoes rapid changes. We evaluated pesticide use during childhood and adolescence and incidence of IBD among US women enrolled in the Sister Study. MethodsIncident IBD diagnoses between enrollment (2003–2009) and 2021 were identified and validated with medication use and colectomy/colostomy surgery. We estimated hazard ratios (HR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) for the relationship of childhood/adolescent residential and farm pesticide exposures with IBD incidence using Cox models, accounting for age, race and ethnicity, education, smoking, and birth year. ResultsWe identified 277 incident IBD cases among 48,382 eligible participants. IBD hazard was elevated among those whose childhood residence was regularly treated with pesticides, especially among those who ever personally applied pesticides (HR = 1.39, 95%CI: 0.65, 2.99). We observed a positive association between IBD and exposure to broadcast pesticide sprays before DDT was banned (>6 times vs. never HR = 1.56, 95%CI: 1.06, 2.31). Among participants who lived on a farm during childhood/adolescence for ≥1 year (N = 9162), IBD hazards were higher among those who were in crop fields during pesticide application (HR = 2.06, 95%CI: 0.94, 4.51) and who ever personally applied pesticides on crops (HR = 1.85, 95%CI: 0.81, 4.18) or livestock (HR = 2.58, 95%CI: 1.14, 5.83). ConclusionEarly-life pesticide exposure may be a novel risk factor for IBD. Practices that reduce pesticide exposure during early life may help reduce the burden of this disease.

Case-control study of environmental toxins and risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis involving the national ALS registry

Objective Neurotoxic chemicals are suggested in the etiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We examined the association of environmental and occupational risk factors including persistent organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and ALS risk among cases from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National ALS Registry and age, sex, and county-matched controls. Methods Participants completed a risk factor survey and provided a blood sample for OCP measurement. ALS cases were confirmed through the Registry. Conditional logistic regression assessed associations between ALS and risk factors including OCP levels. Results 243 matched case-control pairs (61.7% male, mean [SD] age = 62.9 [10.1]) were included. Fifteen of the 29 OCPs examined had sufficient detectable levels for analysis. Modest correlations of self-reported years of exposure to residential pesticide mixtures and OCP serum levels were found (p<.001). Moreover, occupational exposure to lead including soldering and welding with lead/metal dust and use of lead paint/gasoline were significantly related to ALS risk (OR = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.11-2.83). Avocational gardening was a significant risk factor for ALS (OR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.04-2.37). ALS risk increased for each 10 ng/g of α-Endosulfan (OR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.14-1.77) and oxychlordane (OR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.01-1.53). Heptachlor (detectable vs. nondetectable) was also associated with ALS risk (OR = 3.57, 95% CI: 1.50-8.52). Conclusion This national case-control study revealed both survey and serum levels of OCPs as risk factors for ALS. Despite the United States banning many OCPs in the 1970s and 1980s, their use abroad and long half-lives continue to exert possible neurotoxic health effects.

Potential toxic heavy metals in village rainwater runoff of antimony mining area, China: Distribution, pollution sources, and risk assessment

The potential toxic heavy metal runoff from antimony mining areas poses a serious threat to the water environment and the health of residents in the village. The study found that the average concentrations of As, Sb, Cr, Pb, and Cd in the runoff were 0.1237, 0.1148, 0.0332, 0.0140, and 0.0013 mg/L, which were higher than the normal average concentrations in the water environment of 0.018, 0.0009, 0.05, 0.012, and 0.000013 mg/L, respectively.Sb and As are severely polluted, while Cd, Pb, and Cr have lower pollution levels. The coefficients of variation for As, Sb, Cr, Pb, and Cd range from 0.079 to 1.051, with Sb showing exceptionally high variability. Heavy metal elements Pb, Cd, and Sb accumulate in the southeastern area of the village, with Sb concentrations decreasing from the southeast to the northwest. As is mainly distributed in the northeastern part of the village, while Cr is primarily found in the central-western region. Source analysis indicates that As and Sb originate from mining and industrial activities, dust deposition, and domestic sewage. Cr comes from the natural geological background and metal product industry, Pb from lead-acid batteries, industrial activities, and gasoline additives, and Cd from fertilization in residential green areas and pesticide use. Health risk analysis reveals that the hazard index (HI) values for As and As in the water environment are 1.49 and 2.31, respectively, both exceeding 1, posing a serious threat to the health of village residents. The HI values for Pb, Cr, and Cd elements are all below 1, indicating lower risks. This study identified that Sb in the antimony ore area and its associated metal element As are the main elements leading to potential heavy metal pollution in the runoff of village residential areas, providing direction for subsequent water environment restoration work.

Pesticide residue exposure effect on health, growth, and development among children from agricultural area

Nowadays, the exposure to pesticides has become a matter of public health concern. The primary and secondary take-home exposure of pesticides may influence the health of communities. Farmworkers’ families generally live close to agricultural areas, which may increase the risk of residential pesticide exposure. Pesticide exposure affects children more than adults. Environmental quality drives the shifting patterns of children’s major health problems, from infectious to chronic diseases. Children’s developing organs may be exposed to low-dose concentrations of environmentally disruptive pesticides such as organophosphates, organochlorines, carbamates, and pyrethroids. Several groups of pesticide metabolites induce and inhibit growth and development in children. Potential health problems such as chronic respiratory disease, asthma, and wheezing in children were more often reported from agricultural communities than children from rural areas. Children who were in contact with pesticides during both their prenatal development and childhood reported diminished cognitive scores. This can be attributable to the elevated levels of pesticides found in their urine, which have been extensively documented. Diammonium phosphate (DAP) metabolites as one of the organophosphate pesticides (OPPs) residues correlate with high KIM-1 levels in urine, significantly leading to chronic kidney disease. DNA damage may be A potential reported effect in children from agricultural communities. Thus, to ensure children’s health and development, it is necessary to strengthen the impact of pesticide studies on children.

A Two-Pronged Educational Intervention for Caregivers to Prevent Residential Pesticide Exposure Among Thai Young Children Living in Agricultural Area.

Residential pesticide exposure can be harmful to the health of young children, particularly in agricultural areas. It is critical to educate their caregivers on pesticide exposure prevention. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a two-pronged education intervention for caregivers in preventing pesticide exposure among Thai young children living in agricultural areas. This was an experimental study with 90 primary caregivers of young children aged 6 months to 5 years. Thirty caregivers each were assigned to one of three groups: booklet plus lecture intervention, only booklet intervention, and control. Caregivers in both interventions received a booklet that educated them on residential pesticide exposure and prevention. The caregivers in the booklet plus lecture group also attended a 2-hour lecture with the same content as the booklet. A questionnaire was developed to assess caregivers' knowledge, attitudes, intention, and behaviors regarding residential pesticide exposure and prevention in children. Face-to-face interviews were conducted at their homes three times: baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up (three weeks after the end of the intervention). Linear mixed models showed that, from baseline to post-intervention, the intervention effect on knowledge and attitude in both intervention groups, as well as intention in the booklet plus lecture group, was significant (p<0.05). From baseline to follow-up, the knowledge, attitude, intention, and behavior scores in both intervention groups increased significantly more than the control group (p<0.01). Only the attitude score increased more in the booklet plus lecture group than in the booklet group at post-intervention (p=0.009) and follow-up (p=0.003). Both the booklet plus lecture method and the booklet method alone have a positive effect on improving the caregiver's knowledge and behaviors regarding pesticide exposure prevention at home. Thus, providing a booklet to caregivers to reduce children's risk of pesticide exposure is recommended.

Exploring associations between residential exposure to pesticides and birth outcomes using the Dutch birth registry

BackgroundMaternal occupational exposure to pesticides has been linked to adverse birth outcomes but associations with residential pesticide exposures are inconclusive. ObjectivesTo explore associations between residential exposure to specific pesticides and birth outcomes using individual level exposure and pregnancy/birth data. MethodsFrom all 2009–2013 singleton births in the Dutch birth registry, we selected mothers > 16 years old living in non-urban areas, who had complete address history and changed addresses at most once during pregnancy (N = 339,947). We estimated amount (kg) of 139 active ingredients (AI) used within buffers of 50, 100, 250 and 500 m around each mother's home during pregnancy. We used generalized linear models to investigate associations between 12 AIs with evidence of reproductive toxicity and gestational age (GA), birth weight (BW), perinatal mortality, child́s sex, prematurity, low birth weight (LBW), small for gestational age (SGA) and large for gestational age (LGA), adjusting for individual and area-level confounders. For the remainder 127 AIs, we used minimax concave penalty with a stability selection step to identify those that could be related to birth outcomes. ResultsRegression analyses showed that maternal residential exposure to fluroxypyr-meptyl was associated with longer GA, glufosinate-ammonium with higher risk of LBW, linuron with higher BW and higher odds of LGA, thiacloprid with lower odds of perinatal mortality and vinclozolin with longer GA. Variable selection analysis revealed that picoxystrobin was associated with higher odds of LGA. We found no evidence of associations with other AIs. Sensitivity and additional analysis supported these results except for thiacloprid. DiscussionIn this exploratory study, pregnant women residing near crops where fluroxypyr-meptyl, glufosinate-ammonium, linuron, vinclozolin and picoxystrobin were applied had higher risk for certain potentially adverse birth outcomes. Our findings provide leads for confirmatory investigations on these compounds and/or compounds with similar modes of action.

Proximity to residential and workplace pesticides application and the risk of progression of Parkinson's diseases in Central California

BackgroundPesticide exposure has consistently been associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) onset. Yet, fewer epidemiologic studies have examined whether pesticides influence PD motor and non-motor symptom progression. ObjectivesUsing a geographic information system tool that integrates agricultural pesticide use reports and land use records to derive ambient exposures at residences and workplaces, we assessed associations between specific pesticides previously related to PD onset with PD symptom progression in two PD patient cohorts living in agricultural regions of California. MethodsWe calculated the pounds of pesticide applied agriculturally near each participant's residential or occupational addresses from 1974 to the year of PD diagnosis, using a geographic information system tool that links the California Pesticide Use Reports database to land use data. We examined 53 pesticides selected a priori as they have previously been associated with PD onset. We longitudinally followed two PD patient cohorts (PEG1 N = 242, PEG2 N = 259) for an average of 5.0 years (SD ± 3.5) and 2.7 years (SD ± 1.6) respectively and assessed PD symptoms using the movement disorder specialist-administered Unified Parkinson's disease Rating Scale part III (UPDRS), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Weighted time-to-event regression models were implemented to estimate effects. ResultsTen agricultural pesticides, including copper sulfate (pentahydrate), 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) dimethylamine salt, tribufos, sodium cacodylate, methamidophos, ethephon, propargite, bromoxynil octanoate, monosodium methanearsonate (MSMA), and dicamba, were associated with faster symptom progression. Among these pesticides, residential or workplace proximity to higher amounts of copper sulfate (pentahydrate) and MCPA (dimethylamine salt) was associated with all three progression endpoints (copper sulfate: HRs = 1.22–1.36, 95 % CIs = 1.03–1.73; MCPA: HRs = 1.27–1.35, 95 % CIs = 1.02–1.70). ConclusionsOur findings suggest that pesticide exposure may not only be relevant for PD onset but also PD progression phenotypes. We have implicated ten specific pesticide active ingredients in faster PD motor and non-motor decline.

Residential exposure to pesticides and birth outcomes using the Dutch birth registry

BACKGROUND AND AIM: To explore associations between residential exposure to specific pesticides and birth outcomes using individual level exposure and pregnancy/birth data. METHODS: From all singleton births from 2009-2013 in the Dutch birth registry we selected mothers &amp;#x3e;16 years-old living in non-urban areas that had complete address history and changed addresses at most once during pregnancy (N=325,435). We selected 12 active ingredients (AIs) with some evidence of reproductive toxicity and that were used in the Netherlands according to a farmers’ survey from 2008 and explored a further 127 AIs. We estimated amount used (kg) within buffers of 50, 100, 250 and 500 meters around each mother&amp;#x27;s home during pregnancy. We used generalized linear models to investigate associations between AIs and gestational age, birth weight, low birth weight (LBW), small for gestational age (SGA), large for gestational age (LGA), still births/infant mortality, and prematurity, adjusting for individual and area-level confounders. We further used minimax concave penalty with a stability selection step to identify which AIs could further be related to the birth outcomes among the 12 and the additional 127 AIs. RESULTS: Maternal residential exposure to linuron was associated with increased birth weight [β [95% confidence interval] 296.49 [56.07, 536.90], 74.32 [27.92, 120.72], 13.87 [6.86, 20.88] and 1.93 [0.56, 3.30], in 50m, 100m, 250m and 500m buffers) and higher odds of LGA babies (OR [95% CI] 5.72 [1.04, 31.58], 1.49 [1.06, 2.08], 1.07 [1.02, 1.13], 1.01 [1.00, 1.02], respectively). Variable selection also yielded the same associations, and further identified signals for a relationship between fluroxypir-meptyl and gestational age, picoxystrobin and LGA, and glufosinate and LBW. CONCLUSIONS: Residential proximity to linuron during pregnancy was associated to increased birth weight and being large for gestational in babies. Other possible associations were identified that need further investigation. KEYWORDS: residential pesticide exposure, birth registry

Health Effects of Pesticide Exposure in Latin American and the Caribbean Populations: A Scoping Review.

Background:Multiple epidemiological studies have shown that exposure to pesticides is associated with adverse health outcomes. However, the literature on pesticide-related health effects in the Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC) region, an area of intensive agricultural and residential pesticide use, is sparse. We conducted a scoping review to describe the current state of research on the health effects of pesticide exposure in LAC populations with the goal of identifying knowledge gaps and research capacity building needs.Methods:We searched PubMed and SciELO for epidemiological studies on pesticide exposure and human health in LAC populations published between January 2007 and December 2021. We identified 233 publications from 16 countries that met our inclusion criteria and grouped them by health outcome (genotoxicity, neurobehavioral outcomes, placental outcomes and teratogenicity, cancer, thyroid function, reproductive outcomes, birth outcomes and child growth, and others).Results:Most published studies were conducted in Brazil (37%, ) and Mexico (20%, ), were cross-sectional in design (72%, ), and focused on farmworkers (45%, ) or children (21%, ). The most frequently studied health effects included genotoxicity (24%, ) and neurobehavioral outcomes (21%, ), and organophosphate (OP) pesticides were the most frequently examined (26%, ). Forty-seven percent () of the studies relied only on indirect pesticide exposure assessment methods. Exposure to OP pesticides, carbamates, or to multiple pesticide classes was consistently associated with markers of genotoxicity and adverse neurobehavioral outcomes, particularly among children and farmworkers.Discussion:Our scoping review provides some evidence that exposure to pesticides may adversely impact the health of LAC populations, but methodological limitations and inconsistencies undermine the strength of the conclusions. It is critical to increase capacity building, integrate research initiatives, and conduct more rigorous epidemiological studies in the region to address these limitations, better inform public health surveillance systems, and maximize the impact of research on public policies. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP9934

Thyroid Cancer and Pesticide Use in a Central California Agricultural Area: A Case Control Study.

To examine environmental factors that influence risk of thyroid cancer. We performed a case-control study utilizing thyroid cancer cases from the California Cancer Registry (1999-2012) and controls sampled in a population-based manner. Study participants were included if they were diagnosed with thyroid cancer, lived in the study area at their time of diagnosis, and were ≥35 years of age. Controls were recruited from the same area and eligible to participate if they were ≥35 years of age and had been living in California for at least 5 years prior to the interview. We examined residential exposure to 29 agricultural use pesticides, known to cause DNA damage in vitro or are known endocrine disruptors. We employed a validated geographic information system-based system to generate exposure estimates for each participant. Our sample included 2067 cases and 1003 controls. In single pollutant models and within a 20-year exposure period, 10 out of 29 selected pesticides were associated with thyroid cancer, including several of the most applied pesticides in the United States such as paraquat dichloride [odds ratio (OR): 1.46 (95% CI: 1.23, 1.73)], glyphosate [OR: 1.33 (95% CI: 1.12, 1.58)], and oxyfluorfen [OR: 1.21 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.43)]. Risk of thyroid cancer increased proportionately to the total number of pesticides subjects were exposed to 20 years before diagnosis or interview. In all models, paraquat dichloride was associated with thyroid cancer. Our study provides first evidence in support of the hypothesis that residential pesticide exposure from agricultural applications is associated with an increased risk of thyroid cancer.

Pesticides in doormat and floor dust from homes close to treated fields: Spatio-temporal variance and determinants of occurrence and concentrations

Indoor dust has been postulated as an important matrix for residential pesticide exposure. However, there is a lack of information on presence, concentrations and determinants of multiple pesticides in dust in residential homes close to treated fields. Our objective was to characterize the spatial and temporal variance of pesticides in house dust, study the use of doormats and floors as proxies for pesticides in indoor dust and identify determinants of occurrence and concentrations. Homes within 250 m from selected bulb fields were invited to participate. Homes within 20 km from these fields but not having agricultural fields within 500 m were selected as controls. House dust was vacuumed in all homes from floors (VFD) and from newly placed clean doormats (DDM). Sampling was done during two periods, when pesticides are used and not-used. For determination of 46 prioritized pesticides, a multi-residue extraction method was used. Most statistical analyses are focused on the 12 and 14 pesticides that were detected in >40% of DDM and VFD samples, respectively. Mixed models were used to evaluate relationships between possible determinants and pesticides occurrence and concentrations in DDM and VFD. 17 pesticides were detected in more than 50% of the homes in both matrixes. Concentrations differed by about a factor five between use and non-use periods among homes within 250 m of fields and between these homes and controls. For 7 pesticides there was a moderate to strong correlation (Spearman rho 0.30–0.75) between concentrations in DDM and VFD. Distance to agricultural fields and air concentrations were among the most relevant predictors for occurrence and levels of a given pesticide in DDM. Concentrations in dust are overall higher during application periods and closer to fields (<250 m) than further away. The omnipresence of pesticides in dust lead to residents being exposed all year round.

Modifiable and Non-Modifiable Factors Affecting the Risk of Childhood Leukemia: An Overview of Meta-Analysis

Background: Numerous meta-analyses of childhood leukemia have been published, but no comprehensive study has examined the factors influencing childhood leukemia. We aimed to scrutinize the modifiable and non-modifiable factors affecting the risk of childhood leukemia. Materials and Methods: In this overview, two independent researchers screened the articles studying the effect of modifiable and non-modifiable factors on the childhood leukemia from the related databases, including Scopus, EMBASE, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Medline, without time and language restrictions from inception up to March 10, 2020. Results: Eight meta-analyses were included in this overview. Breastfeeding compared with non-breastfeeding was associated with 9% reduction in the risk of childhood leukemia (OR = 0.91). The children with the birth weight of ≥4,000 g were at a higher risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia compared with those with low birth weight (OR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.17, 1.37). There was a significant relationship between childhood leukemia and residential pesticide exposure (SOR=1.57). There was a relationship between influenza during pregnancy and higher risk of ALL (POR=3.64; 95% CI = 1.34-9.90), and childhood leukemia (POR=1.77). The childhood AML had a statistically significant relationship with no alcohol consumption during pregnancy. The SOR of childhood ALL had an association with paternal smoking. A statistical relationship exists between magnetic field intensity of ≥0.4 μT and childhood leukemia. The exposure to NO2 and benzene exhibited the OR of 1.64 (95% CI = 0.91-2.95) and 1.21 (95% CI = 0.97-1.52), respectively. Conclusion: Decreased breastfeeding, high birth weight, viral infections during pregnancy, alcohol consumption, maternal exposure to direct and indirect smoking, and exposure to electromagnetic fields and airborne pollutants are found to be significant risk factors for childhood leukemia.

Exposure to pesticides in adults and children living near agricultural land in the UK

S17: Residential exposure to pesticides and health effects; what we know and what we should know, Room 217, Floor 2, August 28, 2019, 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM The evidence for residential exposure to pesticides due to proximity to agricultural land is sparse. Models are used to provide input into regulatory risk assessment approaches to ensure pesticides are used safely. However, as there is limited data, it is also not clear if these models perform appropriately. We carried out a study to investigate residential pesticide exposure using biological monitoring in a number of areas in the UK with variety of arable and fruit crops and compared the results with estimates from models used for regulatory risk assessment. Farmers treating crops with captan, chlormequat, chlorpyrifos or cypermethrin provided spray event information. Adults and children residing within 100m from the sprayed fields provided first-morning void urine samples during and outwith the general spray season. Statistical analyses were carried out to determine if urinary biomarkers of these pesticides were elevated after spray events. In total, 1518 urine samples from 140 participants were available for analyses, consisting of 523 spray event and 995 background samples. For captan and cypermethrin, the proportion of values below the limit of detection was greater than 80%, with no difference between spray event and background samples. For chlormequat and chlorpyrifos, the geometric mean urinary biomarker concentrations following spray events were 15.4 μg/g creatinine and 2.5 μg/g creatinine, respectively, compared with 16.5 μg/g creatinine and 3.0 μg/g creatinine for background samples within the spraying season. Outwith the spraying season, concentrations for chlorpyrifos were the same as those within spraying season backgrounds, but for chlormequat, lower concentrations were observed outwith the spraying season (12.3 μg/g creatinine). Overall, we observed no strong evidence indicative of additional urinary pesticide biomarker excretion as a result of spray events. Consequently, the majority of measured concentrations were well below the predicted concentrations based on the models used for regulatory risk assessment.

Methods for Quantifying Residential Pesticide Exposure

Methods for Quantifying Residential Pesticide Exposure

Self-reported residential pesticide use and survival after breast cancer.

Previous investigations found elevated mortality after breast cancer in association with biomarkers of persistent organochlorine pesticides in non-occupationally exposed women. We hypothesized that lifetime residential pesticide use, which includes persistent and non-persistent pesticides, would also be associated with increased mortality after breast cancer. A population-based cohort of 1505 women with invasive or in situ breast cancer was interviewed in 1996-1997, shortly after diagnosis, about pre-diagnostic lifetime residential pesticide use. Participants were followed for mortality through 2014 (595 deaths from any cause and 236 from breast cancer, after 17.6 years of follow-up). Pesticides were examined as 15 individual categories; a group of seven used for lawn and garden purposes; a group of eight used for nuisance-pest purposes; and all combined. Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for all-cause and breast cancer-specific mortality. Modification by estrogen receptor (ER) status, body mass index, and long-term residence was examined. Ever use (HR = 0.77, 95%CI = 0.63-0.95) and higher lifetime applications (4th quartile: HR = 0.62, 95%CI = 0.47-0.81, ptrend = 0.3) of the lawn and garden group of pesticides were inversely associated with all-cause mortality, compared to never use. The inverse association for lawn and garden pesticide use was limited to ER positive (vs. negative) tumors (pinteraction = 0.05). Nuisance-pest pesticides, and all groups combined, were not associated with all-cause or breast cancer-specific mortality. Contrary to our hypothesis, lifetime residential use of lawn and garden pesticides, but not all combined or nuisance-pest pesticides, was inversely associated with all-cause mortality after breast cancer.

Longitudinal, Seasonal, and Occupational Trends of Multiple Pesticides in House Dust.

Background:Children are especially vulnerable to pesticide exposure and can suffer lasting health effects. Because children of farmworkers are exposed to a variety of pesticides throughout development, it is important to explore temporal patterns of coexposures.Objectives:The objectives of this study were to characterize the pesticide co-exposures, determine how they change over time, and assess differences between farmworker and nonfarmworker households.Methods:Dust collected from 40 farmworker and 35 nonfarmworker households in the Yakima Valley of the State of Washington in 2005 and then again in 2011 was analyzed for 99 pesticides. Eighty-seven pesticides representing over 28 classes were detected. Pesticides were grouped into classes using U.S. EPA pesticide chemical classifications, and trends in concentrations were analyzed at the class level.Results:Levels of organophosphates, pyridazinones, and phenols significantly decreased between 2005 and 2011 in both farmworker and nonfarmworker households. Levels of anilides, 2,6-dinitroanilines, chlorophenols, triclosan, and guanidines significantly increased in both farmworker and nonfarmworker households in 2011 vs. 2005. Among farmworkers alone, there were significantly lower levels of N-methyl carbamates and neonicotinoids in 2011.Conclusions:We observed significant reductions in the concentrations of many pesticides over time in both farmworker and nonfarmworker households. Although nonfarmworker households generally had lower concentrations of pesticides, it is important to note that in comparison with NHANES participants, nonfarmworkers and their families still had significantly higher concentrations of urinary pesticide metabolites. This finding highlights the importance of detailed longitudinal exposure monitoring to capture changes in agricultural and residential pesticide use over time. This foundation provides an avenue to track longitudinal pesticide exposures in an intervention or regulatory context. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP3644

An algorithm for quantitatively estimating non-occupational pesticide exposure intensity for spouses in the Agricultural Health Study.

Residents of agricultural areas experience pesticide exposures from sources other than direct agricultural work. We developed a quantitative, active ingredient specific algorithm for cumulative (adult, married lifetime) non occupational pesticide exposure intensity for spouses of farmers who applied pesticides in the Agricultural Health Study (AHS). The algorithm addressed three exposure pathways: take home, agricultural drift, and residential pesticide use. Pathway-specific equations combined (i) weights derived from previous meta analyses of published pesticide exposure data and (ii) information from the questionnaire on frequency and duration of pesticide use by applicators, home proximity to treated fields, residential pesticide usage (e.g., termite treatments), and spouse’s off farm employment (proxy for time at home). The residential use equation also incorporated a published probability matrix that documented the likelihood active ingredients were used in home pest treatment products. We illustrate use of these equations by calculating exposure intensities for the insecticide chlorpyrifos and herbicide atrazine for 19,959 spouses. Non zero estimates for ≥1 pathway were found for 78% and 77% of spouses for chlorpyrifos and atrazine, respectively. Variability in exposed spouses’ intensity estimates was observed for both pesticides, with 75th to 25th percentile ratios ranging from 7.1−7.3 for take home, 6.5−8.5 for drift, 2.4−2.8 for residential use, and 3.8−7.0 for the summed pathways. Take home and drift estimates were highly correlated (≥0.98), but were not correlated with residential use (0.01−0.02). This algorithm represents an important advancement in quantifying non occupational pesticide relative exposure differences and will facilitate improved etiologic analyses in the AHS spouses. The algorithm could be adapted to studies with similar information.

Pesticide exposure and risk of systemic lupus erythematosus in an urban population of predominantly African-American women.

Past studies have reported associations between pesticide exposure and the risk of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Residential pesticide exposure has been less well studied than agricultural exposure. The purpose of this study was to assess SLE risk associated with residential pesticide exposure in an urban population of predominantly African-American women. Adult women with SLE were identified from six hospital databases and community screening in three neighborhoods in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Controls were adult women volunteers from the same neighborhoods who were screened for the absence of connective tissue disease and anti-nuclear antibodies. Subjects were considered exposed to pesticides if they had ever had an exterminator for an ant, cockroach, or termite problem prior to SLE diagnosis or corresponding reference age in controls. Risks associated with pesticide exposure were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression models, adjusted for sociodemographic factors. We identified 93 SLE subjects and 170 controls with similar baseline characteristics. Eighty-three per cent were African-American. Pesticide exposure was associated with SLE, after controlling for potential confounders (odds ratio 2.24, 95% confidence interval 1.28-3.93). Residential exposure to pesticides in an urban population of predominantly African-American women was associated with increased SLE risk. Additional studies are needed to corroborate these findings.

Household exposure to pesticides and risk of leukemia in children and adolescents: Updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

The role that pesticides in the domestic environment might play in the etiology of childhood leukemia remains a subject of controversy. Recent studies often reached inconsistent conclusions. To update our earlier systematic review on the association between residential/household/domestic exposure to pesticides and childhood leukemia, and to explore potential sources of heterogeneity not previously assessed. A systematic search of studies published in English between January 2009 and June 2018 was conducted in MEDLINE, and a "snowball searching" was performed from the reference list of identified publications and from Web of Science citations. Risk estimates were extracted from 15 case-control studies published between 1987 and 2018. The quality of the publications was assessed by using a modified version of the Downs and Black (1998) checklist. A random-effect meta-analysis model was used to calculate summary odds ratios (SOR) and separate analyses were conducted for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), unspecified AL/leukemia and any leukemia types. Stratification by critical exposure period, exposure location, pesticide biocide category, child age at diagnosis, study quality, specific exposures, type of pest treated, and geographic location were performed. A statistically significant association between residential pesticide exposure and childhood leukemia was observed by combining all studies (SOR: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.27-1.95) without evidence of publication bias. Statistically significant increased risks were observed for all types of leukemia, and specifically for exposure during pregnancy, indoor exposure, prenatal exposure to insecticides and whatever the age at diagnosis. Statistical significance was also reached for high quality studies, pet treatments, professional pest control treatment and use of insect repellants, mosquito treatment and for studies from USA/Canada or International. The highest increased risks were observed for AML among children aged 2 years or less, as well as for unspecified leukemia type observed after prenatal indoor exposure. A positive association between domestic pesticide exposure and childhood leukemia is confirmed. Although the literature provides moderate to low-quality of evidence, these new results further justify the need of limiting the use of household pesticides during pregnancy and childhood.

Evaluation of the relationship between residential orchard density and dimethyl organophosphate pesticide residues in house dust.

Reducing residential pesticide exposure requires identification of exposure pathways. mCompared to the agriculture worker ‘take-home’ and residential use pathways, evidence of the ‘drift’ pathway to pesticide exposure has been inconsistent.Questionnaire data from individuals (n=99) and dust samples (n=418) from households across three growing seasons in 2011 were from the For Healthy Kids! study. Summed dimethyl organophosphate pesticide (OP) (Azinphos-Methyl, Phosmet, and Malathion) concentrations were quantified from house dust samples. Spatially-weighted orchard densities surrounding households were calculated based on various distances from homes. Regression models tested associations between orchard density, residential pesticide use, agriculture worker residents, and summed dimethyl OP house dust concentrations.Estimated relationships between orchard density and dimethyl OP in house dust were mixed: a 5% increase in orchard density resulted in 0.3% and 0.5% decreases in dimethyl OP house dust concentrations when considering land-cover 750m or 1250m away from households, respectively, but null associations with land-cover 60m or 200m away. Dimethyl OP house dust concentrations were 400% higher within homes where at least two residents were agriculture workers.Despite inconclusive evidence for the drift pathway due to potential for bias, relationships between number of agriculture workers and dimethyl OP house dust concentration underscores the take-home pathway.