The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #70922

Linda McCauley, PhD¹, William Lambert, PhD², Juan Muniz, MS², Jennifer Scherer, MPH², Rachelle Mann-Gaytan³, and Michael Lasarev, MS¹. (1) Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Rd., mail code L606, Portland, OR 97201, 503-494-4205, mccauley@ohsu.edu, (2) Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology, Oregon Health & Sciences University, 3181 Sam Jackson Park Rd.L606, Portland, OR 97201, (3) Oregon Child Development Coalition, 9140 SW Pioneer Ct., St E., Wilsonville, OR 97070

Our understanding of the health risks of children exposed to pesticides in their environment is rapidly increasing, however few studies have been conducted to examine differences in exposure among children residing in different communities and the capacity of urinary biomarkers to capture temporal changes in exposure. We studied methyl dialkyl phosphate levels in serial urine samples from 214 children, 2 to 6 years of age in three agricultural communities in Oregon hosting differing agricultural industries. All of the children were enrollees of Migrant Headstart and their parents worked in agriculture. The samples were collected at the beginning, mid-point, and end of the harvest periods. We also sampled children who lived in an urban location and whose parents did not work in agriculture. The children from agricultural communities had significantly higher levels of pesticide metabolites in their urine than the children from the urban community. Further, we observed significant differences in the urinary metabolite levels among the different agricultural communities, suggesting that types and amounts of pesticides used, application methods, and the proximity of housing to fields and orchards may influence level of exposure in children. Our data indicate that dialkyl phosphates levels in urine are a sensitive indicator of childhood exposure to organophosphate pesticides and that serial measures can discern patterns of exposure related to migration, changes in residence, and parents’ work activity in agriculture.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this session, the learner will be able to:
• Describe how urinary biomarkers are used to assess environmental exposure to pesticides.
• Describe parental occupation, residential, and geographic factors that may contribute to the exposure of children to pesticides.

Keywords: Pesticide Exposure, Environmental Exposures

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.