Pesticide Exposure in Farmworkers and Their Children
Author Information
Author(s): Gloria D. Coronado, Eric M. Vigoren, Beti Thompson, William C. Griffith, Elaine M. Faustman
Primary Institution: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Hypothesis
The take-home pathway results in children’s exposure to pesticides.
Conclusion
Farmworkers who worked in pome fruits had higher pesticide metabolite concentrations in their urine and higher pesticide residues in dust than those who did not.
Supporting Evidence
- Farmworkers who worked in pome fruits had significantly higher urinary pesticide metabolite concentrations.
- Children of farmworkers showed higher pesticide metabolite levels when their parents worked in pome fruits.
- Household dust from pome-fruit workers contained higher pesticide residues compared to non-pome-fruit workers.
Takeaway
Farmworkers can bring home pesticides on their clothes, which can then affect their children.
Methodology
Urine and dust samples were collected from farmworkers and their children to measure pesticide exposure.
Potential Biases
Farmworkers may have reported work in multiple crops, complicating exposure assessments.
Limitations
Some samples may have been collected late in the spray season, potentially underestimating exposure levels.
Participant Demographics
Most participants were Hispanic farmworkers, with a significant portion having low education and income levels.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% posterior predictive probability intervals
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website