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PESTICIDE EXPOSURE AND POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS IN YOUNG CHILDREN ALONG THE U.S. - MEXICO BORDER
Citation:
MCMASTER, S. B., S. HERN, AND G. L. ROBERTSON. PESTICIDE EXPOSURE AND POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS IN YOUNG CHILDREN ALONG THE U.S. - MEXICO BORDER. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-05/082, 2005.
Impact/Purpose:
To assess the relationship between health status in children living along the United States and Mexico border and repeated pesticide exposures via multiple sources and pathways.
Description:
The purpose of the Pesticides in Young Children - Border States Program is to assess the relationship between health status in children living along the United States and Mexico border and repeated pesticide exposures via multiple sources and pathways. Children's health has been highlighted by public health and environmental agencies as an area of critical concern. As environmental exposure and health scientists, we recognize that the health of children must be zealously protected, if they are to become productive members of society. Child development is a complex and continuous process of growth and change, making children likely to be susceptible to the adverse effects of pesticides and other toxins in their environment. Typical childhood behaviors, such as crawling or playing on the ground and putting non-food items in their mouths, may subject children to risks greatly exceeding those of adults in the same environment. Furthermore, although a substantial body of work exists documenting the effects of pesticides on adults, the effects of pesticides on children have not been systematically examined. Thus, the assessment of pesticide-related health outcomes in children is an essential part of efforts to enhance the health of children nationwide. The importance of this effort is even greater in areas where known factors increase risk of exposure to pesticides.
Defined by the La Paz Agreement of 1983 as the area lying 100 kilometers north and south of the border between the United States and Mexico, the US-Mexico Border Region has several characteristics that
create a potential for exposure to multiple pesticides from multiple sources. The region contains a large proportion of land devoted to year-round agriculture, creating a risk of repeated, year round exposure. Agricultural pesticides are commonly applied by aerial spraying which can contribute to exposure via multiple pathways, including air ,water and food. Residential use of pesticides is also a potential source of significant exposure as the same conditions that make the region suitable for year-round agriculture contribute to the potential for year round household pest infestations. The population of the area is large, young and growing. The estimated population total for 2000 is 17.9 million, with 11.4 million (63.7%) living on the US side and 6.5 million (36.3%) living on the Mexico side. Almost half (47%) of the border population is under 20 years of age. The population growth rate on both sides of the border is higher than the national rates: growth from 1999 - 2000 was 3.3% for the Mexican side and 2.5% for the US side, compared with respective national rates of 1.8% and 0.9%.
Rationale
Minimal data are currently available concerning the potential health effects and cumulative risks of persistent low-level pesticide exposure in children. The present research program was designed to determine if a health threat exists and, if so, to identify the major risk factors for intervention. A three phase approach was planned to address program objectives. Phase I was designed to build capacity for subsequent studies by pilot testing methods and gathering baseline information on the potential for pesticide exposure; Phase II to identify high risk populations of children and potential health effects associated with exposure; and Phase III to describe pesticide exposure risk factors and possibly conduct a full scale study of specific exposures and health outcomes. This approach is integrated, with each subsequent phase building on the results of earlier efforts.