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PESTICIDE EXPOSURE AND POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS IN YOUNG CHILDREN ALONG THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER
Citation:
Hern, S C. AND G L. Robertson. PESTICIDE EXPOSURE AND POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS IN YOUNG CHILDREN ALONG THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER. Presented at Society for Risk Analysis, Atlanta, GA, December 5-8, 1999.
Description:
The purpose of the Pesticides in Young Children - Border States Program is to assess the relationship of health outcomes in children living along the United States and Mexico border to repeated pesticide exposures via multiple sources and pathways. 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 as designed to build capacity for subsequent studies by piloting 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 oft the results of earlier efforts. Phase I (1996-1998) began setting the foundation for future studies by reviewing existing pesticide usage and children's health data and creating Geographic Information System (GIS) maps of crops, pesticide application and population density along the border. A workshop was also held to review and evaluate appropriate health endpoints potentially associated with pesticide exposure in young children and to recommend specific study designs. Phase II (1998-2000) has incorporated Phase I information to aid in the design of screening studies to estimate the extent of pesticide exposure in infants and young children living in the border region. Phase III (2000-200?) will include a more extensive monitoring of "high end" exposure children found in Phase II and, if warranted, an epidemiological study to assess the association of pesticide exposure and specific health outcomes.
This work has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. It has been subjected to Agency review and approved for publication.