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SUMMARY OF BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING RESULTS FROM THE AGRICULTURAL HEALTH STUDY/PESTICIDE EXPOSURE STUDY
Citation:
Jones, M., K W. Thomas, S. M. Gordon, S. Reynolds, M. G. Nishioka, J. Raymer, R. Helburn, C. Lynch, C. Knott, D. Sandler, AND M. Alavanja. SUMMARY OF BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING RESULTS FROM THE AGRICULTURAL HEALTH STUDY/PESTICIDE EXPOSURE STUDY. Presented at 5th International Symposium of Rural Peoples, Saskatchewan, Canada, October 10-23, 2003.
Impact/Purpose:
The primary goal of the AHS Pesticide Exposure Study (AHS/PES) is to measure exposure to applied pesticides for a subset of the cohort of private pesticide applicators and to provide data to evaluate exposure algorithms developed for exposure classification in the study cohort.
Description:
The Agricultural Health Study (AHS) is a prospective epidemiologic study of pesticide applicators and spouses in Iowa and North Carolina. Exposure to 2,4-D or chlorpyrifos was measured for a subset of applicators and their families in the AHS Pesticide Exposure Study to assess exposure classification procedures. Applicators were selected based on their plans to apply 2,4-D or chlorpyrifos, their application methods and their use of personal protective equipment. Potential exposures were measured on one day of pesticide handling, mixing, loading, and application (PHMLA) using dermal patch, hand wipe, and personal air samples. Dermal patch samples were collected by placing cellulose or gauze patches on the body. The surface area of each patch is sized proportionately to the body area it represents. Hand wipe samples were collected using a sub-sampling technique that wipes approximately 10% of the surface area of each hand. Urinary biomarker levels were measured in pre-and post-application samples from each applicator and for participating spouses and children. Questionnaires associated with the PHMLA activities were collected to provide information about work practices, protective equipment use, and hygiene. Field monitoring was performed from 2000 to 2002 in Iowa and North Carolina, with 108 applicator, 47 spouse, and 12 child measurements completed.
The use of the target chemical during the observed PHMLA, and on days before and after, affected pre- and post-application urinary levels for some 2,4-D and chlorpyrifos applicators. Pre-application urinary 2,4-D concentrations ranged from <1 to 410 ug/g creatinine and post-application levels ranged from <1 to 1100 ug/g creatinine. Urinary concentrations ranged from <1 to 65 ug/g creatinine for spouses and children of 2,4-D applicators. Applicator urinary concentrations of 3,5,6-trichloropyridinol, a chlorpyrifos metabolite, ranged from 1 to 29 ug/g before application and from 2 to 79 ug/g creatinine in post-application samples. Urinary concentrations ranged from 3 to 15 ug/g creatinine for spouses and children of chlorpyrifos applicators. The amount of a target chemical measured on applicator dermal patches ranged from <1 to 34,000 ug and from <1 to 3000 ug on hand wipe samples. An overview of the urinary biomarker, dermal, and inhalation measurement results will be presented, along with relationships between observed work practices and target chemical applied.
This is an abstract of a proposed presentation and does not necessarily reflect the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) policy. The actual presentation has not been peer reviewed by EPA. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.