Grantee Research Project Results

2001 Progress Report: The Epidemiological Investigation of the Effects of Pesticide Exposure on Neurodevelopmental, Growth, and Respiratory Health of Farmworker Children

EPA Grant Number: R826709C002
Subproject: this is subproject number 002 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R826709
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: Center for Integrative Research on Childhood Leukemia and the Environment - 2015
Center Director: Metayer, Catherine
Title: The Epidemiological Investigation of the Effects of Pesticide Exposure on Neurodevelopmental, Growth, and Respiratory Health of Farmworker Children
Investigators: Eskenazi, Brenda
Institution: University of California - Berkeley
EPA Project Officer: Callan, Richard
Project Period: January 1, 1998 through January 1, 2002
Project Period Covered by this Report: January 1, 2000 through January 1, 2001
Project Amount: Refer to main center abstract for funding details.
RFA: Centers for Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research (1998) RFA Text |  Recipients Lists
Research Category: Children's Health , Human Health

Objective:

The objective is to estimate sources, pathways, and levels of in utero and postnatal pesticide exposures of farmworker children by measuring biological and environmental samples.

Progress Summary:

Neurodevelopmental Component

• 340 6-month neurobehavioral assessments have been completed; all 6-month assessments are scheduled to be completed by the end of December 2001.

• The 12-month neurobehavioral assessments began in February 2001. To date, 115 have been completed.

• The 24-month neurobehavioral assessments will begin in February 2002; the protocol and study instruments for this assessment are being developed.

• Statistical analyses investigating the association of pesticide exposure with low birth weight and neo-natal Brazelton assessment are in progress.

• Also see General Activities in the 2001 Annual Report for R826709.

Respiratory Component

• Descriptive statistical analyses are in progress to characterize the respiratory health status of the population.

• Ambient pollen and mold data continue to be reported nationally and to local physicians and media (http://www.salinasallergyclinic.com/information/chamacos.htm). Exit

• Also see General Activities in the 2001 Annual Report for R826709.

Research Changes

After consultation with Drs. Alkon, Boyce, and Johnson, we revised the test battery at the 6- and 12-month neurodevelopment assessments for the child. At the 6- and 12-month assessments the following measures are being used: Bayley Scales of Infant Development Mental and Motor Scales, the Preschool Language Scale, and Home Observation for the Measurement of the Environment Scale. In addition, the Autonomic Nervous System Assessment (ANS) is conducted on one-half of the sample. (Due to low numbers of successful ANS, we will be attempting to complete the ANS on all babies seen for a 6-month appointment between September and December, 2001.) At the 12-month assessment the following additional measures are used: the MacArthur Communicative Inventory and the Piaget test of visual memory. The Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale is not being used. The test battery for the mother has also been revised. The Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test is being administered, as planned. Due to time constraints at the 6-month visit, we decided to administer the Matrices portion of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), instead of the Raven’s Progressive Matrices. The WAIS Matrices sub-scale takes under 5 minutes to administer, compared with 30 minutes for the Raven’s. During the pilot phase of the 12-month assessment we administered the Raven’s Progressive Matrices. The testing added significant length to the assessment, and an examination of the scores on the Raven’s showed that the mothers who took both the WAIS Matrices and the Raven’s obtained similar scores on both. The Raven’s were discontinued at that point.

New Funded Research and Outreach Initiatives

To accomplish our objective to build a true Center for Children’s Environmental Research, we have initiated the following new research activities to fully utilize the specimens and expertise we have developed:

• We have received an RO1 level award from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to analyze stored Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas (CHAMACOS) urine and blood samples for potentially endocrine disrupting pesticides used in the Salinas Valley and investigate their association with neurobehavioral outcomes. These activities begin on September 30, 2001.

• We have initiated a project with the California Department of Health Services (CDHS) to measure lead levels in the maternal blood and cord blood of our participants. Lead is a potential confounder of the effects of pesticide exposure. CDHS will perform these analyses at no cost.

• We have obtained limited funds from the University of California at Berkeley Environmental Health Sciences Center Community Outreach and Education Programs to support CHAMACOS outreach activities in the Salinas Valley.

• We have initiated a pilot study investigating pesticide residues in amniotic fluid with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Community Interactions

CHAMACOS continues to be an active participant in the South County Out-Reach Effort (SCORE), and CHAMACOS representatives attend all monthly meetings. We have also met on two occasions with our Community Advisory Board, which includes representatives from the community, SCORE, industry, and local government. We will be holding our next Community Advisory Board meeting on October 18, 2001. Community Advisory Board members also provided input during preparation of the Intervention proposal. We have also provided educational trainings to our clinical partners, including physician training on asthma and air pollution (by I. Tager, M.D.) and iron deficiency and lead exposure to the County lead program (A. Bradman, Ph.D.).

Awards

Community/University Partnerships. In September of this year, CHAMACOS was honored by University of California at Berkeley Chancellor Robert Berdahl at the annual University/Community Partners Recognition reception.

EPA Science To Achieve Results (STAR) Fellowship. Rosana Hernandez, a Master’s student in Environmental Health Sciences, was awarded an EPA STAR Fellowship for her work related to the CHAMACOS study.

Future Activities:

In future, we will initiate the NIOSH grant investigating endocrine disruptors and neurobehavioral outcomes. Activities in Year 1 include CDC laboratory method development, shipment of stored samples, and preliminary data analysis.

Journal Articles:

No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 15 publications for this subproject

Supplemental Keywords:

Health, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Toxics, Susceptibility/Sensitive Population/Genetic Susceptibility, Health Risk Assessment, pesticides, Risk Assessments, genetic susceptability, Environmental Chemistry, Epidemiology, Endocrine Disruptors - Human Health, Children's Health, endocrine disruptors, Biochemistry, Endocrine Disruptors - Environmental Exposure & Risk, dietary exposure, health effects, Human Health Risk Assessment, sensitive populations, epidemeology, childhood respiratory disease, environmental hazard exposures, asthma, growth and development, neurodevelopmental toxicity, growth & development, human exposure, pesticide exposure, biological response, agricultural community, insecticides, neurotoxicity, pesticide residues, children, endocrine disrupting chemicals, exposure, endotoxin, exposure prone behavior, children's vulnerablity, developmental toxicants, environmental health hazard, neurodevelopmental, assessment of exposure, airway disease, childhood development, developmental disorders

Relevant Websites:

http://www.chamacos.org/ Exit

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

1998

1999 Progress Report

2000 Progress Report

Final

Main Center Abstract and Reports:

R826709    Center for Integrative Research on Childhood Leukemia and the Environment - 2015

Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R826709C001 Community Based Intervention to Reduce Pesticide Exposures to Young Children
R826709C002 The Epidemiological Investigation of the Effects of Pesticide Exposure on Neurodevelopmental, Growth, and Respiratory Health of Farmworker Children
R826709C003 A Comprehensive Assessment of Sources of Pesticide Contamination, Concentrations in Pathways, and Exposure-prone Behavior