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PESTICIDES IN DUST SAMPLES FROM HOMES AND SCHOOLS IN YUMA, ARIZONA
Citation:
Hern, S C., G L. Robertson, R. Hart, B A. Schumacher, AND E. Paz. PESTICIDES IN DUST SAMPLES FROM HOMES AND SCHOOLS IN YUMA, ARIZONA. Presented at International Society of Exposure Analysis, Monterey Pennisula, CA, October 24-27, 2000.
Impact/Purpose:
The objectives for the current task are to 1) evaluate the utility of screening survey design and questionnaires for identifying households/individuals with higher exposures; and 2) compare estimates of dietary exposure derived from food consumption and residue databases with direct measurements of dietary exposure obtained in this study. (Results of the environmental, exposure, and biological measurements will be reported in collaboration with the other investigators.)
Description:
A pilot study was conducted in Yuma, Arizona to investigate children's exposure to pesticides as detected in urine and dust samples. The principle hypothesis of the study is that pesticide levels in young children vary with the distance children live or attend school from agricultural fields. Dust samples were collected from 6 schools (14 samples) and from 151 homes (156 samples) of kindergarten and first grade children. The dust samples were tested for organophosphate pesticides and other pesticides which were used in the study area (43 pesticides). Urine samples were collected from the 152 participating children and also from their siblings between the ages of 3 to 10 years old. The urine samples of the 152 participating children were analyzed using an alkyl phosphate metabolite screen to detect exposure to organophosphorus (OP) pesticides. The urine samples of the siblings will be tested later based on the levels found in urine samples of the participating child in the household. In addition, analyses for individual pesticides may be done later if necessary. The pesticide exposure surrogates of urine and dust will be compared to distance from agricultural fields using both physical measurements and GIS technology. This presentation is restricted to the results of the dust sample analysis.
Of the 43 pesticides analyzed for in the dust samples, 18 were detected in the samples from schools while 33 were detected in the home samples. The seven most frequently detected pesticides were identical for both homes and schools; however, the rank order of the pesticides varied. It is interesting to note the high occurrence of orthophosphate compounds in schools as compared to the high incidence of pyrethroids in homes. The seven most frequently detected pesticides with the percent of detects in parenthesis for homes (H) followed by schools (S) are: trans-permethrin (92% H, 28%S), cis-permethrin (88% H, 28%S), chlorpyrifos (81%H, 86%S), diazinon (67% H, 95% S), propoxur (66% H, 52% S), o-phenylphenol (60% H, 90% S), and cypermethrin (43% H, 48% S).
The U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development funded this research. The abstract was reviewed and approved. The presentation has not been reviewed. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.