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CAN FLU-LIKE ILLNESS BE AN INDICATION OF RECENT ORGANOPHOSPHATE PESTICIDE EXPOSURE IN PRESCHOOL CHILDREN?
Citation:
Mendola, P, D. Barr, D Walsh, S N. Hern, S Rhoney, L. Needham, E D. Hilborn, M Gonzales, C Carty, G. Robertson, AND J P. Creason. CAN FLU-LIKE ILLNESS BE AN INDICATION OF RECENT ORGANOPHOSPHATE PESTICIDE EXPOSURE IN PRESCHOOL CHILDREN? Presented at Society for Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiologic Research Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah, June 14-15, 2004.
Description:
Can flu-like illness be an indication of recent organophosphate pesticide exposure in preschool children? P Mendola*, D Barr, D Walsh, S Hern, S Rhoney, L Needham, E Hilborn, M Gonzales, C Carty, G Robertson, J Creason (US EPA, ORD, NHEERL, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711)
Pesticide exposure in young children is a great public health concern but it is difficult to identify which children are exposed. This pilot study evaluated potential unrecognized pesticide-related illness due to exposure to organophosphate (OP) pesticides. Urine samples from children aged 2 to 4 years (n=90) with flu-like symptoms were collected in community pediatric clinics and sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for OP metabolite analyses.
Six urinary metabolites (dialkyl phosphates) were measured in urine using tandem mass spectrometry. All metabolite levels are reported here as microgram per gram of creatinine. Every child had detectable levels of some OP metabolites and the sum of the 6 metabolites ranged from 0.6 ug/g to 987.0 ug/g (median = 62.9 ug/g). Metabolites of methyl OP compounds (median = 98.2 ug/g) were generally higher than ethyl (median = 32.0 ug/g) suggesting exposure to agricultural pesticides, even though these children were not from agricultural areas. An earlier pilot study conducted in an agricultural area found lower median metabolite levels in children with similar illnesses (total = 28.5 ug/g, methyl = 20.0 ug/g, ethyl = 4.6 ug/g).
Clinical symptoms were not helpful in predicting recent pesticide exposure. Loss of appetite was negatively correlated with ethyl metabolite levels, but no other symptoms were associated with exposure. Age was not directly related to exposure, but younger children still in diapers (n=18) had significantly higher levels of total urinary metabolites (mean = 215.4 ug/g) compared to older, toilet-trained children (n=72, mean = 108.9 ug/g). Diaper use may indicate behavioral immaturity that results in increased exposure.
This is an abstract of a proposed presentation and does not necessarily reflect EPA policy.