Agricultural and residential pesticides in wipe samples from farmworker family residences in North Carolina and Virginia - Children's Health

Environmental Health Perspectives, March, 2004 by Sara A. Quandt, Thomas A. Arcury, Pamela Rao, Beverly M. Snively, David E. Camann, Alicia M. Doran, Alice Y. Yau, Jane A. Hoppin, David S. Jackson

Children of farmworkers can be exposed to pesticides through multiple pathways, including agricultural take-home and drift as well as residential applications. Because farmworker families often live in poor-quality housing, the exposure from residential pesticide use may be substantial. We measured eight locally reported agricultural pesticides and 13 pesticides commonly found in U.S. houses in residences of 41 farmworker families with at least one child < 7 years of age in western North Carolina and Virginia. Wipe samples were taken from floor surfaces, toys, and children's hands. We also collected interview data on possible predictors of pesticide presence, including characteristics of the household residents, cleaning practices, and characteristics of the home. All families were Spanish-speaking, primarily from Mexico. Results indicate that six agricultural and 11 residential pesticides were found in the homes, with agricultural, residential, or both present in 95% of homes sampled. In general, residential pesticides were more commonly found. Presence of both types of pesticides on the floor was positively associated with detection on toys of hands. Agricultural pesticide detection was associated with housing adjacent to agricultural fields. Residential pesticide detection was associated with houses judged difficult to clean. Although the likelihood of agricultural pesticide exposure has been considered high for farmworker families, these results indicate that residential pesticide use and exposure in this population merit further study. Key words: agriculture, children, exposure, house dust, Latino.

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The potential health effects of pesticide exposure for children are highlighted in several recent publications (Eskenazi et al. 1999; National Research Council 1993; Zahm and Ward 1998). Pesticides pose a greater health risk for children than for adults because of their small body size and rapid development. Recent research has demonstrated that multiple types of pesticides are present in many dwellings in the United States, particularly in low-income, urban neighborhoods (Berkowitz et al. 2003; Pang et al. 2002; Whyatt et al. 2002).

Children in agricultural communities may be exposed to pesticides in the home because of pathways common to all children (diet, drinking water, residential pest control), as well as parental take-home pesticides and factors related to farm proximity (drift, playing in pesticide-treated fields; Camann et al. 1995; Fenske 1997; Fenske et al. 1999). Pesticides can remain stable indoors for extended periods of time, creating a significant exposure for children, especially those young enough to play on floors or to place toys and household objects in the mouth (Lewis et al. 2001). Simcox et al. (1995) have shown that pesticide concentrations of organophosphate (OP) insecticides in house dust and soil samples were greater for agricultural homes than for nonagricultural homes in the same communities. McCauley et al. (2001) found that OP residues in farmworker housing were associated with distance from fields and with number of farmworkers in the home.

These exposure routes are particularly relevant to children of migrant and seasonal farmworkers. Adults in their households often apply chemicals and perform hand labor in fields treated with pesticides. In addition, these children often live in dose proximity to the fields. Farmworker housing is frequently in poor repair and therefore subject to considerable pesticide application for pest control (Harrison 1995; National Advisory Council on Migrant Health 1995).

The research reported here focuses on exposure of farmworker children to a broad range of pesticides. Although previous studies have examined pesticide residues in the homes of such children, they have concentrated on agricultural chemicals and primarily on OPs (e.g., Simcox et al. 1995).

The present study is part of a project designed to develop and evaluate a culturally appropriate pesticide education intervention for farmworker families. During formative research, we used dust wipes to collect samples that were analyzed for a variety of pesticides. We present results of these analyses, describing the types and amounts of pesticides found in farmworker dwellings and their distribution on floor, toy, and hand surfaces in the home. We also examine possible predictors of pesticide presence in these homes to identify the probable pathways of exposure.

Materials and Methods

Recruitment. Data were collected between June and December 2001 from 41 households located in four western North Carolina counties and two southern Virginia counties. To be eligible for the study, the household had to contain a family consisting of at least two related persons, one of whom was a seasonal, migrant, of year-round farmworker employed in agriculture by someone outside of his of her family. At least one adult in the family had to have a child between 12 and 84 months of age residing in the house. The primary interviewee in all households was the mother.