Pesticide exposure of children in an agricultural community: Evidence of household proximity to farmland and take home exposure pathways

Children's exposure to organophosphorus (OP) pesticides in an agricultural community in central Washington State was determined. Spot urine and hand w ipe samples were collected from 109 children 9 months to 6 years of age, as were house dust samples, and wipe samples from various surfaces. Children were categorized based on parental occupation (agricultural vs nonagricultu ral) and on household proximity to pesticide-treated orchards. Median house dust concentrations of dimethyl OP pesticides in homes of agricultural fam ilies were seven times higher than those of reference families (1.92 vs 0.2 7 pg/g; P< 0.001). Median pesticide metabolite concentrations in agricultur al children were five times higher than those in reference children (0.05 v s 0.01 <mu>g/ml; P=0.09). Median pesticide concentrations in housedust (P=0 .01) and metabolite concentrations in urine (P=0.01) from agricultural fami lies were significantly higher in the children living near treated orchards (within 200 ft or 60 m) than those living more distant. Ten of 61 agricult ural children had detectable OP pesticide levies on their hands, whereas no ne of the reference children had detectable levels. These findings indicate that children living with parents who work with agricultural pesticides, o r who live in proximity to pesticide-treated farmland, have higher exposure s than do other children living in the same community (C) 2000 Academic Pre ss.