1
|
Kasner EJ, Prado JB, Yost MG, Fenske RA. Examining the role of wind in human illness due to pesticide drift in Washington state, 2000-2015. Environ Health 2021; 20:26. [PMID: 33722241 PMCID: PMC7958705 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-021-00693-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pesticides play an important role in protecting the food supply and the public's health from pests and diseases. By their nature, pesticides can be toxic to unintended target organisms. Changing winds contribute to pesticide drift- the off-target movement of pesticides-and can result in occupational and bystander illness. METHODS We systematically linked historical weather data to documented pesticide drift illnesses. We used Washington State Department of Health data to identify 252 drift events that included 690 confirmed cases of illness from 2000 to 2015. To characterize wind speed and direction at the time of the events, we paired these data with meteorological data from a network of 171 state weather stations. We report descriptive statistics and the spatio-temporal extent of drift events and compare applicator-reported weather conditions to those from nearby meteorological stations. RESULTS Most drift events occurred in tree fruit (151/252 = 60%). Ground spraying and aerial applications accounted for 68% and 23% of events, respectively; 69% of confirmed cases were workers, and 31% were bystanders. Confirmed cases were highest in 2014 (129) from 22 events. Complete applicator spray records were available for 57 drift events (23%). Average applicator-reported wind speeds were about 0.9 m •sec- 1 (2 mi •hr- 1) lower than corresponding speeds from the nearest weather station values. CONCLUSIONS Drift events result from a complex array of factors in the agricultural setting. We used known spatio-temporal aspects of drift and historical weather data to characterize these events, but additional research is needed to put our findings into practice. Particularly critical for this analysis is more accurate and complete information about location, time, wind speed, and wind direction. Our findings can be incorporated into new training materials to improve the practice of pesticide application and for better documentation of spray drift events. A precision agriculture approach offers technological solutions that simplify the task of tracking pesticide spraying and weather conditions. Public health investigators will benefit from improved meteorological data and accurate application records. Growers, applicators, and surrounding communities will also benefit from the explanatory and predictive potential of wind ramping studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edward J. Kasner
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA USA
| | | | - Michael G. Yost
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Richard A. Fenske
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Suarez-Lopez JR, Nazeeh N, Kayser G, Suárez-Torres J, Checkoway H, López-Paredes D, Jacobs DR, Cruz FDL. Residential proximity to greenhouse crops and pesticide exposure (via acetylcholinesterase activity) assessed from childhood through adolescence. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 188:109728. [PMID: 32798937 PMCID: PMC7483309 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Off-target drift of pesticides from farms increases the risk of pesticide exposure of people living nearby. Cholinesterase inhibitors (i.e. organophosphates and carbamates) are frequently used in agriculture and inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. Greenhouse agriculture is an important production method, but it is unknown how far pesticide drift from greenhouses can extend and expose people living nearby. METHODS This study included 1156 observations from 3 exams (2008, Apr, 2016 and Jul-Oct 2016) of 623 children aged 4-to-17 years living in agricultural communities in Ecuador. AChE, a physiological marker of cholinesterase inhibitor exposure, was measured in blood. Geographic positioning of greenhouses and homes were obtained using GPS receivers and satellite imagery. Distances between homes and the nearest greenhouse edge, and areas of greenhouse crops within various buffer zones around homes were calculated. Repeated-measures regression adjusted for hemoglobin and other covariates estimated change in AChE relative to distance from greenhouses. RESULTS The pooled mean (SD) of AChE activity was 3.58 U/mL (0.60). The median (25th-75th %tile) residential distance to crops was 334 m (123, 648) and crop area within 500 m of homes (non-zero values only) was 18,482 m2 (7115, 61,841). Residential proximity to greenhouse crops was associated with lower AChE activity among children living within 275 m of crops (AChE difference per 100 m of proximity [95% CI] = -0.10 U/mL [-0.20, -0.006]). Lower AChE activity was associated with greater crop area within 500 m of homes (AChE difference per 1000 m2 [95% CI] = -0.026 U/mL [-0.040, -0.012]) and especially within 150 m (-0.037 U/mL [-0.065, -0.007]). CONCLUSIONS Residential proximity to floricultural greenhouses, especially within 275 m, was associated with lower AChE activity among children, reflecting greater cholinesterase inhibitor exposure from pesticide drift. Analyses of residential proximity and crop areas near homes yielded complementary findings. Mitigation of off-target drift of pesticides from crops onto nearby homes is recommended.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jose R Suarez-Lopez
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
| | - Noor Nazeeh
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Georgia Kayser
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | - Harvey Checkoway
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | - David R Jacobs
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Benka-Coker W, Loftus C, Karr C, Magzamen S. Association of Organophosphate Pesticide Exposure and a Marker of Asthma Morbidity in an Agricultural Community. J Agromedicine 2019; 25:106-114. [PMID: 31130077 DOI: 10.1080/1059924x.2019.1619644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Objectives: We explored the short-term impact of pesticide exposure on asthma exacerbation among children with asthma in an agricultural community.Methods: We obtained repeated urine samples from a subset of 16 school-age children with asthma (n = 139 samples) as part of the Aggravating Factors of Asthma in a Rural Environment (AFARE) study cohort. Biomarkers of organophosphate (OP) pesticide exposure (dialkylphosphates (DAPs)), and asthma exacerbation (leukotriene E4 (uLTE4)) were assessed in urine samples. We used generalized estimating equations to examine the association of summed measures of creatinine-adjusted DAPs (total dimethyl alkylphosphate (EDM), total diethyl alkylphosphate (EDE), and total dialkylphosphate pesticides (EDAP)) and uLTE4 concentration, adjusting for multiple confounders, yielding beta-coefficients with 95% CIs.Results: A total of 139 observations were obtained from the 16 children over the study period, the total number of samples per subject ranged from 1 to 12 (median: 10.5). The geometric mean (GM) of creatinine-adjusted EDE, EDM, and EDAP in this population were 81.0, 71.8 and 168.0 nmol/g, respectively. Increase in uLTE4 levels was consistently associated with increased exposures to DAPs (interquartile range in μg/g): βEDE: 8.7 (95%CI: 2.8, 14.6); βEDM: 1.1 (0.5, 1.7); βEDAP: 4.1 (0.7, 7.5).Conclusion: This study suggests that short-term OP exposure is associated with a higher risk of asthma morbidity, as indicated by increased uLTE4 levels in this cohort of children with asthma in an agricultural community. Additional studies are required to confirm these adverse effects, and explore the mechanisms underlying this relationship.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wande Benka-Coker
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Christine Loftus
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Catherine Karr
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sheryl Magzamen
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Wong HL, Garthwaite DG, Ramwell CT, Brown CD. How does exposure to pesticides vary in space and time for residents living near to treated orchards? ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2017; 24:26444-26461. [PMID: 28948535 PMCID: PMC5719809 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-0064-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/01/2017] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated changes over 25 years (1987-2012) in pesticide usage in orchards in England and Wales and associated changes to exposure and risk for resident pregnant women living 100 and 1000 m downwind of treated areas. A model was developed to estimate aggregated daily exposure to pesticides via inhaled vapour and indirect dermal contact with contaminated ground, whilst risk was expressed as a hazard quotient (HQ) based on estimated exposure and the no observed (adverse) effect level for reproductive and developmental effects. Results show the largest changes occurred between 1987 and 1996 with total pesticide usage reduced by ca. 25%, exposure per unit of pesticide applied slightly increased, and a reduction in risk per unit exposure by factors of 1.3 to 3. Thereafter, there were no consistent changes in use between 1996 and 2012, with an increase in number of applications to each crop balanced by a decrease in average application rate. Exposure per unit of pesticide applied decreased consistently over this period such that values in 2012 for this metric were 48-65% of those in 1987, and there were further smaller decreases in risk per unit exposure. All aggregated hazard quotients were two to three orders of magnitude smaller than one, despite the inherent simplifications of assuming co-occurrence of exposure to all pesticides and additivity of effects. Hazard quotients at 1000 m were 5 to 16 times smaller than those at 100 m. There were clear signals of the impact of regulatory intervention in improving the fate and hazard profiles of pesticides used in orchards in England and Wales over the period investigated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hie Ling Wong
- Environment Department, University of York, York, YO10 5NG, UK.
- Faculty of Earth Science, University Malaysia Kelantan, Locked Bag 100, 17600, Jeli, Kelantan, Malaysia.
| | | | | | - Colin D Brown
- Environment Department, University of York, York, YO10 5NG, UK
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Suarez-Lopez JR, Butcher CR, Gahagan S, Checkoway H, Alexander BH, Al-Delaimy WK. Acetylcholinesterase activity and time after a peak pesticide-use period among Ecuadorian children. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2017; 91:175-184. [PMID: 29026987 DOI: 10.1007/s00420-017-1265-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2016] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Mother's Day (May) is a holiday with substantial demand for flowers, associated with heightened flower production and escalated pesticide use. The effect of spray seasons on pesticide exposures of children living in agricultural communities but who do not work in agriculture is poorly understood. In this study, we estimated the association of time after Mother's Day harvest with children's acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. AChE is a physiological marker of organophosphate/carbamate pesticide exposures that may take up to 3 months to normalize after its inhibition. METHODS We examined 308 children, aged 4-9 years, in Ecuadorian agricultural communities during a low flower-production season but within 63-100 days (mean: 81.5 days, SD: 10.9) after Mother's Day harvest. We quantified AChE activity (mean: 3.14 U/mL, SD: 0.49) from a single finger-stick sample. RESULTS We observed positive linear associations between time after the harvest and AChE among participants living near plantations. The associations were strongest among participants living within 233 m [(0.15 U/mL (95% CI 0.02, 0.28)], slightly weaker among participants living within 234-532 m [0.11 U/mL (0.00, 0.23)], and not associated among participants at greater distances. Similar findings were observed across categories of areas of flower plantations within 500 m of homes. CONCLUSIONS These cross-sectional findings suggest that a peak pesticide-use period can decrease AChE activity of children living near plantations. These seasonal pesticide exposures could induce short- and long-term developmental alterations in children. Studies assessing exposures at multiple times in relation to pesticide spray seasons among children who do not work in agriculture are needed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jose Ricardo Suarez-Lopez
- Division of Global Health, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego. 9500 Gilman Drive #0725, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0725, USA.
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California-San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive #0725, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0725, USA.
| | - Cheyenne R Butcher
- Division of Global Health, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego. 9500 Gilman Drive #0725, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0725, USA
| | - Sheila Gahagan
- Division of Academic General Pediatrics, Child Development and Community Health, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, 9500 Gilman Drive #0832, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0832, USA
| | - Harvey Checkoway
- Division of Global Health, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego. 9500 Gilman Drive #0725, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0725, USA
| | - Bruce H Alexander
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, 420 Delaware St. SE, MMC 807, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Wael K Al-Delaimy
- Division of Global Health, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego. 9500 Gilman Drive #0725, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0725, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Smith MN, Workman T, McDonald KM, Vredevoogd MA, Vigoren EM, Griffith WC, Thompson B, Coronado GD, Barr D, Faustman EM. Seasonal and occupational trends of five organophosphate pesticides in house dust. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2017; 27:372-378. [PMID: 27553992 DOI: 10.1038/jes.2016.45] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2016] [Accepted: 06/01/2016] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Since 1998, the University of Washington's Center for Child Environmental Health Risks Research has followed a community-based participatory research strategy in the Lower Yakima Valley of Washington State to assess pesticide exposure among families of Hispanic farmworkers. As a part of this longitudinal study, house dust samples were collected from both farmworker and non-farmworker households, across three agricultural seasons (thinning, harvest and non-spray). The household dust samples were analyzed for five organophosphate pesticides: azinphos-methyl, phosmet, malathion, diazinon, and chlorpyrifos. Organophosphate pesticide levels in house dust were generally reflective of annual use rates and varied by occupational status and agricultural season. Overall, organophosphate pesticide concentrations were higher in the thinning and harvest seasons than in the non-spray season. Azinphos-methyl was found in the highest concentrations across all seasons and occupations. Farmworker house dust had between 5- and 9-fold higher concentrations of azinphos-methyl than non-farmworker house dust. Phosmet was found in 5-7-fold higher concentrations in farmworker house dust relative to non-farmworker house dust. Malathion and chlorpyriphos concentrations in farmworker house dust ranged between 1.8- and 9.8-fold higher than non-farmworker house dust. Diazinon showed a defined seasonal pattern that peaked in the harvest season and did not significantly differ between farmworker and non-farmworker house dust. The observed occupational differences in four out of five of the pesticide residues measured provides evidence supporting an occupational take home pathway, in which workers may bring pesticides home on their skin or clothing. Further, these results demonstrate the ability of dust samples to inform the episodic nature of organophosphate pesticide exposures and the need to collect multiple samples for complete characterization of exposure potential.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marissa N Smith
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Washington Institute for Risk Analysis and Risk Communication, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Tomomi Workman
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Washington Institute for Risk Analysis and Risk Communication, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Katie M McDonald
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Melinda A Vredevoogd
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Eric M Vigoren
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Washington Institute for Risk Analysis and Risk Communication, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - William C Griffith
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Washington Institute for Risk Analysis and Risk Communication, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Beti Thompson
- Cancer Prevention Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | - Dana Barr
- Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Elaine M Faustman
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Washington Institute for Risk Analysis and Risk Communication, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Organophosphate pesticide exposure and residential proximity to nearby fields: evidence for the drift pathway. J Occup Environ Med 2011; 53:884-91. [PMID: 21775902 DOI: 10.1097/jom.0b013e318222f03a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Residential proximity to pesticide-treated farmland is an important pesticide exposure pathway. METHODS In-person interviews and biological samples were collected from 100 farmworker and 100 non-farmworker adults and children living in Eastern Washington State. We examined the relationship of residential proximity to farmland to urinary metabolite concentrations of dimethylphosphate (DMTP) and levels of pesticide residues in house dust. RESULTS DMTP concentrations were higher in farmworkers than non-farmworkers (71 μg/L vs 6 μg/L) and in farmworker children than non-farmworker children (17 μg/L vs 8 μg/L). Compared to non-farmworker households, farmworker households had higher levels of azinphos-methyl (643 ng/g vs 121 ng/g) and phosmet (153 ng/g vs 50 ng/g). Overall, a 20% reduction in DMTP concentration was observed per mile increase in distance from farmland. CONCLUSIONS Lower OP metabolite concentrations correlated with increasing distance from farmland.
Collapse
|