Do workplace and home protective practices protect farm workers? Findings from the "For Healthy Kids" study

OBJECTIVE

To assess associations of protective workplace and home practices with pesticide exposure levels.

METHODS

Using data from orchard workers in the Yakima Valley, Washington, we examined associations of workplace and home protective practices with (1) urinary metabolite concentrations of dimethylthiophosphate (DMTP) in adults and children aged 2 to 6 years and (2) azinphos-methyl levels in house and vehicle dust.

RESULTS

Data were collected from 95 orchard workers and 94 children. Contrary to expectation, adult farm workers who wore boots or washed hands using hand sanitizer had higher concentrations of DMTP than those who did not. Children who attended daycare had higher DMTP concentrations than children who did not.

CONCLUSIONS

Few workplace or home practices were associated with pesticide exposure levels; workers who used hand sanitizer had higher concentrations of DMTP, as did children who attended daycare.