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Hyland C, Meierotto L, Som Castellano RL, Curl CL. Mixed-Methods Assessment of Farmworkers' Perceptions of Workplace Compliance with Worker Protection Standards and Implications for Risk Perceptions and Protective Behaviors. J Agromedicine 2024; 29:355-371. [PMID: 38284770 DOI: 10.1080/1059924x.2024.2307483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s Worker Protection Standards is the primary set of legislation aimed at protecting farmworkers from occupational pesticide exposure in the United States. Previous studies suggest that worker adoption of Pesticide Protective Behaviors (PPBs) promoted by WPS is associated with lower urinary pesticide concentrations. However, adoption of PPBs is often outside of the control of individual farmworkers and dependent on workplace factors such as employer provisioning of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and access to trainings/resources. METHODS We conducted a mixed-method study including urinary pesticide biomonitoring, surveys, and interviews with 62 Latinx farmworkers in southwestern Idaho from April to July 2022. We integrated findings across the various data sources to identify emergent themes relating to farmworkers' perceptions of workplace compliance with WPS and potential implications for their pesticide risk perceptions, protective behaviors, and urinary pesticide concentrations. RESULTS Participants reported some indications of poor workplace compliance with WPS regulations, notably inconsistent access to clean handwashing stations and notification of pesticide applications. Some farmworkers, particularly pesticide applicators, viewed herbicides to be categorically safer than other classes of pesticides such as insecticides; these perceptions appeared to influence protective behaviors, such as the relatively low use of PPE while applying herbicides. These findings are underscored by the higher concentrations of biomarkers of herbicides, but not insecticides, among pesticide applicators compared with non-applicators (e.g. median 2,4-D concentrations = 1.40 µg/L among applicators and 0.69 µg/L among non-applicators). Participants further reported concerns regarding the inadequacy of pesticide safety training, pesticide drift, and the lack of communication regarding pesticide applications on and near fields where they are working. DISCUSSION Participants' perceptions that herbicides are categorically safer than other pesticide classes is in direct conflict with WPS training, raising concerns about discrepancies between WPS instruction and other on-the-job training, as well as the inadequate provisioning of PPE during the application of certain pesticides. Our findings also suggest that current WPS regulations may not sufficiently address farmworkers' concerns, particularly in regard to pesticide drift.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly Hyland
- School of Public and Population Health, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive, Boise, ID, USA
- School of Public Health, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Lisa Meierotto
- School of Public Service, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive, Boise, ID, USA
| | - Rebecca L Som Castellano
- Department of Sociology, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive, Boise, ID, USA
- Department of Human-Environment Systems, School of the Environment, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA
| | - Cynthia L Curl
- School of Public and Population Health, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive, Boise, ID, USA
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Mueller W, Jones K, Fuhrimann S, Ahmad ZNBS, Sams C, Harding AH, Povey A, Atuhaire A, Basinas I, van Tongeren M, Kromhout H, Galea KS. Factors influencing occupational exposure to pyrethroids and glyphosate: An analysis of urinary biomarkers in Malaysia, Uganda and the United Kingdom. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 242:117651. [PMID: 37996007 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long-term exposure to pesticides is often assessed using semi-quantitative models. To improve these models, a better understanding of how occupational factors determine exposure (e.g., as estimated by biomonitoring) would be valuable. METHODS Urine samples were collected from pesticide applicators in Malaysia, Uganda, and the UK during mixing/application days (and also during non-application days in Uganda). Samples were collected pre- and post-activity on the same day and analysed for biomarkers of active ingredients (AIs), including synthetic pyrethroids (via the metabolite 3-phenoxybenzoic acid [3-PBA]) and glyphosate, as well as creatinine. We performed multilevel Tobit regression models for each study to assess the relationship between exposure modifying factors (e.g., mixing/application of AI, duration of activity, personal protective equipment [PPE]) and urinary biomarkers of exposure. RESULTS From the Malaysia, Uganda, and UK studies, 81, 84, and 106 study participants provided 162, 384 and 212 urine samples, respectively. Pyrethroid use on the sampling day was most common in Malaysia (n = 38; 47%), and glyphosate use was most prevalent in the UK (n = 93; 88%). Median pre- and post-activity 3-PBA concentrations were similar, with higher median concentrations post-compared to pre-activity for glyphosate samples in the UK (1.7 to 0.5 μg/L) and Uganda (7.6 to 0.8 μg/L) (glyphosate was not used in the Malaysia study). There was evidence from individual studies that higher urinary biomarker concentrations were associated with mixing/application of the AI on the day of urine sampling, longer duration of mixing/application, lower PPE protection, and less education/literacy, but no factor was consistently associated with exposure across biomarkers in the three studies. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest a need for AI-specific interpretation of exposure modifying factors as the relevance of exposure routes, levels of detection, and farming systems/practices may be very context and AI-specific.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Mueller
- Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
| | - Kate Jones
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Buxton, United Kingdom
| | - Samuel Fuhrimann
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Zulkhairul Naim Bin Sidek Ahmad
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom; Department Medical Education and Department Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Craig Sams
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Buxton, United Kingdom
| | | | - Andrew Povey
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Aggrey Atuhaire
- Uganda National Association of Community and Occupational Health (UNACOH), Kampala, Uganda
| | - Ioannis Basinas
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Martie van Tongeren
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Hans Kromhout
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Karen S Galea
- Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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Hyland C, Hernandez A, Gaudreau É, Larose J, Bienvenu JF, Meierotto L, Som Castellano RL, Curl CL. Examination of urinary pesticide concentrations, protective behaviors, and risk perceptions among Latino and Latina farmworkers in Southwestern Idaho. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2024; 255:114275. [PMID: 37866282 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Studies have documented high levels of pesticide exposure among men farmworkers; however, few have examined exposures or the experiences of women farmworkers. Data gaps also exist regarding farmworkers' perceived risk and control related to pesticides, information that is critical to develop protective interventions. OBJECTIVE We aimed to compare urinary pesticide biomarker concentrations between Latino and Latina farmworkers and examine associations with occupational characteristics, risk perceptions, perceived control, and protective behaviors. METHODS We enrolled a convenience sample of 62 farmworkers (30 men and 32 women) during the pesticide spray season from April-July 2022 in southwestern Idaho. Participants were asked to complete two visits within a seven-day period; at each visit, we collected a urine sample and administered a questionnaire assessing demographic and occupational information. Urine samples were composited and analyzed for 17 biomarkers of herbicides and of organophosphate (OP) and pyrethroid insecticides. RESULTS Ten pesticide biomarkers (TCPy, MDA, PNP, 3-PBA, 4-F-3-PBA, cis- and trans-DCCA, 2,4-D, Glyphosate, AMPA) were detected in >80% of samples. Men and women had similar urinary biomarker concentrations (p = 0.19-0.94); however, women worked significantly fewer hours than men (p = 0.01), wore similar or greater levels of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and were slightly more likely to report having experienced an Acute Pesticide Poisoning (26% of women vs. 14% of men; p = 0.25). We observed inconsistencies in risk perceptions, perceived control, and protective behaviors among men. DISCUSSION Our study is one the first to examine pesticide exposure and risk perceptions among a cohort of farmworkers balanced on gender. Taken with previous findings, our results suggest that factors such as job tasks, biological susceptibility, or access to trainings and protective equipment might uniquely impact women farmworkers' exposure and/or vulnerability to pesticides. Women represent an increasing proportion of the agricultural workforce, and larger studies are needed to disentangle these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly Hyland
- School of Public and Population Health, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA; Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA; Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California, Berkeley, USA.
| | - Alejandra Hernandez
- School of Public and Population Health, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA; Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Éric Gaudreau
- Centre de Toxicologie Du Québec (CTQ), Institut National de Santé Publique Du Québec, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Jessica Larose
- Centre de Toxicologie Du Québec (CTQ), Institut National de Santé Publique Du Québec, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Jean-François Bienvenu
- Centre de Toxicologie Du Québec (CTQ), Institut National de Santé Publique Du Québec, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Lisa Meierotto
- School of Public Service, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA
| | | | - Cynthia L Curl
- School of Public and Population Health, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA
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Ruiz-Arias MA, Medina-Díaz IM, Bernal-Hernández YY, Barrón-Vivanco BS, González-Arias CA, Romero-Bañuelos CA, Verdín-Betancourt FA, Herrera-Moreno JF, Ponce-Vélez G, Gaspar-Ramírez O, Bastidas-Bastidas PDJ, González FB, Rojas-García AE. The situation of chlorpyrifos in Mexico: a case study in environmental samples and aquatic organisms. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2023; 45:6323-6351. [PMID: 37301778 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-023-01618-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is one of the most commonly used organophosphate pesticides. Because CPF was described as a toxic compound without safe levels of exposure for children, certain countries in Latin America and the European Union have banned or restricted its use; however, in Mexico it is used very frequently. The aim of this study was to describe the current situation of CPF in Mexico, as well as its use, commercialization, and presence in soil, water, and aquatic organisms in an agricultural region of Mexico. Structured questionnaires were applied to pesticide retailers to determine the sales pattern of CPF (ethyl and methyl); in addition, monthly censuses were conducted with empty pesticide containers to assess the CPF pattern of use. Furthermore, samples of soil (48 samples), water (51 samples), and fish (31 samples) were collected, which were analyzed chromatographically. Descriptive statistics were performed. The results indicate that CPF was one of the most sold (3.82%) and employed OP (14.74%) during 2021. Only one soil sample was found above the CPF limit of quantification (LOQ); in contrast, all water samples had CPF levels above the LOQ (x̄ = 4614.2 ng/L of CPF). In the case of fish samples, 6.45% demonstrated the presence of methyl-CPF. In conclusion, the information obtained in this study indicates the need for constant monitoring in the area, since the presence of CPF in soil, water, and fish constitutes a threat to the health of wildlife and humans. Therefore, CPF should be banned in Mexico to avoid a serious neurocognitive health problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Alfonso Ruiz-Arias
- Laboratorio de Contaminación y Toxicología Ambiental. Secretaría de Investigación y Posgrado, Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit, Ciudad de la Cultura S/N. Col. Centro, C.P. 63000, Tepic, Nayarit, México
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Biológico Agropecuarias. Área de Ciencias Ambientales, Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit, Unidad Académica de Agricultura. Km. 9 Carretera Tepic-Compostela, C.P. 63780, Xalisco, Nayarit, México
| | - Irma Martha Medina-Díaz
- Laboratorio de Contaminación y Toxicología Ambiental. Secretaría de Investigación y Posgrado, Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit, Ciudad de la Cultura S/N. Col. Centro, C.P. 63000, Tepic, Nayarit, México
| | - Yael Yvette Bernal-Hernández
- Laboratorio de Contaminación y Toxicología Ambiental. Secretaría de Investigación y Posgrado, Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit, Ciudad de la Cultura S/N. Col. Centro, C.P. 63000, Tepic, Nayarit, México
| | - Briscia Socorro Barrón-Vivanco
- Laboratorio de Contaminación y Toxicología Ambiental. Secretaría de Investigación y Posgrado, Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit, Ciudad de la Cultura S/N. Col. Centro, C.P. 63000, Tepic, Nayarit, México
| | - Cyndia Azucena González-Arias
- Laboratorio de Contaminación y Toxicología Ambiental. Secretaría de Investigación y Posgrado, Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit, Ciudad de la Cultura S/N. Col. Centro, C.P. 63000, Tepic, Nayarit, México
| | - Carlos Alberto Romero-Bañuelos
- Laboratorio de Contaminación y Toxicología Ambiental. Secretaría de Investigación y Posgrado, Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit, Ciudad de la Cultura S/N. Col. Centro, C.P. 63000, Tepic, Nayarit, México
| | - Francisco Alberto Verdín-Betancourt
- Unidad Especializada de Ciencias Ambientales, CENITT, Av. Emilio M. González S/N, Ciudad del Conocimiento, Tepic, Nayarit, C.P. 63173, México
| | - José Francisco Herrera-Moreno
- Laboratorio de Contaminación y Toxicología Ambiental. Secretaría de Investigación y Posgrado, Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit, Ciudad de la Cultura S/N. Col. Centro, C.P. 63000, Tepic, Nayarit, México
| | - Guadalupe Ponce-Vélez
- Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, C.P. 04510, Cd. de México, México
| | - Octavio Gaspar-Ramírez
- Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco, Unidad Noreste (CIATEJ), Apodaca, N.L, C.P. 66629, Mexico
| | - Pedro de Jesús Bastidas-Bastidas
- Laboratorio Nacional para la Investigación en Inocuidad Alimentaria (Residuos de Plaguicidas), Centro de Investigación en Alimentación Y Desarrollo, A.C. (CIAD), Carretera a Eldorado Km. 5.5, Unidad Culiacán, C.P. 80110, Mexico
| | - Fernando Bejarano González
- Red de Acción Sobre Plaguicidas y Alternativas en México, A. C. (RAPAM), Amado Nervo 23, Int. 3, Col. San Juanito, C.P. 56121, Texcoco, Estado de México, Mexico
| | - Aurora Elizabeth Rojas-García
- Laboratorio de Contaminación y Toxicología Ambiental. Secretaría de Investigación y Posgrado, Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit, Ciudad de la Cultura S/N. Col. Centro, C.P. 63000, Tepic, Nayarit, México.
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Bossou YM, Côté J, Morin É, Dumais É, Bianchi C, Bouchard M. Assessing the impact of coexposure on the measurement of biomarkers of exposure to the pyrethroid lambda-cyhalothrin in agricultural workers. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2023; 251:114194. [PMID: 37290330 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
There are few published data on the impact of combined exposure to multiple pesticides (coexposure) on levels of biomarkers of exposure in workers, which may alter their toxicokinetics and thus the interpretation of biomonitoring data. This study aimed to assess the impact of coexposure to two pesticides with shared metabolism pathways on levels of biomarkers of exposure to pyrethroid pesticides in agricultural workers. The pyrethroid lambda-cyhalothrin (LCT) and the fungicide captan were used as sentinel pesticides, since they are widely sprayed concomitantly in agricultural crops. Eighty-seven (87) workers assigned to different tasks (application, weeding, picking) were recruited. The recruited workers provided two-consecutive 24-h urine collections following an episode of lambda-cyhalothrin application alone or in combination with captan or following tasks in the treated fields, as well as a control collection. Concentrations of lambda-cyhalothrin metabolites - 3-(2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoroprop-1-en-1-yl)-2,2-dimethyl-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid (CFMP) and 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA) - were measured in the samples. Potential determinants of exposure established in a previous study, including the task performed and personal factors were documented by questionnaire. Multivariate analyses showed that coexposure did not have a statistically significant effect on the observed urinary levels of 3-PBA (Exp(β) (95% confidence interval (95% CI)): 0.94 (0.78-1.13)) and CFMP (1.10 (0.93-1.30). The repeated biological measurements ("time variable") - defined as the within-subjects variable - was a significant predictor of observed biological levels of 3-PBA and CFMP; the within-subjects variance (Exp(β) (95% (95% CI)) for 3-PBA and CFMP was 1.11 (1.09-3.49) and 1.25 (1.20-1.31). Only the main occupational task was associated with urinary levels of 3-PBA and CFMP. Compared to the weeding or picking task, the pesticide application task was associated with higher urinary 3-PBA and CFMP concentrations. In sum, coexposure to agricultural pesticides in the strawberry fields did not increase pyrethroid biomarker concentrations at the exposure levels observed in the studied workers. The study also confirmed previous data suggesting that applicators were more exposed than workers assigned to field tasks such as weeding and picking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yélian Marc Bossou
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Chair in Toxicological Risk Assessment and Management, and Public Health Research Center (CReSP), University of Montreal, Roger-Gaudry Building, U436, P.O. Box 6128, Main Station, Montreal, Quebec, H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Jonathan Côté
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Chair in Toxicological Risk Assessment and Management, and Public Health Research Center (CReSP), University of Montreal, Roger-Gaudry Building, U436, P.O. Box 6128, Main Station, Montreal, Quebec, H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Éloïse Morin
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Chair in Toxicological Risk Assessment and Management, and Public Health Research Center (CReSP), University of Montreal, Roger-Gaudry Building, U436, P.O. Box 6128, Main Station, Montreal, Quebec, H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Étienne Dumais
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Chair in Toxicological Risk Assessment and Management, and Public Health Research Center (CReSP), University of Montreal, Roger-Gaudry Building, U436, P.O. Box 6128, Main Station, Montreal, Quebec, H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Clara Bianchi
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Chair in Toxicological Risk Assessment and Management, and Public Health Research Center (CReSP), University of Montreal, Roger-Gaudry Building, U436, P.O. Box 6128, Main Station, Montreal, Quebec, H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Michèle Bouchard
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Chair in Toxicological Risk Assessment and Management, and Public Health Research Center (CReSP), University of Montreal, Roger-Gaudry Building, U436, P.O. Box 6128, Main Station, Montreal, Quebec, H3C 3J7, Canada.
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Tremongkoltip A, Pengpumkiat S, Kongtip P, Nankongnab N, Siri S, Woskie S. Urinary Cypermethrin Metabolites among Conventional and Organic Farmers in Thailand. TOXICS 2023; 11:507. [PMID: 37368607 PMCID: PMC10305172 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11060507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Cypermethrin, a pyrethroid insecticide, is frequently spread on agricultural farmlands and is also used in households in Thailand. Conventional pesticide-using farmers (n = 209) were recruited from the Phitsanulok and Nakornsawan provinces. Certified organic farmers (n = 224) were also recruited in the Yasothorn province. The farmers were interviewed via a questionnaire and the urine from their first morning void was collected. The urine samples were analyzed for 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA), cis-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxylic acid (cis-DCCA), and trans-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxylic acid (trans-DCCA). The results showed no significant difference in the urinary cypermethrin metabolites between the conventional farmers and the organic farmers, for whom the usage of cypermethrin was not accounted for. However, when conventional farmers who used cypermethrin on the farm and in the home were compared with conventional farmers who did not use any cypermethrin or with organic farmers, a significant difference was noted for all metabolites except for trans-DCCA. These findings show that the most significant exposures to cypermethrin are among conventional farmers who use the insecticide on their farms or in their homes. However, measurable levels of all metabolites were found among both conventional and organic farmers who only used cypermethrin in the home or not at all, suggesting that the at-home use of pyrethroids and other possible exposures from pyrethroid residues on market-bought food may contribute to urinary levels of pyrethroids that exceed those of the general population in the US and Canada.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atima Tremongkoltip
- Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, 420/1 Rajvidhi Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Sumate Pengpumkiat
- Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, 420/1 Rajvidhi Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Pornpimol Kongtip
- Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, 420/1 Rajvidhi Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Noppanun Nankongnab
- Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, 420/1 Rajvidhi Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Sukhontha Siri
- Department of Epidemiology, Mahidol University, 420/1 Rajvidhi Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Susan Woskie
- Department of Public Health, University of Massachusetts Lowell, 61 Wilder St., Lowell, MA 01854, USA
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Lehmler HJ, Simonsen D, Garcia AQ, Irfan NM, Dean L, Wang H, von Elsterman M, Li X. A systematic review of human biomonitoring studies of 3-phenoxybenzoic acid, a urinary biomarker pyrethroid insecticide exposure, 1997 to 2019. HYGIENE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ADVANCES 2022; 4:100018. [PMID: 36644572 PMCID: PMC9838198 DOI: 10.1016/j.heha.2022.100018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Pyrethroid insecticides are used, for example, in agriculture, indoor environments, and mosquito control programs, resulting in human exposure. Urinary 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA) is a nonspecific biomarker for exposure to many pyrethroids. This systematic review identified human biomonitoring studies with 3-PBA that characterize environmental pyrethroid exposures in children and adolescents, pregnant women, and adults or occupational pyrethroid exposures relative to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) populations in the United States (US). PubMed, Embase, and SciFinder were searched for "3-phenoxybenzoic acid ", CAS No. 3739-38-6, and urine or urinary or urine level. Duplicate studies and studies meeting the exclusion criteria were removed from the search results based on predetermined exclusion criteria. This screening process identified 57 papers. Twenty-one, thirteen, twenty-two, and eleven manuscripts reported urinary 3-PBA levels in children, pregnant women, environmentally exposed adults, and occupationally exposed adults, respectively. Median 3-PBA levels ranged from 0.2 to 4.7 μg/g creatinine in children (1999-2016), 0.23-1.55 μg/g creatinine in pregnant women (1997-2014), and 0.11-3.34 μg/g creatinine in environmentally exposed adults (1999-2017). 3-PBA levels in occupationally exposed adults were significantly higher than in environmentally exposed populations, ranging from 0.43 to 14 μg/g creatinine (2004-2017). 3-PBA levels in children and adults from the general North American population increased significantly with the sampling year. A decrease in 3-PBA levels was noted in the adult cohorts from PR China and Japan. 3-PBA levels in most studies appeared to be comparable to levels in the NHANES populations; however, some smaller studies had high pyrethroid exposures. Factors contributing to higher 3-PBA levels in the general population included primarily dietary exposures and residential and agricultural pyrethroid applications. These findings demonstrate that pyrethroid exposures are near-ubiquitous worldwide and, in some regions, appear to increase over time. Thus, exposures to pyrethroid insecticides represent a continuing public health concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans-Joachim Lehmler
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA,Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Human Toxicology, Graduate College, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA,Corresponding author: The University of Iowa, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa Research Park, #221 IREH, Iowa City, IA 52242-5000, USA, (H.-J. Lehmler)
| | - Derek Simonsen
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA,Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Human Toxicology, Graduate College, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Alana Quintero Garcia
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Nafis Md Irfan
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Human Toxicology, Graduate College, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA,Department of Internal Medicine, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Laura Dean
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | | | - Xueshu Li
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
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Zúñiga-Venegas LA, Hyland C, Muñoz-Quezada MT, Quirós-Alcalá L, Butinof M, Buralli R, Cardenas A, Fernandez RA, Foerster C, Gouveia N, Gutiérrez Jara JP, Lucero BA, Muñoz MP, Ramírez-Santana M, Smith AR, Tirado N, van Wendel de Joode B, Calaf GM, Handal AJ, Soares da Silva A, Cortés S, Mora AM. Health Effects of Pesticide Exposure in Latin American and the Caribbean Populations: A Scoping Review. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2022; 130:96002. [PMID: 36173136 PMCID: PMC9521041 DOI: 10.1289/ehp9934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2021] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multiple epidemiological studies have shown that exposure to pesticides is associated with adverse health outcomes. However, the literature on pesticide-related health effects in the Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC) region, an area of intensive agricultural and residential pesticide use, is sparse. We conducted a scoping review to describe the current state of research on the health effects of pesticide exposure in LAC populations with the goal of identifying knowledge gaps and research capacity building needs. METHODS We searched PubMed and SciELO for epidemiological studies on pesticide exposure and human health in LAC populations published between January 2007 and December 2021. We identified 233 publications from 16 countries that met our inclusion criteria and grouped them by health outcome (genotoxicity, neurobehavioral outcomes, placental outcomes and teratogenicity, cancer, thyroid function, reproductive outcomes, birth outcomes and child growth, and others). RESULTS Most published studies were conducted in Brazil (37%, n = 88 ) and Mexico (20%, n = 46 ), were cross-sectional in design (72%, n = 167 ), and focused on farmworkers (45%, n = 105 ) or children (21%, n = 48 ). The most frequently studied health effects included genotoxicity (24%, n = 62 ) and neurobehavioral outcomes (21%, n = 54 ), and organophosphate (OP) pesticides were the most frequently examined (26%, n = 81 ). Forty-seven percent (n = 112 ) of the studies relied only on indirect pesticide exposure assessment methods. Exposure to OP pesticides, carbamates, or to multiple pesticide classes was consistently associated with markers of genotoxicity and adverse neurobehavioral outcomes, particularly among children and farmworkers. DISCUSSION Our scoping review provides some evidence that exposure to pesticides may adversely impact the health of LAC populations, but methodological limitations and inconsistencies undermine the strength of the conclusions. It is critical to increase capacity building, integrate research initiatives, and conduct more rigorous epidemiological studies in the region to address these limitations, better inform public health surveillance systems, and maximize the impact of research on public policies. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP9934.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliana A. Zúñiga-Venegas
- Centro de Investigaciones de Estudios Avanzados del Maule, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile
| | - Carly Hyland
- Center for Environmental Research and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
- School of Public Health and Population Science, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, USA
| | - María Teresa Muñoz-Quezada
- Centro de Investigación en Neuropsicología y Neurociencias Cognitivas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile
| | - Lesliam Quirós-Alcalá
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Maryland Institute of Applied Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Mariana Butinof
- Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Rafael Buralli
- Departamento de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Andres Cardenas
- Center for Environmental Research and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Ricardo A. Fernandez
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Católica de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Claudia Foerster
- Instituto de Ciencias de la Agroalimentarias, Animales y Ambientales, Universidad de O’Higgins, San Fernando, Chile
| | - Nelson Gouveia
- Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Juan P. Gutiérrez Jara
- Centro de Investigaciones de Estudios Avanzados del Maule, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile
| | - Boris A. Lucero
- Centro de Investigación en Neuropsicología y Neurociencias Cognitivas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile
| | - María Pía Muñoz
- Escuela de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Muriel Ramírez-Santana
- Departamento de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Anna R. Smith
- Center for Environmental Research and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Noemi Tirado
- Instituto de Genética, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, Louisiana Paz, Bolivia
| | - Berna van Wendel de Joode
- Infants’ Environmental Health Study, Central American Institute for Studies on Toxic Substances, Universidad Nacional, Heredia, Costa Rica
| | - Gloria M. Calaf
- Instituto de Alta Investigación, Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica, Chile
- Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Alexis J. Handal
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | | | - Sandra Cortés
- Centro Avanzado de Enfermedades Crónicas (ACCDiS), Centro de Desarrollo Urbano Sustentable, Departamento de Salud Pública, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ana M. Mora
- Center for Environmental Research and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
- Infants’ Environmental Health Study, Central American Institute for Studies on Toxic Substances, Universidad Nacional, Heredia, Costa Rica
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9
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Saraji M, Talebi K, Balali-Mood M, Imani S. Urinary metabolites of diazinon and chlorpyrifos in sprayer operators and farm workers of a potato farm. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND HEALTH. PART. B, PESTICIDES, FOOD CONTAMINANTS, AND AGRICULTURAL WASTES 2022; 57:745-755. [PMID: 36048024 DOI: 10.1080/03601234.2022.2111152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In order to investigate the effect of diazinon and chlorpyrifos on agricultural workers exposed to pesticides, urinary metabolites 2-Isopropyl-6-methyl-4-pyrimidinol (IMPy) and 3,5,6-Trichloro-2-pyridinol (TPCy) in farm workers, sprayer operators, and non-exposed people as a control group were measured. The modified QuEChERS method was applied to extract samples and was measured using a gas chromatograph/nitrogen-phosphorus detector. The obtained results showed that the median concentrations of TCPy were 36.92-547.7 and 7.7-49.58 ng/mL for sprayer operators and farm workers, respectively. Moreover, the median concentrations of IMPy were 81.66-593.1 ng/mL for sprayer operators and 40.6-66.1 ng/mL for farm workers. The control group had no measurable metabolites. The IMPy level of 60% of sprayer operators was significantly higher (P ˂ 0.05) than the TCPy level. The analysis of variance highlighted the significant relationship (P ˂ 0.05) between the levels of each metabolite and the use of safety gloves, respiratory masks, safety goggles, working time per week, and type of insecticide exposure. Our findings revealed the need to measure the urinary metabolites of these insecticides in other exposed workers. Also, workers should be taught the impact of using personal protective equipment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahdiyar Saraji
- Department of Plant Protection, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Khalil Talebi
- Department of Plant Protection, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
| | - Mahdi Balali-Mood
- Medical Toxicology and Drug Abuse Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Sohrab Imani
- Department of Plant Protection, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
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10
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Lopez-Carmen VA, Erickson TB, Escobar Z, Jensen A, Cronin AE, Nolen LT, Moreno M, Stewart AM. United States and United Nations pesticide policies: Environmental violence against the Yaqui indigenous nation. LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. AMERICAS 2022; 10:100255. [PMID: 36777691 PMCID: PMC9903935 DOI: 10.1016/j.lana.2022.100255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Indigenous Peoples suffer environmental violence related to pesticide exposure, including imported pesticides that are banned in the exporting countries (including the U.S.) due to their known detrimental health impacts and used in or near their traditional territories. The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) is a U.S. statue that allows "pesticides that are not approved - or registered - for use in the U.S." to be manufactured in the U.S. and exported elsewhere. The UN Rotterdam Convention also allows the global exportation of "banned pesticides." The ongoing exportation of banned pesticides leads to disproportionately high rates of morbidity and mortality, most notably in Indigenous women and children. In this paper, we present evidence describing the documented harms of banned pesticides with a focus on the Yaqui Nation in Sonora, Mexico, give background on the problematic laws allowing these harms, and highlight concrete solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor A. Lopez-Carmen
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA,Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, Cambridge, MA, USA,UN Global Indigenous Youth Caucus, Manhattan, NY, USA,Corresponding author at: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Timothy B. Erickson
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA,Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, Cambridge, MA, USA,Department of Emergency Medicine, Division of Medical Toxicology, Mass General Brigham, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zara Escobar
- George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | | | | | - Marcos Moreno
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Amanda M. Stewart
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA,Division of Emergency Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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11
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López-Gálvez N, Wagoner R, Canales RA, Ernst K, Burgess JL, de Zapien J, Rosales C, Beamer P. Longitudinal assessment of kidney function in migrant farm workers. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 202:111686. [PMID: 34273367 PMCID: PMC8578352 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) is an epidemic that affects young agricultural workers in several warm regions of the world. However, there is a lack of monitoring of kidney issues in regions with extremely warm environments such as the Northwest of Mexico, a semi-arid region with a growing agricultural industry, where migrant and seasonal farm workers (MSFWs) travel to work in the fields. The objective of this study was to longitudinally assess kidney functioning of MSFWs in relation to pesticide exposure, heat stress and dehydration in a large-scale farm in Mexico. We enrolled 101 MSFWs, of whom 50 were randomly selected to work in an organic certified area and 51 were randomly selected to work in a conventional area. We also enrolled 50 office workers within the same region as a reference group. We collected urine and blood samples from all workers in addition to demographic, behavioral, and occupational characteristics. The physiological strain index (PSI) was used to estimate workers' heat strain. Sampling was conducted at pre-harvest (March) and late in the harvest (July). Linear mixed models were built with the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) as the dependent variable. We found a significant decrease in kidney function in MSFWs compared to office workers. By the late harvest, one MSFW developed kidney disease, two MSFWs suffered a kidney injury, and 14 MSFWs were at risk of a kidney injury. We found that the eGFR in MSFWs decreased significantly from pre-harvest (125 ± 13.0 mL/min/1.73 m2) to late harvest (109 ± 13.6 mL/min/1.73 m2) (p < 0.001), while no significant change was observed in office workers. The eGFR was significantly lower in MSFWs who worked in the conventional field (101.2 ± 19.4 mL/min/1.73 m2) vs the organic field (110.9 ± 13.6 mL/min/1.73 m2) (p = 0.002). In our final model, we found that dehydration was associated with the decrease of eGFR. We also found an interaction between heat strain and job category, as a significant decline in eGFR by job category (conventional/organic MSFWs and office workers) was related to an increase in heat strain. This suggests that pesticide exposure needs to be considered in combination with heat stress and dehydration. This study provides valuable information on kidney function in MSFWs, and it shows the importance of early long-term monitoring in farm workers in other regions where CKDu has not been evaluated yet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolás López-Gálvez
- San Diego State University Research Foundation, San Diego State University, 5250 Campanile Dr, San Diego, CA, 92182, USA; Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin Ave, PO 245210, Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA.
| | - Rietta Wagoner
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin Ave, PO 245210, Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA
| | - Robert A Canales
- Interdisciplinary Program in Applied Mathematics, University of Arizona, 617 N. Santa Rita Ave, PO Box 210089, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Kacey Ernst
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin Ave, PO 245210, Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA
| | - Jefferey L Burgess
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin Ave, PO 245210, Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA
| | - Jill de Zapien
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin Ave, PO 245210, Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA
| | - Cecilia Rosales
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin Ave, PO 245210, Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA
| | - Paloma Beamer
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin Ave, PO 245210, Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA
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12
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Alcántara-de la Cruz R, Cruz-Hipolito HE, Domínguez-Valenzuela JA, De Prado R. Glyphosate ban in Mexico: potential impacts on agriculture and weed management. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2021; 77:3820-3831. [PMID: 33723895 DOI: 10.1002/ps.6362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Since glyphosate was classified as potentially carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, public debate regarding the environmental impact and health risks from its use has intensified. Almost all regulatory agencies throughout the world have concluded that the judicious use of glyphosate does not pose risks to the environment and human health. However, on the last day of 2020 the Mexican government decreed a ban of this herbicide beginning January, 2024. In current Mexican agriculture there are no safer chemical and/or other weed management technologies that allow for the economical substitution of glyphosate for weed control. Many Mexican weed scientists agree that glyphosate use should be reduced, but not banned outright. This decree could have more negative economic and social consequences as well as environmental and human health risks than benefits, which could compromise the country's food and public security. Crop yields are projected by some to decline by up to 40% with this ban, increasing food prices, making food less accessible to low-income consumers. In addition, a black market for the smuggling and illegal sale of glyphosate is possible. The possible environmental, economic and social impacts caused by the glyphosate ban in Mexico are discussed, emphasizing the impact on weed management. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Alcántara-de la Cruz
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
- Departamento de Parasitología Agrícola, Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Texcoco, Mexico
| | | | | | - Rafael De Prado
- Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Edaphology and Microbiology, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain
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13
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Curl CL, Meierotto L, Som Castellano RL. Understanding Challenges to Well-Being among Latina FarmWorkers in Rural Idaho Using in an Interdisciplinary, Mixed-Methods Approach. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 18:ijerph18010169. [PMID: 33383789 PMCID: PMC7795812 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18010169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to identify social, cultural and workplace-related risk factors affecting well-being among Latina farmworkers in rural Idaho. We recruited 70 Latina farmworkers from southwestern Idaho in 2019. We employed an inter-disciplinary, mixed-methods approach—including surveys, focus groups, interviews, and pesticide biomonitoring—to characterize multiple domains that influence well-being, including food security and access, housing conditions, social supports, access to medical care, and workplace safety. Six major themes emerged as primary challenges to Latina farmworkers’ well-being. In the public sphere, study participants identified these challenges as long working hours, concerns regarding pesticide exposure, and lack of enforcement of regulatory protections. Participants’ concerns regarding pesticide exposure were underscored by biological sampling results; multiple biomarkers of pesticide exposure were detected in all samples, with the highest concentrations measured in samples collected from women who reported mixing, loading or applying pesticides. Within the private sphere, food security and provisioning, childcare responsibilities, and social isolation were identified as significant challenges to well-being. Gender, ethnicity, and geography emerged as important, intersecting statuses that shaped the life experiences of these agricultural workers. Our findings suggest that gender may play a particularly critical role in the unique challenges facing Latina farmworkers. As a result, the services and regulations needed to support well-being in this population may be highly specific, and almost certainly include attention to work–family dynamics, pesticide exposure, and social connections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia L. Curl
- Department of Community and Environmental Health, College of Health Sciences, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Lisa Meierotto
- School of Public Service, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725, USA;
| | - Rebecca L. Som Castellano
- Department of Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725, USA;
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14
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López-Gálvez N, Wagoner R, Canales RA, de Zapien J, Calafat AM, Ospina M, Rosales C, Beamer P. Evaluating imidacloprid exposure among grape field male workers using biological and environmental assessment tools: An exploratory study. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2020; 230:113625. [PMID: 32950770 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2020.113625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Imidacloprid is a neonicotinoid insecticide commonly injected through agricultural drip irrigation systems to reduce the population of vine mealybugs (P. ficus) in grape farms. There is a growing concern of potential human health effects of imidacloprid, however, there is limited information on the exposure to imidacloprid in farm workers. Imidacloprid exposure was evaluated in this exploratory study of 20 male migrant grape workers sampled five days after imidacloprid was injected in the irrigation system during winter and summer seasons. We administered a questionnaire on work activities, exposure characteristics, and socio-demographics and collected personal air, hand wipe, and spot urine samples. Heat exposure was also assessed. Spearman's correlation coefficients and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were utilized to evaluate associations and differences in imidacloprid exposures with socio-demographic, occupational, and environmental characteristics. All participants had less than a high school education and about half identified an Indigenous language as their primary language. Although not detected in air samples, imidacloprid was detected in 85% of the hand wipes (median: 0.26: 0.41 μg/wipe, range: 0.05-7.10 μg/wipe). The majority of participants (75%) had detectable urinary concentrations of imidacloprid (median: 0.11 μg/g creatinine, range: 0.05-3.90 μg/g of creatinine), and nearly all (95%) had detectable urinary concentrations of 5-hydroxy-Imidacloprid (5-OH-IMI), a metabolite of imidacloprid (median: 1.28 μg/g creatinine, range: 0.20-27.89 μg/g creatinine). There was a significant correlation (p < 0.001) between imidacloprid in hand wipes and urinary imidacloprid and 5-OH-IMI (rs: 0.67 for imidacloprid and 0.80 for 5-OH-IMI). Hand temperature was significantly and positively correlated (p < 0.05) with imidacloprid concentration on hand wipes (rs: 0.70), and urinary biomarkers (rs: 0.68 for imidacloprid, and 0.60 for 5-OH-IMI) suggesting that working in high temperatures may influence the exposure and absorption of imidacloprid. Thus, research on farm workers would benefit in the future by evaluating imidacloprid exposure in relation to heat stress and other occupational factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolás López-Gálvez
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin Ave. PO 245210, Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA.
| | - Rietta Wagoner
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin Ave. PO 245210, Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA
| | - Robert A Canales
- Interdisciplinary Program in Applied Mathematics, University of Arizona, 617 N. Santa Rita Ave. PO Box 210089, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Jill de Zapien
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin Ave. PO 245210, Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA
| | - Antonia M Calafat
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Division of Laboratory Sciences, 4770 Buford Hwy, Atlanta, GA, 30341, United States
| | - Maria Ospina
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Division of Laboratory Sciences, 4770 Buford Hwy, Atlanta, GA, 30341, United States
| | - Cecilia Rosales
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin Ave. PO 245210, Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA
| | - Paloma Beamer
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin Ave. PO 245210, Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA
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15
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Gutiérrez-Jara JP, Córdova-Lepe FD, Muñoz-Quezada MT, Chowell G. Susceptibility to organophosphates pesticides and the development of infectious-contagious respiratory diseases. J Theor Biol 2019; 488:110133. [PMID: 31870902 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2019.110133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Revised: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
In this paper we develop an SIRS compartmental model to investigate the dynamic interplay between pesticide intoxication and the spread of infectious-contagious respiratory diseases. We are particularly interested in investigating three levels of genetic susceptibility to pesticide intoxication. The genotypic distribution of susceptibility to pesticide intoxication, is proposed and parameterized according to ethnic variation using real population data from published studies, and we assume that pesticide intoxication increases susceptibility to infection with a respiratory pathogen. We use mathematical models to illustrate the impact of this distribution on the spread of hypothetical respiratory disease in a population exposed to the organophosphate pesticide. In this context, we show how an initial basic reproductive number below the epidemic threshold of 1.0 could be enhanced to support epidemic outbreaks in agricultural populations that employ chlorpyrifos pesticides. We further illustrate our modeling framework to study the effect of ethnic group variation in Singapore (Malay, Indian and Chinese) using genetic distribution data from published studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- J P Gutiérrez-Jara
- Doctorado en Modelamiento Matemático Aplicado, Universidad Católica del Maule, Avenida San Miguel 3605, Talca, Chile.
| | - F D Córdova-Lepe
- Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Católica del Maule, Avenida San Miguel 3605, Talca, Chile.
| | - M T Muñoz-Quezada
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Católica del Maule, Avenida San Miguel 3605, Talca, Chile.
| | - G Chowell
- School of Public Health, Georgia State University, Decatur 140 Georgia, Atlanta, USA.
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