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Cynthia L. Curl,¹ Richard A. Fenske,¹ John C. Kissel,¹ Jeffry H. Shirai,¹ Thomas F. Moate,² William Griffith,¹ Gloria Coronado,³ and Beti Thompson^3,4

¹Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA; ²SNBL USA Ltd., Everett, Washington, USA; ³Cancer Prevention Research Program, The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA; ⁴Department of Health Services, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA

Abstract

We analyzed organophosphorus pesticide exposure in 218 farm worker households in agricultural communities in Washington State to investigate the take-home pathway of pesticide exposure and to establish baseline exposure levels for a community intervention project. House dust samples (n = 156) were collected from within the homes, and vehicle dust samples (n = 190) were collected from the vehicles used by the farm workers to commute to and from work. Urine samples were obtained from a farm worker (n = 213) and a young child (n = 211) in each household. Dust samples were analyzed for six pesticides, and urine samples were analyzed for five dialkylphosphate (DAP) metabolites. Azinphosmethyl was detected in higher concentrations (p < 0.0001) than the other pesticides: geometric mean concentrations of azinphosmethyl were 0.53 µg/g in house dust and 0.75 µg/g in vehicle dust. Dimethyl DAP metabolite concentrations were higher than diethyl DAP metabolite concentrations in both child and adult urine (p < 0.0001) . Geometric mean dimethyl DAP concentrations were 0.13 µmol/L in adult urine and 0.09 µmol/L in child urine. Creatinine-adjusted geometric mean dimethyl DAP concentrations were 0.09 µmol/g in adult urine and 0.14 µmol/g in child urine. Azinphosmethyl concentrations in house dust and vehicle dust from the same household were significantly associated (r²= 0.41, p < 0.0001) . Dimethyl DAP levels in child and adult urine from the same household were also significantly associated (r² = 0.18, p < 0.0001) , and this association remained when the values were creatinine adjusted. The results of this work support the hypothesis that the take-home exposure pathway contributes to residential pesticide contamination in agricultural homes where young children are present. Key words: biologic monitoring, children, dialkylphosphate metabolites, dust, exposure, organophosphorus pesticides, take-home. Environ Health Perspect 110:A787-A792 (2002) . [Online 12 November 2002]

http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2002/110pA787-A792curl/ abstract.html

Address correspondence to C.L. Curl, University of Washington, DEH Box 357234, PNASH Center, Health Sciences Building, F-233, 1959 NE Pacific St., Seattle, WA 98195-7234 USA. Telephone: (206) 616-1958. Fax: (206) 616-2687. E-mail: ccurl@u.washington.edu

This work was supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (R826886/PO1 ES09601) , with additional support from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Agricultural Centers program (U07/CCU012926) . This work does not necessarily reflect the views of the agencies, and no official endorsement should be inferred.

Received 25 April 2002 ; accepted 12 August 2002.