Grantee Research Project Results

The Epidemiological Investigation of the Effects of Pesticide Exposure on Neurodevelopmental, Growth, and Respiratory Health of Farmworker Children

EPA Grant Number: R826709C002
Subproject: this is subproject number 002 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R826709
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: Center for Integrative Research on Childhood Leukemia and the Environment - 2015
Center Director: Metayer, Catherine
Title: The Epidemiological Investigation of the Effects of Pesticide Exposure on Neurodevelopmental, Growth, and Respiratory Health of Farmworker Children
Investigators: Eskenazi, Brenda
Institution: University of California - Berkeley
EPA Project Officer: Callan, Richard
Project Period: January 1, 1998 through January 1, 2002
Project Amount: Refer to main center abstract for funding details.
RFA: Centers for Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research (1998) RFA Text |  Recipients Lists
Research Category: Children's Health , Human Health

Objective:

The goal of this study is to determine whether there are adverse health consequences of chronic low-level pesticide exposure in children. We have selected a population who are likely to be most at risk, farmworker children and others living in agricultural communities. These children are exposed to pesticides through the usual pathways such as ingestion of foods with pesticide residues, but in addition, are exposed to the take-home exposures of farmworker parents and pesticide drift from nearby fields. If there are health consequences of low level pesticide exposure, they should be most evident in this more heavily exposed population.

Specifically, we will determine the relationship between neurodevelopment, growth, and the occurrence of asthma and chronic low-level pesticide exposure during the prenatal and/or postnatal periods. Over a one-year period, we will enroll a cohort of 550 pregnant women who receive care from either of two community clinics who primarily provide care to farmworkers, and we will follow their children up until age three. The child will undergo neurobehavioral evaluations focussing on behaviors likely to be affected by chronic pesticide exposure during the neonatal period and at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months. At each medical visit, the child will be measured and weighed to assess growth patterns. At age three, we will determine whether or not the child has active asthma. In an exploratory nested case-control study, we will also assess the effects of exposures to common environmental antigens and endotoxins on the development of Th-2 lymphocyte phenotypes and specific IgE and on asthma prevalence at age 3 years. Maternal urine samples collected during pregnancy and child urine samples will be measured for organophosphate metabolites. Home dust samples will be obtained during the prenatal period and at 6 and 12 months to measure common asthma-associated environmental antigens and endotoxin. Mothers will be interviewed pre- and postnatally about their habits, demographic characteristics, Migration patterns, and work and medical history. At each well-baby visit, the mother will be questioned briefly about her child's development and illnesses (respiratory disease), breast feeding, child care, and work.

Low-level chronic pesticide exposure to children may be related to poor neurodevelopment and growth based on substantial evidence in developing rodents; and, it is biologically plausible that it is related to the occurrence of asthma through the dysregulation of the autonomic control of airways. To date, there is no research in developing humans.

Publications and Presentations:

Publications have been submitted on this subproject: View all 15 publications for this subproject | View all 141 publications for this center

Journal Articles:

Journal Articles have been submitted on this subproject: View all 1 journal articles for this subproject | View all 39 journal articles for this center

Supplemental Keywords:

children, health, pesticide, exposure, farmworker, neurodevelopment., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Health, Toxics, Environmental Chemistry, Health Risk Assessment, Epidemiology, Endocrine Disruptors - Environmental Exposure & Risk, pesticides, Risk Assessments, endocrine disruptors, Susceptibility/Sensitive Population/Genetic Susceptibility, Biochemistry, Children's Health, genetic susceptability, Endocrine Disruptors - Human Health, asthma, health effects, pesticide exposure, sensitive populations, endotoxin, childhood development, airway disease, biological response, respiratory problems, endocrine disrupting chemicals, exposure, children, Human Health Risk Assessment, neurodevelopmental, neurotoxicity, assessment of exposure, childhood respiratory disease, children's vulnerablity, human exposure, growth and development, insecticides, neurodevelopmental toxicity, pesticide residues, environmental health hazard, epidemeology, dietary exposure, growth & development, agricultural community, developmental disorders, developmental toxicants, environmental hazard exposures

Progress and Final Reports:

1998

1999 Progress Report

2000 Progress Report

Final

Main Center Abstract and Reports:

R826709    Center for Integrative Research on Childhood Leukemia and the Environment - 2015

Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R826709C001 Community Based Intervention to Reduce Pesticide Exposures to Young Children
R826709C002 The Epidemiological Investigation of the Effects of Pesticide Exposure on Neurodevelopmental, Growth, and Respiratory Health of Farmworker Children
R826709C003 A Comprehensive Assessment of Sources of Pesticide Contamination, Concentrations in Pathways, and Exposure-prone Behavior