![[logo] US EPA](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090513082407im_/http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
2, 4-D levels in the Homes and Urine of 135 Preschool Children and their Adult Caregivers
M.K. Morgan1, L.S. Sheldon1, C.W. Croghan1, P.A. Jones1, K.W. Thomas1, J.C. Chuang2, and N.K. Wilson3.
1 - US Environmental Protection Agency
National
Exposure Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
2 - Battelle
Columbus, OH, USA
3 - Battelle
Durham, NC, USA
Context
The aggregate exposures of 135 preschool children and their primary adult caregivers to chemicals commonly found in their everyday environments were investigated. One objective was to identify sources and pathways of the participants’ exposures to the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) at their homes.
Methods
Participants were recruited randomly from selected homes in six North Carolina (NC) and six Ohio (OH) counties. Monitoring was performed over a 48-h period at the participants’ homes. Environmental samples collected at the homes included soil, carpet dust, indoor air, and outdoor air (Table 1). Personal samples collected from both children and adults consisted of hand wipes, solid food, liquid food, and urine. All samples were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) for 2,4-D (acid form).
Results
2,4-D was detected in all environmental and personal media, but was most often in dust (>82%) and urine (>86%). The median levels of 2,4-D in dust samples were at least three times lower in the NC homes (47.5 ng/g) than in the OH homes (156 ng/g). In addition, 2,4-D was detected in 8% compared to 49% of the hand wipe samples from NC children and OH children, respectively. Similarly, it was detected in 5% compared to 63% of the hand wipe samples from NC adults and OH adults, respectively. The median urinary concentrations of 2,4-D were two times lower for NC children (0.5 ng/mL) than for OH children (1.2 ng/mL). However, the median urinary concentrations of 2,4-D were similar for NC adults (0.6 ng/mL) and OH adults (0.7 ng/mL).
Discussion
This information suggests that 2,4-D may have been more commonly used at the selected homes in OH than in NC. The results overall showed that these participants were potentially exposed to 2,4-D from several sources and pathways at their homes. In addition, the urinary 2,4-D levels confirmed that these preschool children and their adult caregivers were exposed to low levels of 2,4-D in their daily
Disclaimer: Although this work was reviewed by EPA and approved for publication, it may not necessarily reflect official Agency policy.