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2004 Progress Report: Pesticide Exposure Pathways Research Project

EPA Grant Number: R831709C004
Subproject: this is subproject number 004 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R831709
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: University of Washington
Center Director: Faustman, Elaine
Title: Pesticide Exposure Pathways Research Project
Investigators: Faustman, Elaine
Institution: University of Washington
Current Institution: University of Washington
EPA Project Officer: Fields, Nigel
Project Period: November 1, 2003 through October 31, 2008
Project Period Covered by this Report: November 1, 2003 through October 31, 2004
RFA: Centers for Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research (2003)
Research Category: Health Effects , Children's Health

Description:

Objective:

The objective of this research project is to improve our understanding of critical pathways of pesticide exposure for children.

Progress Summary:

Previously, we conducted research to examine children’s exposure pathways from an aerial application of organophosphorus pesticide.  This study used a combination of ambient monitoring techniques to measure and model spray drift and biomonitoring to study individual exposures.  Novel global positioning system personal activity logger (known as GPS-PAL) devices were developed and used to study activity patterns in relation to the spray event.  We now are preparing manuscripts to report results from the “Washington Aerial Spray Drift Study.”  Both inhalation and surface deposition exposure routes were documented in the study; a paper reporting the results from the volatilization modeling and measurements was accepted recently for publication.  Additional papers describing other components of the study are in preparation or in review.

Significance

Children’s activities during and following the spray event contributed strongly to exposure variability in different pathways.  Surface deposition varied over more than three orders of magnitude.  Only relatively small areas were impacted by primary drift, and play by a few individuals in these areas impacted by surface deposition likely contributed to dermal exposure pathways.  Significant volatilization also was observed during periods of high ambient temperature a few hours after the spray event; this could have contributed unexpected inhalation exposures, in addition to surface contact.  Indoor surfaces in the homes were not impacted by drift and this appears to result from strategies employed by the residents to avoid exposures during the spray event.

Future Activities:

Observations and Modeling of Airborne Spray Aerosols and Deposition Parameters 

Working with Dr. Allan Felsot at Washington State University (WSU), we will conduct field observations of a spray event in Prosser, Washington.  The spray will entail an air blast application in a working orchard, with the active ingredient (phosmet) provided by us and application occurring after the normal harvest ends (because of preharvest treatment restrictions).  The spray will be performed by a WSU applicator with our direction regarding suitable meteorology and sample collection procedures.  This study would include real-time Lidar observations, active air sampling, and passive deposition samples done concurrently by WSU and University of Washington (UW) research teams.  The study also will include an application using a drift retardant to measure the effect on surface deposition.  A doctoral student working on this project, Ming-Yi Tsai, will lead the field sample collection by UW. 

Construction of a GIS Data Set With Estimates of Pesticide Use in Yakima County 

We have decided to build on existing geographic information system (GIS) data of pesticide use in Yakima County collected by a previous student working on this research project.  The data set describes crop cover and pesticide use near selected residential farm locations in Yakima County.  We will expand this data set to include the entire county, using the georeferenced data in conjunction with satellite imagery (Landsat 7 and EO-1 platforms), to build a crop and land-use classification model.  The crop classification model will use reflectance data from the satellite images and will be cross-validated with ground truth observations in the existing data set, augmented with additional field observations for some crops.  Existing literature suggests that such a classification model can be made to


Journal Articles on this Report: 1 Displayed | Download in RIS Format

Other subproject views: All 8 publications 4 publications in selected types All 4 journal articles
Other center views: All 83 publications 51 publications in selected types All 47 journal articles

Type Citation Sub Project Document Sources
Journal Article Ramaprasad J, Tsai M-Y, Elgethun K, Hebert VR, Felsot A, Yost MG, Fenske RA. The Washington aerial spray drift study: assessment of off-target organophosphorus insecticide atmospheric movement by plant surface volatilization. Atmospheric Environment 2004;38(33):5703-5713. R831709 (2005)
R831709C004 (2004)
 not available
Supplemental Keywords:

children’s health, epidemiology, genetics, health risk assessment, risk assessment, assessment of exposure, asthma, children’s environmental health, diesel exhaust, environmental risks, exposure assessment, genetic mechanisms, genetic risk factors, genetic susceptibility, maternal exposure, nutritional risk factors, , ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, Scientific Discipline, Health, RFA, Risk Assessment, Health Risk Assessment, Children's Health, Biochemistry, Environmental Chemistry, exposure assessment, health effects, children's environmental health, biomonitoring, assessment of exposure, developmental neurotoxicity, agricultural community, community-based intervention, exposure pathways, pesticide exposure, biological response, environmental health, environmental risks, children's vulnerablity
Relevant Websites:

http://depts.washington.edu/chcexit EPA

Progress and Final Reports:
Original Abstract
2005 Progress Report
2006 Progress Report
2007 Progress Report


Main Center Abstract and Reports:
R831709    University of Washington

Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R826886C001 Molecular Mechanisms of Pesticide-Induced Developmental Toxicity
R826886C002 Genetic Susceptibility to Pesticides (Paraoxonase Polymorphism or PON1 Study)
R826886C003 Community-Based Participatory Research Project
R826886C004 Pesticide Exposure Pathways Research Project

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The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.

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