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The Epidemiological Investigation of the Effects of Pesticide Exposure on Neurodevelopmental, Growth, and Respiratory Health of Farmworker Children
EPA Grant Number: R826709C002Subproject: 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: CECEHDPR - University of California at Berkeley
Center Director: Eskenazi, Brenda
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: Fields, Nigel
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)
Research Category: Children's Health , Health Effects
Description:
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 16 publications for this subproject | View all 110 publications for this center
Journal Articles:Journal Articles have been submitted on this subproject: View all 1 journal articles for this subproject | View all 7 journal articles for this center
Supplemental Keywords:children, health, pesticide, exposure, farmworker, neurodevelopment. , Toxics, Scientific Discipline, Health, RFA, Susceptibility/Sensitive Population/Genetic Susceptibility, Endocrine Disruptors - Environmental Exposure & Risk, Risk Assessments, genetic susceptability, Health Risk Assessment, endocrine disruptors, Epidemiology, Children's Health, Biochemistry, pesticides, Environmental Chemistry, Endocrine Disruptors - Human Health, insecticides, environmental hazard exposures, neurodevelopmental toxicity, developmental disorders, endocrine disrupting chemicals, health effects, respiratory problems, childhood development, assessment of exposure, childhood respiratory disease, growth and development, exposure prone behavior, pesticide residues, epidemeology, endotoxin, agricultural community, dietary exposure, pesticide exposure, sensitive populations, developmental toxicants, biological response, airway disease, children, exposure, growth & development, children's vulnerablity, environmental health hazard, asthma, human exposure, Human Health Risk Assessment, neurodevelopmental
Progress and Final Reports:
1999 Progress Report
2000 Progress Report
2001 Progress Report
2002 Progress Report
Main Center Abstract and Reports:
R826709 CECEHDPR - University of California at Berkeley
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