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Background:Previous studies suggest that prenatal exposure to phthalates, ubiquitous synthetic chemicals, may adversely affect neurodevelopment. However, data are limited on how phthalates affect cognition, executive function, and behavioral function into adolescence.Objective:We aimed to investigate associations of prenatal phthalate exposure with neurodevelopment in childhood and adolescence in the Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas (CHAMACOS) study.Methods:We examined associations between maternal urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations measured twice during pregnancy and a range of neurodevelopmental outcomes from ages 7 through 16 y in the CHAMACOS birth cohort (n=334). We used age-specific linear regression models and generalized estimating equation models to assess longitudinal effects and examined differences by sex.Results:Phthalate metabolites were detected in 88%–100% of samples, depending on the metabolite. Associations of phthalates with neurodevelopmental outcomes were largely null with some noteworthy patterns. Higher prenatal concentrations of metabolites of low-molecular weight phthalates (ΣLMW) were associated with more self-reported hyperactivity [β=0.8, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.1, 1.4 per 2-fold increase in ΣLMW phthalates], attention problems (β=1.5, 95% CI: 0.7, 2.2), and anxiety (β=0.9, 95% CI: 0.0, 1.8) at age 16. We observed sex-specific differences for the sums of high-molecular-weight and di(2-ethylhexyl) metabolites and cognitive outcomes (e.g., normalβ for Full-Scale IQ for boys=−1.9, 95% CI: −4.1, 0.3 and −1.7, 95% CI: −3.8, 0.3, respectively; normalβ for girls=1.8, 95% CI: 0.1, 3.4 and 1.6, 95% CI: 0.0, 3.2, respectively; p-int=0.01 for both).Conclusion:We found predominantly null associations of prenatal phthalates with neurodevelopment in CHAMACOS, and weak associations of ΣLMW phthalates with internalizing and externalizing behaviors in adolescence. No previous studies have examined associations of prenatal phthalate exposure with neurodevelopment into adolescence, an important time for manifestations of effects. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP5165

Key Points Question What are the risk factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection among farmworkers in California? Findings In this cross-sectional study of 1107 farmworkers, both household and workplace risk factors, including living with children aged 5 years or younger or unrelated roommates and living or working with an individual with known or suspected COVID-19, were associated with positive results on transcription-mediated amplification tests and immunoglobulin G tests for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Meaning These findings suggest that urgent distribution of vaccines to farmworkers and intervention on modifiable risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection are warranted given this population’s increased risk and the essential nature of their work.

Approximately 75% of farmworkers in the United States are Latino migrants, and about 50% of hired farmworkers do not have authorization to work in the United States. Farmworkers face numerous chemical, physical, and biological threats to their health. The adverse effects of these hazards may be amplified among Latino migrant farmworkers, who are concurrently exposed to various psychosocial stressors. Factors such as documentation status, potential lack of authorization to work in the United States, and language and cultural barriers may also prevent Latino migrants from accessing federal aid, legal assistance, and health programs. These environmental, occupational, and social hazards may further exacerbate existing health disparities among US Latinos. This population is also likely to be disproportionately impacted by emerging threats, including climate change and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Latino migrant farmworkers are essential to agriculture in the United States, and actions are needed to protect this vulnerable population. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Public Health, Volume 42 is April 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.