Prenatal exposure to pesticides: A feasibility study among migrant and seasonal farmworkers

Abstract

Background Migrant and seasonal farmworkers have a high potential for pesticide exposures, yet are rarely included in epidemiologic studies. This study examined the feasibility of assessing prenatal exposures to pesticides and other compounds in pregnant Hispanic farmworkers. Methods Nine women completed a survey about work experiences during pregnancy. Maternal urine, cord blood, and placenta samples were obtained at delivery for analysis of 51 analytes, including 6 phenoxy acid or triazine herbicides, 21 organochlorine insecticides, 10 PCBs, and 14 volatile organic compounds. Results Seven of 51 analytes were found in the biological samples. DDE, DDT, dichlorbenzene, toluene, trimethylbenzene, and endosulfan sulfate were detected in cord blood samples, and 2,4-D in urine from one or more women. Conclusions We documented the feasibility of following farmworkers to assess in utero exposure to pesticides and other contaminants, and demonstrated exposure to these compounds. Dif®culties in measuring pesticides with short half lives were noted. Am. J. Ind. Med. 40:578±585, 2001. ß 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.KEY WORDS: prenatal; farmwork; migrant; pesticides; cancer; occupation; Hispanic; Texas INTRODUCTIONPesticides are a broad class of chemicals used for pest control and are classi®ed by formulation, target pests, mode of action, or chemical structure [Stevenson, 1995]. While there are many bene®ts to pesticide application, pesticide exposures have been associated with a wide variety of adverse health outcomes. Acute health effects include irritant effects, systemic poisoning, and contact dermatitis. Chronic health effects include cancer, neurotoxicity, birth defects, and adverse reproductive effects [Sharp and Eskenazi, 1986;Moses, 1993]. A number of studies have linked pesticides to childhood cancer [Zahm and Ward, 1998]. Some epidemiologic studies have reported an association between childhood cancer risk and parental exposure to pesticides during pregnancy [Zahm and Ward, 1998]. The transplacental carcinogenesis of diethylstilbestrol [Giusti et al., 1995] illustrates the vulnerability of the fetus to the effects of in utero exposure. Prenatal exposure appears particularly hazardous [Rogan et al., 1986;Jacobson et al., 1990;Yu et al., 1991], although, one small study of prenatal DDE exposure showed no relation to preterm delivery [Berkowitz et al., 1996]. Animal studies demonstrating the transplacental transfer of genotoxins with subsequent teratogenic and carcinogenic effects also raise concern about in utero exposure to pesticides [Autrup, 1993] carcinogenicity of about half of the pesticides evaluated in experimental studies [IARC, 1987].There is a paucity of research on occupational and environmental hazards affecting minority women, particularly those of Hispanic ethnicity [Dula et al., 1993]. People of color and low-income groups experience a disproportionate burden of pesticide exposure and related health effects, and yet are rarely studied . Women who work as migrant or seasonal farmworkers have a particularly...

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