Reducing Pesticide Exposure in Minority Families

Overview


"Reducing Pesticide Exposure in Minority Families" is a community based participatory research (CBPR) project funded by National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences. The Center for Research for Occupational and Environmental Toxicology at Oregon Health & Science University is the grantee for this study, which began in 1996. The objectives of this study are:

  1. Develop and validate a pathway model of organophosphate pesticide exposure for children residing near tree fruit orchards.
  2. Conduct a longitudinal investigation of pesticide residue analysis, work practices, home characteristics and biological markers of exposure in migrant families residing in multiple homes and communities throughout a year.
  3. Evaluate specific neurobehavioral outcomes in Latino children living in homes with measured pesticide residues.
  4. Assess the effectiveness of accepted methods of intervention including health education and environmental exposure reduction on changing behavior, and reducing pesticide exposure in the migrant agricultural community.
  5. Strengthen and expand partnerships among migrant farmworker communities to increase the capacity of the community to address issues of environmental exposures and health.

Click on a link below to learn more about our research with migrant farmworker families. Please visit the publications list for more information on our research process and results.



Study Population

Migrant farmworkers are among the most disadvantaged, medically indigent persons and have the poorest health of any group in the United States. The infant mortality rate among migrants is 125% higher than the general population, and the life expectancy of migrant farmworkers is 49 (compared to the national average 75 years). Commonly reported health problems among migrant farmworkers and their children include: lower height and weight, respiratory disease, parasitic conditions, skin infections, chronic diarrhea, vitamin A deficiency, accidental injury, heat-related illness and chemical poisoning. The General Accounting Office (1992) reported farmwork as the most dangerous occupation in the United States.

Exposure to pesticides, including contact with pesticide residues through contaminated air, water and food, are commonplace for farmworker families. Children and adolescents in particular are more susceptible to pesticides because they absorb more pesticides per pound of body weight. Occupational and environmental health issues, such as those related to pesticide exposure, warrant increased attention.

The following facts about the migrant farmworker population are taken from the National Agricultural Workers Survey 1997-1998:

  • Seventy-seven percent of all migrant workers are Mexican-born.
  • Fifty-two percent of farmworkers are unauthorized to work in the United States; 22% are U.S. citizens; 24% are legal permanent residents.
  • The average age of farmworkers is 31; half of all farmworkers are younger than 29.
  • Eighty percent of farmworkers are men.
  • Half of farmworkers are married; just fewer than one-half are parents.
  • The median highest grade of schooling is sixth grade.
  • Fifty-six percent of farmworkers migrate, whether within the United States and/or internationally.
  • Three-quarters of farmworkers earn less than $10,000 annually; 61 percent of all farmworkers have incomes below the poverty level.


Research Components

Urinary metabolites serve as a biomarker for levels of pesticide exposure. Levels of pesticide residue can also be measured in carpet dust, floor dust and outside dirt. Residues can also be collected by swabbing objects such as childrens' toys and hands. The following project components describe our research activities involving environmental and biological analyses.

    Family Exposure Study

    • Examine the exposure pathway of organophosphate pesticides
    • Conduct four home visits throughout the year to collect biological and environmental samples from 12 farmworker households along with activity, diet, work and house characteristics.
    • In 2002-2004 the Family Exposure Study will be expanded to include 30 families who migrate between Oregon and California.
    • Click here to see a table of pesticide residues detected in homes participating in the 2001 Family Exposure Study.

    Child Exposure Study

    • Offers a broad view of childrens' exposure to organophosphate pesticides by measuring urinary metabolites.
    • Biological samples collected from 180 children of farmworkers and 70 urban- dwelling children in four Oregon counties. Three urine samples were collected throughout the agricultural growing season.
    • Collection of environmental samples from daycare facilities.

    Deep Cleaning Study

      In 2002 we will test the effectiveness of cleaning migrant farmworker housing by taking baseline measures of pesticides in the house dust, deep-cleaning the homes while they are vacant and measuring the house dust after the cleaning. We will return approximately 12 months later to reassess the levels of pesticides in the house dust.

    Grower Study

      In 1998-1999, 24 orchard families participated in a comprehensive study involving urinary metabolite measurements, house dust analysis, work practices and diet and activity recalls. Results of this study indicate that orchardists who are involved in "high contact" work tasks such as mixing and/or applying pesticides and thinning have higher levels of pesticide residues in their homes. There is also evidence showing that removing work shoes before entering the home significantly reduces pesticide residue inside the home and that regular vacuuming can help maintain lower levels of indoor pesticide residues.

    Neurobehavioral Outcomes

      Scientists at OHSU have developed a battery of tests to assess the neurobehavioral effects of toxic chemicals. Detailed information on these tests can be found at the Behavioral Assessment and Research System site. Over the past years, BARS has been conducted with adult farmworkers and has been adapted for use with children. In 2002 the research team plans to test 75 children aged four to six to assess neurobehavioral effects of prolonged low exposure to pesticides.

    Interventions - Un Lugar Seguro Para Sus Niņos educational video

    Un Lugar Seguro Para Sus Niņos (A Safe Place for Your Children) is an 18-minute video illustrating how to protect children from pesticides and how to reduce potential pesticide exposure in the home environment.
    • Video is the focal point of monthly parent meetings hosted by community partner organizations.
    • Helps generate discussion in interrelated issues such as prenatal and neonatal exposure, exposure through fresh fruits and vegetables, and legal issues relating to workers rights and environmental justice.
    • Distributed to all Oregon Migrant HeadStart Centers and related centers nationwide.
    • Proven to increase pesticide knowledge in statwide evaluation.
    • The government of Oaxaca, Mexico is translating the video into a number of indigenous dialects so that their citizens are better prepared when they migrate to the U.S. in search of agricultural related work, and to better serve currently enrolled families who speak indigenous languages.

    Copies of the video can be obtained by sending requests to rachelle.mann-gaytan@OCDC.net.

    Community Based Participatory Research

    Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) is a research approach that is fairly new to environmental health science research. Community members and scientists form a partnership to identify and solve local problems. This approach is particularly valuable for research with migrant farmworker populations since this population has interests, values, and practices that are often unfamiliar to academic scientists. Community groups participate in the development and implementation of research actions, enhance community support for research and disseminate research results. Click here to see the partnership model utilized in our CBPR research.

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