Exposure opportunities of families of farmer pesticide applicators

✍ Scribed by Beth C. Gladen; Dale P. Sandler; Shelia H. Zahm; Freja Kamel; Andrew S. Rowland; Michael C. R. Alavanja

• Book ID: 101240019
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1998
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 74 KB
• Volume: 34
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0271-3586
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0274(199812)34:6<581::aid-ajim6>3.0.co;2-u

✦ Synopsis

Background:

Families of farmer pesticide applicators have unusual opportunities for exposure, directly or indirectly, to pesticides. these exposures are not well characterized.

Methods:

Subjects were 26,793 licensed private pesticide applicators enrolled in the agricultural health study, a cohort study being conducted in iowa and north carolina. questionnaires were completed by the applicators and their spouses.

Results:

Many indirect exposure opportunities exist; for example, 21% of homes are within 50 yards of pesticide mixing areas, 27% of applicators store pesticides in their homes, and 94% of clothing worn for pesticide work is washed in the same machine as other laundry. direct exposure opportunities also occur; for example, 51% of wives of applicators worked in the fields in the last growing season, 40% of wives have ever mixed or applied pesticides, and over half of children aged 11 or more do farm chores.

Discussion/conclusions:

The extent of the opportunities for exposure of family members of farmer pesticide applicators makes studies of their health important.