Elsevier

Journal of Pediatric Health Care

Volume 36, Issue 1, January–February 2022, Pages 34-45
Journal of Pediatric Health Care

Article
Preschool-Age Children's Pesticide Exposures in Child Care Centers and at Home in Northern California

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedhc.2021.09.004Get rights and content
Under a Creative Commons license
open access

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Young children may be exposed to pesticides used in child care centers and their family homes. We examined pesticide use and environmental and behavioral factors potentially associated with child exposures in these settings.

Method

Preschool-age children (n = 125) wore silicone wristbands to assess pesticide exposures in their child care centers and home environments. Information about environmental and behavioral exposure determinants was collected using parent surveys, child care director interviews, and observations.

Results

Commonly detected pesticides were bifenthrin, chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin, fipronil, and cis- and trans-permethrin. Pesticide chemical storage onsite, cracks in the walls, using doormats, observed pests, or evidence of pests were associated with child exposures. Exposures were higher in counties with higher agricultural or commercial pesticide use or when children lived in homes near agricultural fields.

Discussion

Young children are being exposed to harmful pesticides, and interventions are needed to lower their risk of health problems later in life.

KEY WORDS

Environmental health
pesticides
children
child care

Cited by (0)

Abbey Alkon, Professor, Department of Family Health Care Nursing, School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.

Robert B. Gunier, Assistant Researcher, Center for Environmental Research and Community Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA.

Kimberly Hazard, Project Coordinator, Environmental Health Sciences, University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA.

Rosemary Castorina, Assistant Researcher, Center for Environmental Research and Community Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA.

Peter D. Hoffman, Senior Faculty Research Assistant, Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR.

Richard P. Scott, Faculty Research Assistant, Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR.

Kim A. Anderson, Professor, Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR.

Asa Bradman, Professor, Department of Public Health, University of California, Merced, CA.

The research was reviewed and approved by the University of California, San Francisco Committee on Human Research.

This study was funded by the National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences (RO1 ES027134). The funding agency was not involved in the study design, analysis, or manuscript preparation.

Conflicts of interest: Dr. Kim A. Anderson discloses a financial interest in MyExposome, which markets products related to the reported research. The terms of this arrangement have been reviewed and approved by Oregon State University in accordance with its policy on research conflicts of interest. Dr. Asa Bradman is a volunteer member of the Board for The Organic Center, a nonprofit organization addressing scientific issues about organic food and agriculture. Asa Bradman is also a member of the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Organic Standards Board. None of the other authors declares any actual or potential competing financial interest.

This manuscript or a similar manuscript is not under review or consideration for publication elsewhere. The authors agree to transfer all copyright to Elsevier if accepted into the journal.