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Urinary biomarker, dermal, and air measurement results for 2,4-D and chlorpyrifos farm applicators in the Agricultural Health Study

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 20, pages 119–134 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

A subset of private pesticide applicators in the Agricultural Health Study (AHS) epidemiological cohort was monitored around the time of their agricultural use of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and O,O-diethyl-O-3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridyl phosphorothioate (chlorpyrifos) to assess exposure levels and potential determinants of exposure. Measurements included pre- and post-application urine samples, and patch, hand wipe, and personal air samples. Boom spray or hand spray application methods were used by applicators for 2,4-D products. Chlorpyrifos products were applied using spray applications and in-furrow application of granular products. Geometric mean (GM) values for 69 2,4-D applicators were 7.8 and 25 μg/l in pre- and post-application urine, respectively (P<0.05 for difference); 0.39 mg for estimated hand loading; 2.9 mg for estimated body loading; and 0.37 μg/m3 for concentration in personal air. Significant correlations were found between all media for 2,4-D. GM values for 17 chlorpyrifos applicators were 11 μg/l in both pre- and post-application urine for the 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol metabolite, 0.28 mg for body loading, and 0.49 μg/m3 for air concentration. Only 53% of the chlorpyrifos applicators had measurable hand loading results; their median hand loading being 0.02 mg. Factors associated with differences in 2,4-D measurements included application method and glove use, and, for hand spray applicators, use of adjuvants, equipment repair, duration of use, and contact with treated vegetation. Spray applications of liquid chlorpyrifos products were associated with higher measurements than in-furrow granular product applications. This study provides information on exposures and possible exposure determinants for several application methods commonly used by farmers in the cohort and will provide information to assess and refine exposure classification in the AHS. Results may also be of use in pesticide safety education for reducing exposures to pesticide applicators.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the AHS cohort members participating in this study for their considerable time and effort. Several EPA researchers, including Ross Highsmith, William Steen, Miles Okino, and Ruth Allen, provided significant contributions to the study design. Paul Jones at EPA provided statistical support and Guadalupe Chapa assisted in data analysis. Joy Herrington, Nyla Logsden-Sackett, and Patti Gillette at the AHS Field Stations in IA and NC led participant screening activities. We thank Marcia Nishioka (Battelle Memorial Institute), Robin Helburn (RTI International) and David Camann and Jackie Clothier (Southwest Research Institute) for leading sample analyses and for hand wipe method development. The United States Environmental Protection Agency through its Office of Research and Development partially funded and collaborated in the research described here under contracts 68-D99-011 to Battelle and 68-D99-012 to RTI International, and through Interagency Agreement DW-75-93912801-0 to the National Cancer Institute. It has been subjected to agency administrative review and approved for publication. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. This study has been supported in part by the Intramural Research Program of the NIH, National Cancer Institute (Z01-CP010119-12), and National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (Z01-ES049030-1).

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Author notes

  1. Martin L Jones

    Present address: 1Current Address: Martin Jones, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Iowa City, IA, USA and Reynolds, Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA,

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Exposure Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA

    Kent W Thomas, Linda S Sheldon & Carry W Croghan

  2. Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH/DHHS, Rockville, Maryland, USA

    Mustafa Dosemeci, Aaron E Blair & Michael C Alavanja

  3. Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH/DHHS, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA

    Jane A Hoppin & Dale P Sandler

  4. Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, Ohio, USA

    Sydney M Gordon

  5. Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA

    Martin L Jones & Stephen J Reynolds

  6. RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA

    James H Raymer & Gerald G Akland

  7. Department of Epidemiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA

    Charles F Lynch

  8. Battelle Centers for Public Health Research and Evaluation, Durham, North Carolina, USA

    Charles E Knott

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Correspondence to Kent W Thomas.

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Thomas, K., Dosemeci, M., Hoppin, J. et al. Urinary biomarker, dermal, and air measurement results for 2,4-D and chlorpyrifos farm applicators in the Agricultural Health Study. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 20, 119–134 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/jes.2009.6

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