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Pyrethroid exposure among children residing in green versus non-green multi-family, low-income housing

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 31, pages 549–559 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

There is growing concern about children’s chronic low-level pesticide exposure and its impact on health. Green building practices (e.g., reducing leakage of the thermal and pressure barrier that surrounds the structure, integrated pest management, improved ventilation) have the potential to reduce pesticide exposure. However, the potential impact of living in green housing on children’s pesticide exposure is unknown.

Objective

To address this question, a longitudinal study of pyrethroid metabolites (3-phenoxybenzoic acid [3-PBA], 4-fluoro-3-phenoxybenzoic acid [4-F-3-PBA], trans-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxylic acid [trans-DCCA]) in first morning void urine, collected from 68 children from New Orleans, Louisiana residing in green and non-green housing was conducted.

Methods

Children were followed for 1 year with three repeated measures of pesticide exposure. Generalized estimating equations examined associations between housing type (green vs. non-green) and urinary pyrethroid metabolite concentrations adjusting for demographic and household factors over the year.

Results

Ninety-five percent of samples had detectable concentrations of 3-PBA (limit of detection [LOD]: 0.1 μg/L); 8% of 4-F-3-PBA (LOD: 0.1 μg/L), and 12% of trans-DCCA (LOD: 0.6 μg/L). In adjusted models, green housing was not associated with statistically significant differences in children’s 3-PBA urinary concentrations compared to non-green housing.

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Fig. 1: Geometric mean urinary metabolite concentrations by visit and home type (N = 202).

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the children and their parents for their participation and our community partners at Sojourner Truth Neighborhood Center for their assistance throughout the study.

Funding

This study was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grant #5UO1EH000990 and by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) interagency agreement #DW-75-95845001.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tulane University, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Derek W. Werthmann & Felicia A. Rabito

  2. Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA

    Daniel M. Stout II & Nicolle S. Tulve

  3. Harvard University, T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

    Gary Adamkiewicz

  4. Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Antonia M. Calafat & Maria Ospina

  5. Division of Environmental Health Science and Practice, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Ginger L. Chew

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Correspondence to Derek W. Werthmann.

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Werthmann, D.W., Rabito, F.A., Stout, D.M. et al. Pyrethroid exposure among children residing in green versus non-green multi-family, low-income housing. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 31, 549–559 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-021-00312-w

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