Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #111467

Marie Lynn Miranda, PhD¹, Brack W. Hale, PhD¹, M. Alicia Overstreet Galeano¹, Wayne R. Thomann, Dr PH², and David E. Camann, MS³. (1) Nicholas School of Environment and Earth Sciences, Duke University, PO Box 90328, Durham, NC 27708, 919-613-8058, brack.hale@duke.edu, (2) Office of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Duke Univeristy Medical Center, PO Box 3914 Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, (3) Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Division, Southwest Research Institute, 6220 Culebra Road, P.O. Box 28510, San Antonio, TX 78238

Pesticides and other persistent organic compounds provide a variety of benefits to individuals and society. However, exposure to these chemicals comes with certain health risks, particularly for children. To get a better sense of home exposures, the Children's Environmental Health Initiative (CEHI) at Duke University has measured levels of 24 organic chemical residues, including 16 pesticides, 4 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, and 4 phthalate compounds in household dust in 260 homes in Eastern and Central North Carolina over two April-October field sampling seasons. The compounds were identified for analysis based on chemical application patterns in the Southeastern United States. For comparability to other studies nationally, the household dust samples were sent to the Southwest Research Institute laboratories for analysis. Initial analysis of these homes within a geographic information system reveals measurable levels of most chemicals throughout the study area. The presence of specific chemicals and the combination of chemicals present varied widely across space, time, and demography. Results such as these will help health professionals proactively work to reduce childhood exposures in the home environment.

Learning Objectives:

• 1)Discuss prevalence of common organic chemicals in homes and relevant spatial trends.
• 2)Analyze how GIS technology can improve understanding of exposure to pesticides and other organic chemicals in the home environment.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.