Pesticide exposure and antioxidant status during pregnancy among Hispanic women at the U.S.-Mexico border

We conducted a study to characterize household pesticide exposures and antioxidant status among twenty-five pregnant Hispanic women living at the Texas-Mexico Border. Developing fetuses and children are especially vulnerable to organophosphates and other classes of pesticides because of their developing nervous systems. Pesticide exposures are of particular concern in this population because of the year-round use of agricultural pesticides and the fact that many parents work in the fields and may carry pesticides home on their clothing and/or the families live near agricultural fields. A variety of factors can exacerbate the adverse effects of pesticides and other environmental exposures, including calorie-dense nutrient-poor diets, inadequate sanitation, and poverty. The toxic effects of most pesticides ultimately are exerted via the production of free radicals, which result in lipid peroxidation and a reduction in total antioxidant capacity. Participating women answered questions concerning demographics, their general health, diet, history of pesticide use, and whether others in the same household used pesticides. Dust and 2-week air samples were collected from each home and analyzed for forty-five pesticides, including organophosphates, chlorinated pesticides and pyrethroids. Findings to be presented will include the types and levels of pesticides found, and the nutritional status and detoxification ability of the women who participated. Environmental pesticide types and levels found in this study will be compared with those from studies in other locations.