Pesticide monitoring on soccer fields via shoe wipe samples

Background: Pesticides exposure in children have been linked to serious health outcomes including neurologic, reproductive and endocrine, immunologic, developmental impairment, and certain types of cancers. Prior research demonstrated that pesticides are applied to children’s athletic fields, both at school and at recreational parks, but does application of pesticides to the fields lead to exposure of children who use the fields?  In this pilot study, we sought to determine whether pesticides applied to fields are transferred to field users' shoes and the impact on shoe contamination of time lapsed after application before exposure, concentration of application and duration of exposure.

Methods: We obtained a convenience sample of Maryland soccer fields based on established research partnerships.  We recruited six soccer players for this pilot study. Following regularly scheduled pesticide application by the land management company, two wipe samples each were collected from the bottom of the cleats by a trained technician, one for herbicides and one for insecticides, pre and post field use.  Wipe samples were analyzed by ALS Environmental in Salt Lake City, UT using a modified form of NIOSH Method 5601, Organonitrogen Pesticides.  

We collected 14 samples (12 test samples and 2 field blanks) during 2014 and submitted them for analysis. Results, discussion, implications for public health nurses and other practitioners, indications for future research and conclusions will be presented.