An Updated Algorithm for Estimation of Pesticide Exposure Intensity in the Agricultural Health Study

Joseph Coble, Kent W. Thomas, Cynthia J. Hines, Jane A. Hoppin, Mustafa Dosemeci, Brian Curwin, Jay H. Lubin, Laura E. Beane Freeman, Aaron Blair, Dale P. Sandler and Michael C. R. Alavanja
Additional contact information
Joseph Coble: Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH/DHHS, 1620 Executive Blvd., Rockville, MD 20892, USA
Kent W. Thomas: National Exposure Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, MD-E205-04, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
Cynthia J. Hines: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 4676 Columbia Parkway R-14, Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA
Jane A. Hoppin: Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH/DHHS, MD-A3-05, P.O. Box 12233, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
Mustafa Dosemeci: Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH/DHHS, 1620 Executive Blvd., Rockville, MD 20892, USA
Brian Curwin: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 4676 Columbia Parkway R-14, Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA
Jay H. Lubin: Biostatistics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH/DHHS, 1620 Executive Blvd., Rockville, MD 20892, USA
Laura E. Beane Freeman: Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH/DHHS, 1620 Executive Blvd., Rockville, MD 20892, USA
Aaron Blair: Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH/DHHS, 1620 Executive Blvd., Rockville, MD 20892, USA
Dale P. Sandler: Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH/DHHS, MD-A3-05, P.O. Box 12233, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
Michael C. R. Alavanja: Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH/DHHS, 1620 Executive Blvd., Rockville, MD 20892, USA

IJERPH, 2011, vol. 8, issue 12, 1-15

Abstract: An algorithm developed to estimate pesticide exposure intensity for use in epidemiologic analyses was revised based on data from two exposure monitoring studies. In the first study, we estimated relative exposure intensity based on the results of measurements taken during the application of the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) (n = 88) and the insecticide chlorpyrifos (n = 17). Modifications to the algorithm weighting factors were based on geometric means (GM) of post-application urine concentrations for applicators grouped by application method and use of chemically-resistant (CR) gloves. Measurement data from a second study were also used to evaluate relative exposure levels associated with airblast as compared to hand spray application methods. Algorithm modifications included an increase in the exposure reduction factor for use of CR gloves from 40% to 60%, an increase in the application method weight for boom spray relative to in-furrow and for air blast relative to hand spray, and a decrease in the weight for mixing relative to the new weights assigned for application methods. The weighting factors for the revised algorithm now incorporate exposure measurements taken on Agricultural Health Study (AHS) participants for the application methods and personal protective equipment (PPE) commonly reported by study participants.

Keywords: pesticides; exposure algorithm; epidemiology; 2,4-D; chlorpyrifos; captan (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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