Pesticide exposure in dwellings near bulb growing fields in The Netherlands:an explorative study.
More details
Hide details
1 |
Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands |
2 |
Science Shop for Biology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands |
Ann Agric Environ Med 2004;11(1):149–153
KEYWORDS:
ABSTRACT:
An explorative field study was conducted to assess residential exposure to
pesticides, regularly applied in bulb farming. House dust floor samples were taken from
homes of bulb farmers (n = 12) and from homes in close proximity to a bulb field (i.e.
non-farmers) (n = 15). Samples were analysed for 7 pesticides used by bulb growers in
the sampling period. Of these pesticides, chloropropham, flutolanil and vinchlozolin
could be detected in non-farmers homes. All pesticides were detected in farmers’
homes, except metamitron. Median concentrations for chloropropham were significantly
higher in farmers’ homes (0.05 vs. 0.02µg/m2, p = 0.03). Logistic regression analyses
showed that the odds for detecting pesticides were higher in farmers’ compared to non-
farmers’ homes and remained higher after correction for potential confounders. Results
showed no significant effect of proximity of a residence to a bulb field for median
concentrations of pesticides; however, logistic regression analysis showed a borderline
statistically significant effect for detecting chloropropham above the detection limit (OR
= 10, p = 0.08). These findings demonstrate that, as expected, risk of exposure is higher
for bulb farmers than for non-farmers. They also indicate that exposure to pesticides is
not limited to bulb farmers only, and this warrants further investigation.
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR:
Astrid Hogenkamp
Science Shop for Biology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands