Pesticide exposure in dwellings near bulb growing fields in The Netherlands: an explorative study.
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. 0.20 microg/m(2), 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.
Hogenkamp
Astrid
A
Astrid Hogenkamp, Science Shop for Biology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Vaal
Manon
M
Heederik
Dick
D
D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D009426:Netherlands; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010575:Pesticides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D031447:Tulipa
D000393:Air Pollutants; D010575:Pesticides