title: Pesticides in dust from homes in an agricultural area.
abstract: We collected indoor dust samples from homes in the Salinas Valley of California. Of 22 pesticides measured in 504 samples, permethrins and the organophosphate chlorpyrifos were present in highest amounts. In multivariate Tobit regression models among samples from 197 separate residences, reported agricultural uses of chlorpyrifos, a herbicide (2,3,5,6-tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA)), and a fungicide (iprodione) on agricultural fields were significantly (p < 0.01) associated, with 83%, 19%, and 49% increases, respectively, in dust concentrations for each kg applied per day, near participant homes, in the month or season prior to sample collection. However, agricultural use of diazinon, which was 2.2 times that of chlorpyrifos, and of permethrin were not significantly associated with dust levels. Other variables independently associated with dust levels included temperature and rainfall, farmworkers storing work shoes in the home, storing a diazinon product in the home, housing density, having a home less clean, and having an air conditioner. Permethrins, chlorpyrifos, DCPA, and iprodione have either a log octanol-water partition coefficient (K(ow)) greater than 4.0, a very low vapor pressure, or both. Health risk assessments for pesticides that have these properties may need to include evaluation of exposures to house dust.
authors: Environmental Health Investigations Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, California, USA. Martha.Harnly@cdph.ca.gov
authors: Martha E
authors: ME
authors: Harnly
authors: Asa
authors: A
authors: Bradman
authors: Marcia
authors: M
authors: Nishioka
authors: Thomas E
authors: TE
authors: McKone
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Smith
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: McLaughlin
authors: Geri
authors: G
authors: Kavanagh-Baird
authors: Rosemary
authors: R
authors: Castorina
authors: Brenda
authors: B
authors: Eskenazi
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D002140:California; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005843:Geography; D006798:Housing; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis*; D011786:Quality Control; D012044:Regression Analysis
chemical_list: D004391:Dust; D010575:Pesticides