title: An updated algorithm for estimation of pesticide exposure intensity in the agricultural health study.
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.
authors.affiliation: Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD 20892, USA. coble.joe@dol.gov
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coble
authors.forename: Kent W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Cynthia J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hines
authors.forename: Jane A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hoppin
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dosemeci
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Curwin
authors.forename: Jay H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lubin
authors.forename: Laura E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Beane Freeman
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blair
authors.forename: Dale P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Sandler
authors.forename: Michael C R
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Alavanja
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D000465:Algorithms; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D010575:Pesticides / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D010575:Pesticides