Seasonal variation in cortisol biomarkers in Hispanic mothers living in an agricultural region.
BACKGROUND
Characterization of stress exposure requires understanding seasonal variability in stress biomarkers.


OBJECTIVE
To compare acute and chronic stress biomarkers between two seasons in a cohort of rural, Hispanic mothers.


METHODS
Stress questionnaires and cortisol measurements (hair, blood and saliva) were collected in the summer and fall.


RESULTS
Cortisol biomarkers were significantly different and stress questionnaires were significantly correlated between seasons.


CONCLUSIONS
The variability in cortisol and relative stability of questionnaires between seasons may indicate that cortisol responds to subtle stressors not addressed in questionnaires.


CONCLUSIONS
There are significant differences in stress biomarkers in our cohort between seasons.
a Institute for Risk Analysis and Risk Communication, University of Washington , Seattle , WA , USA .
Marissa N
MN
Smith
Carly S
CS
Wilder
William C
WC
Griffith
Tomomi
T
Workman
Beti
B
Thompson
Russel
R
Dills
Gretchen
G
Onstad
Melinda
M
Vredevoogd
Eric M
EM
Vigoren
Elaine M
EM
Faustman
D000383:Agriculture; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D009035:Mothers; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D012621:Seasons; D013312:Stress, Physiological
D015415:Biomarkers; D006854:Hydrocortisone
Biomonitoring; child exposure/health; exposure modeling