Indoor Air Exposure to Multiple Agricultural Pesticides Potentially Posing the Highest Risk to Young Children
Abstract Pesticides are extensively used to improve crop yield and quality in many African countries where agricultural production is a critical economic activity, including Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) in southern Africa. However, the potential health effects of indoor exposure to agricultural pes...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Aerosol and Air Quality Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.210062 |
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| author | Sithembiso Sifiso Msibi Chung-Yu Chen Cheng-Ping Chang Chiou-Jong Chen Su-Yin Chiang Kuen-Yuh Wu |
| author_facet | Sithembiso Sifiso Msibi Chung-Yu Chen Cheng-Ping Chang Chiou-Jong Chen Su-Yin Chiang Kuen-Yuh Wu |
| author_sort | Sithembiso Sifiso Msibi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Pesticides are extensively used to improve crop yield and quality in many African countries where agricultural production is a critical economic activity, including Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) in southern Africa. However, the potential health effects of indoor exposure to agricultural pesticides are deeply concerning, and children are particularly vulnerable. This case study assessed such exposure and its risks by sampling and analyzing the air inside the homes of 15 pesticide applicators and 12 non-applicators in Swazi communities surrounded by nearby (~200 m) sugarcane fields on pesticide spraying days. Applying liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to the samples revealed mean ametryn, atrazine, pendimethalin and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) concentrations of 0.75, 0.32, 0.57 and 0.004 µg m−3, respectively, in the applicator households and corresponding values of 0.19, 0.03, 0.04 and 0.003 µg m−3, respectively, in the non-applicator households. Notably, the non-applicator households exhibited pesticide concentrations far exceeding previously published data. Furthermore, we measured significantly higher levels of ametryn and pendimethalin inside the homes of the applicators than those of the non-applicators. Daily inhalation exposure to agricultural pesticides resulted in cumulative hazard index values above 1.0 at the 95th percentile for children 3 years of age and younger in the applicator households. Thus, the take-home pathway, spray drift and household-to-field distance all play crucial roles in determining the pesticide exposure and health risks indoors. Owing to the dominance of the first factor, we advise applicators to shower and change into clean clothes before returning home to their families. This safety measure is essential for the many families living near agricultural land throughout Africa. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d687edc52cef4096b2e158b72fd071db |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1680-8584 2071-1409 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Aerosol and Air Quality Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-d687edc52cef4096b2e158b72fd071db2025-02-09T12:21:26ZengSpringerAerosol and Air Quality Research1680-85842071-14092021-06-0121911810.4209/aaqr.210062Indoor Air Exposure to Multiple Agricultural Pesticides Potentially Posing the Highest Risk to Young ChildrenSithembiso Sifiso Msibi0Chung-Yu Chen1Cheng-Ping Chang2Chiou-Jong Chen3Su-Yin Chiang4Kuen-Yuh Wu5Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan UniversityDepartment of Occupational Safety and Health, College of Health Sciences, Chang Jung Christian UniversityDepartment of Occupational Safety and Health, College of Health Sciences, Chang Jung Christian UniversityDepartment of Occupational Safety and Health, College of Health Sciences, Chang Jung Christian UniversitySchool of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical UniversityInstitute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan UniversityAbstract Pesticides are extensively used to improve crop yield and quality in many African countries where agricultural production is a critical economic activity, including Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) in southern Africa. However, the potential health effects of indoor exposure to agricultural pesticides are deeply concerning, and children are particularly vulnerable. This case study assessed such exposure and its risks by sampling and analyzing the air inside the homes of 15 pesticide applicators and 12 non-applicators in Swazi communities surrounded by nearby (~200 m) sugarcane fields on pesticide spraying days. Applying liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to the samples revealed mean ametryn, atrazine, pendimethalin and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) concentrations of 0.75, 0.32, 0.57 and 0.004 µg m−3, respectively, in the applicator households and corresponding values of 0.19, 0.03, 0.04 and 0.003 µg m−3, respectively, in the non-applicator households. Notably, the non-applicator households exhibited pesticide concentrations far exceeding previously published data. Furthermore, we measured significantly higher levels of ametryn and pendimethalin inside the homes of the applicators than those of the non-applicators. Daily inhalation exposure to agricultural pesticides resulted in cumulative hazard index values above 1.0 at the 95th percentile for children 3 years of age and younger in the applicator households. Thus, the take-home pathway, spray drift and household-to-field distance all play crucial roles in determining the pesticide exposure and health risks indoors. Owing to the dominance of the first factor, we advise applicators to shower and change into clean clothes before returning home to their families. This safety measure is essential for the many families living near agricultural land throughout Africa.https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.210062PesticidesIndoor airInhalation exposureHealth riskEswatini |
| spellingShingle | Sithembiso Sifiso Msibi Chung-Yu Chen Cheng-Ping Chang Chiou-Jong Chen Su-Yin Chiang Kuen-Yuh Wu Indoor Air Exposure to Multiple Agricultural Pesticides Potentially Posing the Highest Risk to Young Children Aerosol and Air Quality Research Pesticides Indoor air Inhalation exposure Health risk Eswatini |
| title | Indoor Air Exposure to Multiple Agricultural Pesticides Potentially Posing the Highest Risk to Young Children |
| title_full | Indoor Air Exposure to Multiple Agricultural Pesticides Potentially Posing the Highest Risk to Young Children |
| title_fullStr | Indoor Air Exposure to Multiple Agricultural Pesticides Potentially Posing the Highest Risk to Young Children |
| title_full_unstemmed | Indoor Air Exposure to Multiple Agricultural Pesticides Potentially Posing the Highest Risk to Young Children |
| title_short | Indoor Air Exposure to Multiple Agricultural Pesticides Potentially Posing the Highest Risk to Young Children |
| title_sort | indoor air exposure to multiple agricultural pesticides potentially posing the highest risk to young children |
| topic | Pesticides Indoor air Inhalation exposure Health risk Eswatini |
| url | https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.210062 |
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