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Pesticide Exposure, Intelligence and Children: Preliminary ResultsPatricia Moulton, Ph.D. & Thomas Petros, Ph.D.
Earth Day Forum: Pesticides in Children
Winnipeg, Canada
April 22, 2006
Funding provided by the National Institute of Environmental and Health Science
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Center for Rural Health
• Established in 1980, at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Grand Forks, ND
• Focuses on:– Education, Training, & Resource Awareness– Community Development & Technical
Assistance– Native American Health– Rural Health Workforce– Rural Health Research– Rural Health Policy
• Web site: http://medicine.nodak.edu/crh
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Pesticide Research TeamUND Faculty CDC Pesticide Laboratory PhlebotomistsThomas Petros Dana Barr Sandie AntonsonPatricia Moulton Charles Dodson Kristi GroveRic Ferraro Ralph Whitehead Tara JohnsoSally Pyle Dawn KoryntaSue Offutt Naomi SterfSteve Hawthorne Tara WaldalRuth Paur
Graduate Students Undergraduate StudentsHolly Dannewitz Cassandra LeeMatt Garlinghouse Silje LynneShyla Muse Ashley OlsonMatthew Myrvik Bethany ReuterAnna Marie Carlson Christine WegnerJason Douglas Catherine WoellPatrick KerrKaryn PlummKristi SatherCaitlin SchultzJen Short
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What are Pesticides?• Herbicides• Insecticides• Rodenticides• Fungicides
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Objectives of Current Study
1. Examine the impact of chronic routine exposure to pesticides on cognitive and motor performance in children between 7 and 12 years of age, including memory performance, executive function performance, motor performance, and performance on school-related achievement tests.
2. Measure the concentration of several pesticides and cholinesterase in the blood or urine in children between 7 and 12 years of age and examine associations between pesticide and cholinesterase concentration and cognitive and motor performance.
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Red River Valley
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Pesticides in North Dakota
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Participants
Pesticide Group= 64 children and their parents living on or next to an active farm or field
Control Group= 64 Children and their parents living at least one mile from an active farm or field
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Height and WeightBlood and Urine- pesticides, cholinesterase, trace minerals
Motor Cognitive
Grooved Pegboard Test Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-IVBenton Visual Retention Test California Verbal Learning Test for ChildrenFinger Tapping Test Verbal Fluency TestHand-eye Coordination Test Continuous Performance Test
Wisconsin Card Sorting TestWechsler Individual Achievement Test- 2nd
ed- Reading & Listening Comprehension
Measurements- Children
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Measurements- Parents
Cognitive Behavioral
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III Child Behavior ChecklistVocabulary & Block Design ADHD Rating Scale-IV
Nutritional Status Developmental
NIH Diet History Questionnaire Tanner Pubertal Development TestFood Security module Developmental Milestones24-Hour Dietary Recall
Environmental
Pesticide use and exposure questionnaireSurveys on family and child medical history, sleep, occupation, income, education level
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Measurements- Teachers
Behavioral
Teacher Report Form for Child Behavior ChecklistTeacher Report Form for ADHD Rating Scale-IV
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Preliminary Results
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Child Demographics
9.22 9.44
3.39 3.56
02468
1012
Aver
a
Age Grade
Pesticide Control
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Cholinesterase Concentrations
4.38 4.253.68
2.57 2.942.03
0
1
2
3
4
5
U/m
AChE PChE*
Pesticide Control Adult Blood Bank Donors
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Child Full-Scale IQ
98.38103.64
859095
100105110115
Full Scale IQ*
Pesticide Control
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Child IQ Composite Scores
97.87105.23
103.68105.66
97.36100.07
94.1797.52
85 90 95 100 105 110 115
Verbal Comprehension Index**
Perceptual Reasoning Index
Working Memory Index
Processing Speed Index
Pesticide Control
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Verbal Comprehension Scores
9.6711.17
9.7510.72
9.8611.01
5 7 9 11 13 15
Scaled Score
Similarities*
Vocabulary
Comprehension*
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Perceptual Reasoning Scores
10.6410.96
11.0310.88
10.4710.97
5 7 9 11 13 15
Scaled Scores
Block Design
Picture Concepts
MatrixReasoning
Pesticide Control
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Working Memory Scores
9.669.69
9.710.54
5 7 9 11 13 15
Scaled Scores
Digit Span
Letter-NumberSequence
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Processing Speed Scores
8.558.72
9.6110.54
5 7 9 11 13 15
Scaled Scores
Coding
Symbol Search
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Parents Estimated Full Scale IQ
108.06 107.05
85
9095
100105110115
Pesticide Control
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Exposure Reduction Strategies
• Get information:– National Pesticide Information Center at
http://npic.orst.edu– Toxtown at http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov– Toxicology Data Network at
http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/
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• Co-exist by using universal precautions and preventing contact between chemicals and children. – Removing clothing and shoes that have
been exposed prior to entering house.– Don’t wash exposed clothes with
children’s.– Wear protective equipment during
application.
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• Replace chemicals with safer ones or use toxic chemicals as a last resort. – Use LPM strategies to reduce overall
pesticide use. – Use the lowest level of DEET spray or an
alternative for use as a mosquito repellent on children.
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• Follow manufacturer’s instructions to help reduce overall exposure.– How long after application before
children/pets/adults should be on lawn or in field?
– Where should you apply mosquito repellent and how long should it stay in contact with skin?
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For more information contact:
Center for Rural HealthUniversity of North Dakota
School of Medicine and Health SciencesGrand Forks, ND 58202-9037
Tel: (701) 777-3848
Fax: (701) 777-6779
http://medicine.nodak.edu/crh