CHAMACOS Community Forum December, 2013

Today’s Schedule 4:30-4:45 pm – Presentation of new CHAMACOS science Does eating organic food lower your pesticide exposure? Do pesticides cause asthma? Is manganese from pesticides getting in our homes? 4:45-5:15 pm – Your chemical report: what does it mean? 5:15-6:00 pm – Receiving your chemical report 6:00 pm – RAFFLE! NOTE: You are welcome to leave after the raffle. We will stay after the raffle to answer any more questions that you might have.

Organic Food Study We wanted to know: How are children exposed to pesticides? Through food? Is there a difference between agricultural and urban areas?

Organic Food Study We enrolled 40 families with young children 20 families in Oakland 20 families in Salinas Families were similar Families were given all organic food for one week We collected urine from the children each day and measured metabolites of organophosphate (OP) pesticides

Organic vs. Conventional Diet Food is a major source of exposure to OP Pesticides 180 160 140 120 100 Urinary Pesticide Metabolites (nmol/L) 80 60 40 20 Conventional Organic Conventional Organic Salinas Oakland

Agricultural Area vs. Urban Area Living near agriculture is also important 180 160 140 120 100 Urinary Pesticide Metabolites (nmol/L) 80 60 40 20 Conventional Organic Conventional Organic Salinas Oakland

Organophosphate Pesticides and Asthma We wanted to know: Is there a link between organophosphate (OP) pesticide exposure and asthma symptoms in the CHAMACOS study?

In our CHAMACOS families We looked at OP pesticides in urine from: Mothers during pregnancy Children between 6 months and 5 years We asked mothers about whether their child had asthma symptoms at 5 and 7 years of age

OP Pesticide Exposure and Asthma Results We found more asthma symptoms in: Children whose mothers were exposed to higher levels of OP pesticides during the 2nd half of pregnancy Children who were exposed to higher levels of OP pesticides during childhood Children with highest OP pesticide exposure had two times the risk of respiratory symptoms. Children whose mothers had the highest OP pesticide exposure had 50% higher risk of respiratory symptoms.

Fungicides made with Manganese Widely used in Salinas Valley Manganese is an essential nutrient, but too much is toxic We wanted to know if the use of fungicides with manganese: Increased manganese levels in homes Increased manganese levels in children’s teeth Was related to children’s brain development

Manganese in house dust and teeth We measured manganese in dust from CHAMACOS homes and children’s teeth We found higher manganese levels if: Manganese fungicide had been used of fields near the home Farmworker clothes or shoes were stored in the home Home did not have a door mat Like rings in a tree

Manganese in teeth and children's brain development Children with higher levels of manganese in their teeth had a small decrease in motor development at 6-months These effects went away as the children grew older So far, we see no lasting effects of manganese exposure at the levels we find among CHAMACOS children Children with 2 times higher manganese in teeth had motor scores 2.5 points lower than children with lower levels of manganese in teeth. The average scores were about 100 for motor and mental. No relationship with brain development at 12 and 24 months.

Our future directions We would like to see your child again at 14 years old 16 years old We will study how respond to stress and learn about their behaviors as they become teenagers We are also looking at whether exposure to some chemicals make our kids gain weight

We look forward to seeing your children grow !!! See you on the next visit When your child turns 14!