ABSTRACT
We developed and applied a method for measuring selected persistent organic pollutants (POPs) (i.e., polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), organochlorine pesticides, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)) in dust collected from pregnant African Americans (AAs) in Atlanta using isotope dilution gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Limits of quantification were ranged from 0.10 to 2.50 ng/g dust. NIST standard reference material measurements demonstrated the robustness of our method. Our accuracies ranged from 82 to 108%, relative standard deviations ranged from 2 to 16%, and extraction recoveries ranged from 76 to 102%. We measured POPs in dust collected from 34 homes of pregnant AAs participating in the Atlanta AA birth cohort study who were enrolled from 2016 to 2019. Concentrations of POPs were detected in all samples with the frequencies of detection ranging from 8 to 100%. Concentrations of PBDE congeners 99 and 47, p,p'-DDT, and PCB153 were detected at some of the highest concentrations with geometric means of 1270, 730, 63.4 and 240 ng/g, respectively. The ratio of DDT/DDE was quite large (~2.7) indicating that p,p'-DDT remains intact in homes for long periods of time. These data demonstrate that care should be taken to remediate POPs in indoor dust, especially in vulnerable, disparate segments of the population.
ABSTRACT
To examine the health status of Hispanic agricultural workers in Florida and Georgia. Health data from agricultural workers in the Farm Worker Family Health Program (June 2019) and research studies in Florida (May 2015 and May 2019) were examined. Data from 728 agricultural workers were collected through sociodemographic questionnaire and clinical data. In the Florida sample, 83% were overweight or obese, 70% elevated blood pressure, 60% met the definition of prediabetes. In Georgia, 64% were overweight or obese and 67% had elevated blood pressure. Weak correlations were observed between BMI and systolic blood pressure (unadjusted r = 0.20), diastolic blood pressure (unadjusted r = 0.19), and glucose (unadjusted r = 0.14). Adjusting for age and gender did not show statistically significant correlation between BMI and systolic and diastolic blood pressure or glucose. While BMI has been shown to be strongly associated with high blood pressure and impaired glucose, we found a weak correlation among agricultural workers. Given the common and high use of pesticides and elevated rates of hypertension, impaired glucose, and adiposity in agricultural workers, the public health impact of this relationship may require and lead to occupational reform that protects the health of agricultural workers. Future studies should assess occupational and environmental factors and lifestyle differences between agricultural workers and the general population to better understand these discrepancies in health status.
