Residential Proximity to Methyl Bromide Use and Birth Outcomes in an Agricultural Population in California

Overview

Journal Environ Health Perspect

Date 2013 Apr 23

PMID 23603811

Citations 24

Authors

Alison Gemmill

Robert B Gunier

Asa Bradman

Brenda Eskenazi

Kim G Harley

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Methyl bromide, a fungicide often used in strawberry cultivation, is of concern for residents who live near agricultural applications because of its toxicity and potential for drift. Little is known about the effects of methyl bromide exposure during pregnancy.

Objective: We investigated the relationship between residential proximity to methyl bromide use and birth outcomes.

Methods: Participants were from the CHAMACOS (Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas) study (n = 442), a longitudinal cohort study examining the health effects of environmental exposures on pregnant women and their children in an agricultural community in northern California. Using data from the California Pesticide Use Reporting system, we employed a geographic information system to estimate the amount of methyl bromide applied within 5 km of a woman's residence during pregnancy. Multiple linear regression models were used to estimate associations between trimester-specific proximity to use and birth weight, length, head circumference, and gestational age.

Results: High methyl bromide use (vs. no use) within 5 km of the home during the second trimester was negatively associated with birth weight (β = -113.1 g; CI: -218.1, -8.1), birth length (β = -0.85 cm; CI: -1.44, -0.27), and head circumference (β = -0.33 cm; CI: -0.67, 0.01). These outcomes were also associated with moderate methyl bromide use during the second trimester. Negative associations with fetal growth parameters were stronger when larger (5 km and 8 km) versus smaller (1 km and 3 km) buffer zones were used to estimate exposure.

Conclusions: Residential proximity to methyl bromide use during the second trimester was associated with markers of restricted fetal growth in our study.

Citing Articles

Personal air sampling for pesticides in the California San Joaquin Valley.

Bennett D, Sellen J, Moran R, Alaimo C, Young T J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2024; .

PMID: 39251871 PMC: 11891082. DOI: 10.1038/s41370-024-00708-4.

Association between pre- and postnatal exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals and birth and neurodevelopmental outcomes: an extensive review.

Yesildemir O, Celik M Clin Exp Pediatr. 2023; 67(7):328-346.

PMID: 37986566 PMC: 11222910. DOI: 10.3345/cep.2023.00941.

Potential of Alpha-(α)-Solanine as a Natural Inhibitor of Fungus Causing Leaf Spot Disease in Strawberry.

Xu N, Lu H, Yi X, Peng S, Huang X, Zhang Y Life (Basel). 2023; 13(2).

PMID: 36836807 PMC: 9961337. DOI: 10.3390/life13020450.

Contributions of nearby agricultural insecticide applications to indoor residential exposures.

Madrigal J, Gunier R, Jones R, Flory A, Metayer C, Nuckols J Environ Int. 2022; 171:107657.

PMID: 36493610 PMC: 10038187. DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107657.

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals' Effects in Children: What We Know and What We Need to Learn?.

Predieri B, Iughetti L, Bernasconi S, Street M Int J Mol Sci. 2022; 23(19).

PMID: 36233201 PMC: 9570268. DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911899.

References

Fenster L, Eskenazi B, Anderson M, Bradman A, Harley K, Hernandez H . Association of in utero organochlorine pesticide exposure and fetal growth and length of gestation in an agricultural population. Environ Health Perspect. 2006; 114(4):597-602. PMC: 1440787. DOI: 10.1289/ehp.8423. View

Breeman W . Methylbromide intoxication: a clinical case study. Adv Emerg Nurs J. 2010; 31(2):153-60. DOI: 10.1097/TME.0b013e31819dca1b. View

Yagi K, Williams J, Wang N, Cicerone R . Agricultural soil fumigation as a source of atmospheric methyl bromide. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1993; 90(18):8420-3. PMC: 47368. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.90.18.8420. View

Lain S, Hadfield R, Raynes-Greenow C, Ford J, Mealing N, Algert C . Quality of data in perinatal population health databases: a systematic review. Med Care. 2011; 50(4):e7-20. DOI: 10.1097/MLR.0b013e31821d2b1d. View

Reynolds P, Hurley S, Goldberg D, Yerabati S, Gunier R, Hertz A . Residential proximity to agricultural pesticide use and incidence of breast cancer in the California Teachers Study cohort. Environ Res. 2004; 96(2):206-18. DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2004.03.001. View

Reynolds P, Von Behren J, Gunier R, Goldberg D, Harnly M, Hertz A . Agricultural pesticide use and childhood cancer in California. Epidemiology. 2004; 16(1):93-100. DOI: 10.1097/01.ede.0000147119.32704.5c. View

Ritz B, Costello S . Geographic model and biomarker-derived measures of pesticide exposure and Parkinson's disease. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2006; 1076:378-87. PMC: 3656600. DOI: 10.1196/annals.1371.074. View

Gunier R, Harnly M, Reynolds P, Hertz A, Von Behren J . Agricultural pesticide use in California: pesticide prioritization, use densities, and population distributions for a childhood cancer study. Environ Health Perspect. 2001; 109(10):1071-8. PMC: 1242085. DOI: 10.1289/ehp.011091071. View

Canfield M, Ramadhani T, Langlois P, Waller D . Residential mobility patterns and exposure misclassification in epidemiologic studies of birth defects. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2006; 16(6):538-43. DOI: 10.1038/sj.jes.7500501. View

10.

Eskenazi B, Harley K, Bradman A, Weltzien E, Jewell N, Barr D . Association of in utero organophosphate pesticide exposure and fetal growth and length of gestation in an agricultural population. Environ Health Perspect. 2004; 112(10):1116-24. PMC: 1247387. DOI: 10.1289/ehp.6789. View

11.

Roberts E, English P, Grether J, Windham G, Somberg L, Wolff C . Maternal residence near agricultural pesticide applications and autism spectrum disorders among children in the California Central Valley. Environ Health Perspect. 2007; 115(10):1482-9. PMC: 2022638. DOI: 10.1289/ehp.10168. View

12.

Langard S, Rognum T, Flotterod O, Skaug V . Fatal accident resulting from methyl bromide poisoning after fumigation of a neighbouring house; leakage through sewage pipes. J Appl Toxicol. 1996; 16(5):445-8. DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1099-1263(199609)16:5<445::AID-JAT370>3.0.CO;2-A. View

13.

Rull R, Gunier R, Von Behren J, Hertz A, Crouse V, Buffler P . Residential proximity to agricultural pesticide applications and childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Environ Res. 2009; 109(7):891-9. PMC: 2748130. DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2009.07.014. View

14.

Gunier R, Ward M, Airola M, Bell E, Colt J, Nishioka M . Determinants of agricultural pesticide concentrations in carpet dust. Environ Health Perspect. 2011; 119(7):970-6. PMC: 3222988. DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1002532. View

15.

Kramer M . Determinants of low birth weight: methodological assessment and meta-analysis. Bull World Health Organ. 1987; 65(5):663-737. PMC: 2491072. View

16.

Reeves S, Bernstein I . Effects of maternal tobacco-smoke exposure on fetal growth and neonatal size. Expert Rev Obstet Gynecol. 2009; 3(6):719-730. PMC: 2770192. DOI: 10.1586/17474108.3.6.719. View

17.

. Environmental effects of ozone depletion: 1991 update. Panel Report pursuant to Article 6 of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Programme. J Photochem Photobiol B. 1992; 13(2):187-90. View

18.

Kishi R, Itoh I, Ishizu S, Harabuchi I, Miyake H . Symptoms among workers with long-term exposure to methyl bromide. An epidemiological study. Sangyo Igaku. 1991; 33(4):241-50. DOI: 10.1539/joh1959.33.241. View

19.

Cockburn M, Mills P, Zhang X, Zadnick J, Goldberg D, Ritz B . Prostate cancer and ambient pesticide exposure in agriculturally intensive areas in California. Am J Epidemiol. 2011; 173(11):1280-8. PMC: 3121318. DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwr003. View

20.

Holstius D, Reid C, Jesdale B, Morello-Frosch R . Birth weight following pregnancy during the 2003 Southern California wildfires. Environ Health Perspect. 2012; 120(9):1340-5. PMC: 3440113. DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1104515. View