Comparing Longitudinal Measures of Cholinesterase as Biomarkers for Insecticide Exposure Among Latinx Children in Rural Farmworker and Urban Nonfarmworker Communities in North Carolina

Sara A Quandt; Sydney A Smith; Thomas A Arcury; Haiying Chen; Kirstin Hester; Carey N Pope; Kim A Anderson; Paul J Laurienti

doi:10.1097/JOM.0000000000002965

Comparing Longitudinal Measures of Cholinesterase as Biomarkers for Insecticide Exposure Among Latinx Children in Rural Farmworker and Urban Nonfarmworker Communities in North Carolina

J Occup Environ Med. 2023 Dec 1;65(12):1077-1085. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002965. Epub 2023 Sep 6.

Authors

Sara A Quandt¹, Sydney A Smith, Thomas A Arcury, Haiying Chen, Kirstin Hester, Carey N Pope, Kim A Anderson, Paul J Laurienti

Affiliation

¹ From the Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Division of Public Health Sciences, and Center for Worker Health, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina (S.A.Q.); Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina (S.A.S., H.C.); Department of Family and Community Medicine, and Center for Worker Health, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolna (T.A.A.); Department of Physiological Sciences, Center for Veterinary Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma (K.H.); Department of Physiological Sciences, Center for Veterinary Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma (C.N.P.); Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon (K.A.A.); and Department of Radiology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina (P.J.L.).

Abstract

Objective: In a 2-group prospective design, this study compared seasonal cholinesterase levels of Latinx children in rural farmworker families and comparable urban children to assess the impact of environmental exposure to cholinesterase-inhibiting insecticides.

Methods: Quarterly blood samples and passive dosimeter wristbands were collected over 2 years in 8-year-old children (74 rural, 62 urban). Laboratory analysis assessed total cholinesterase, acetylcholinesterase, and butyrylcholinesterase from blood samples, and insecticides from wristbands.

Results: In spring and summer, total cholinesterase and acetylcholinesterase levels were depressed in rural children compared with winter and fall. Butyrylcholinesterase was depressed in rural children in fall compared with spring and summer. Adjustment for insecticide exposure did not affect these associations.

Conclusions: Environmental exposures to cholinesterase-inhibiting insecticides have measurable biochemical effects on blood cholinesterases in rural children from farmworker families.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Acetylcholinesterase
Biomarkers
Butyrylcholinesterase
Child
Child, Preschool
Cholinesterases
Environmental Exposure*
Farmers
Hispanic or Latino
Humans
Insecticides*
North Carolina
Rural Population

Substances

Acetylcholinesterase
Biomarkers
Butyrylcholinesterase
Cholinesterases
Insecticides

Grants and funding

R01 ES008739/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States