Background

Off-target drift of pesticides from farms increases the risk of pesticide exposure of people living nearby. Cholinesterase inhibitors (i.e. organophosphates and carbamates) are frequently used in agriculture and inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. Greenhouse agriculture is an important production method, but it is unknown how far pesticide drift from greenhouses can extend and expose people living nearby.

Methods

This study included 1156 observations from 3 exams (2008, Apr, 2016 and Jul–Oct 2016) of 623 children aged 4-to-17 years living in agricultural communities in Ecuador. AChE, a physiological marker of cholinesterase inhibitor exposure, was measured in blood. Geographic positioning of greenhouses and homes were obtained using GPS receivers and satellite imagery. Distances between homes and the nearest greenhouse edge, and areas of greenhouse crops within various buffer zones around homes were calculated. Repeated-measures regression adjusted for hemoglobin and other covariates estimated change in AChE relative to distance from greenhouses.

Results

The pooled mean (SD) of AChE activity was 3.58 U/mL (0.60). The median (25th-75th %tile) residential distance to crops was 334 m (123, 648) and crop area within 500 m of homes (non-zero values only) was 18,482 m² (7115, 61,841). Residential proximity to greenhouse crops was associated with lower AChE activity among children living within 275 m of crops (AChE difference per 100 m of proximity [95% CI] = −0.10 U/mL [-0.20, −0.006]). Lower AChE activity was associated with greater crop area within 500 m of homes (AChE difference per 1000 m2 [95% CI] = −0.026 U/mL [-0.040, −0.012]) and especially within 150 m (−0.037 U/mL [-0.065, −0.007]).

Conclusions

Residential proximity to floricultural greenhouses, especially within 275 m, was associated with lower AChE activity among children, reflecting greater cholinesterase inhibitor exposure from pesticide drift. Analyses of residential proximity and crop areas near homes yielded complementary findings. Mitigation of off-target drift of pesticides from crops onto nearby homes is recommended.

中文翻译：

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从童年到青春期评估住宅与温室作物的接近程度和农药暴露（通过乙酰胆碱酯酶活性）。

 背景

农场农药的偏离目标漂移增加了附近居民接触农药的风险。胆碱酯酶抑制剂（即有机磷酸酯和氨基甲酸酯）经常用于农业并抑制乙酰胆碱酯酶（AChE）活性。温室农业是一种重要的生产方法，但目前尚不清楚温室中的农药漂移会扩散到多远，并使附近的居民受到影响。

 方法

这项研究包括 3 次检查（2008 年、2016 年 4 月和 2016 年 7 月至 10 月）的 1156 项观察结果，调查对象为生活在厄瓜多尔农业社区的 623 名 4 至 17 岁儿童。乙酰胆碱酯酶（AChE）是胆碱酯酶抑制剂暴露的生理标志物，在血液中进行测量。使用 GPS 接收器和卫星图像获得温室和家庭的地理定位。计算了房屋与最近温室边缘之间的距离，以及房屋周围各个缓冲区内温室作物的面积。针对血红蛋白和其他协变量调整的重复测量回归估计了 AChE 相对于距温室距离的变化。

 结果

AChE 活性的汇总平均值 (SD) 为 3.58 U/mL (0.60)。住宅与农作物的中位距离（25-75% 瓦片）为 334 m (123, 648)，住宅 500 m 内的农作物面积（仅非零值）为 18,482 m ² (7115, 61,841)。居住地靠近温室作物与生活在距作物 275 m 范围内的儿童 AChE 活性较低相关（每 100 m 距离的 AChE 差异 [95% CI] = −0.10 U/mL [-0.20, −0.006]）。较低的 AChE 活性与家庭 500 m 范围内较大的作物面积相关（每 1000 m2 的 AChE 差异 [95% CI] = -0.026 U/mL [-0.040, -0.012]），特别是在 150 m 范围内 (-0.037 U/mL) [-0.065，-0.007]）。

 结论

居住地靠近花卉温室，尤其是在 275 m 以内，与儿童的乙酰胆碱酯酶活性较低有关，这反映出农药漂移导致的胆碱酯酶抑制剂暴露程度较高。对住宅邻近性和住宅附近作物区域的分析得出了补充的结果。建议减少农药从农作物到附近房屋的脱靶漂移。