Children that Switch from Conventionally Grown to Organically Grown Fruits and Vegetables found to have reduced levels of Organophosphorus Pesticides in their Urine - A study published online before print in the HHS NIH NIEHS Journal, Environmental Health Perspectives reports that twenty-three children ages 3-11 years " ... who only consumed conventional diets were recruited for this one-year study ... Children switched to organic diets for 5 consecutive days in the summer and fall sampling seasons ... By substituting organic fresh fruits and vegetables for corresponding conventional food items, the median urinary metabolite concentrations were reduced to non-detected or close to non-detected levels for malathion and chlorpyrifos ..." - The study was supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program.

Document Title: The title of the paper published online before print on January 15, 2008 in the HHS NIH NIEHS journal, Environmental Health Perspectives, is: "Dietary Intake and Its Contribution to Longitudinal Organophosphorus Pesticide Exposure in Urban/Suburban Children"

Author(s): Chensheng Lu 1, Dana B. Barr 2, Melanie A. Pearson 1, Lance A. Waller 3

1 Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
2 National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
3 Department of Biostatistics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.

Organization: HHS NIH NIEHS journal, Environmental Health Perspectives

Summary: The abstract of the study follows

BACKGROUND: The widespread use of organophosphorus (OP) pesticides has led to frequent exposure in adults and children. Because such exposure may cause adverse health effects, particularly in children, the sources and patterns of exposure need further studied.

OBJECTIVES: We assessed young urban/suburban childrens longitudinal exposure to OP pesticides in the Children Pesticide Exposure Study (CPES) conducted in the greater Seattle WA area, and utilized a novel study design that allowed us to determine the contribution of dietary intake to the overall OP pesticide exposure.

METHODS: Twenty-three children ages 3-11 years who only consumed conventional diets were recruited for this one-year study conducted in 2003-2004. Children switched to organic diets for 5 consecutive days in the summer and fall sampling seasons. We measured specific urinary metabolites for malathion, chlorpyrifos and other OP pesticides in urine samples collected twice daily for a period of 7, 12, or 15 consecutive days during each of the four seasons.

RESULTS: By substituting organic fresh fruits and vegetables for corresponding conventional food items, the median urinary metabolite concentrations were reduced to non-detected or close to non-detected levels for malathion and chlorpyrifos at the end of 5-day organic diet intervention period in both summer and fall seasons. We also observed a seasonal effect on the OP urinary metabolite concentrations, and this seasonality is correspondent to the consumption of fresh produce throughout the year.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this study demonstrate that dietary intake of OP pesticides represents the major source of exposure in young children.

Source: January 15, 2008 online before print study published on the web site of the HHS NIH NIEHS journal, Environmental Health Perspectives

Web site: The abstract of the study is posted at
http://www.ehponline.org/docs/2008/10912/abstract.pdf

A January 30, 2008 story published in the Seattle Post-Intellingencer, titled "Harmful pesticides found in everyday food products; Mercer Island children tested in yearlong study" is posted at
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/349263_pesticide30.html

Contact: Reprint requests and questions may be directed to the lead author of the study: Chensheng Lu who is with the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia at 404 727 2131; fax: 404 727 8744; e-mail: CLu2@SPH.Emory.edu

Prepared by: This message was distributed by Jack Cooper, who may be reached at e-mail: jlc@fien.com or 301-384-8287

This article (#3798) was distributed by e-mail on January 30, 2008 to those whose names are on the FIEN, LLC Subject Matter Distribution Lists for Agricultural Research; Crop Protection; Food Safety; Fruits, Vegetables and Nuts; Organic Food; Risk Assessment and Communication