Objective: We sought to determine the feasibility of measuring pesticide exposure of children using athletic fields to which pesticides were recently applied.
Design and sample: This project was a pilot feasibility study designed to measure pre and posttest environmental exposure to Horsepower; a combination herbicide containing (4-Chloro-2-methylphenoxy) acetic acid (MCPA), dicamba and triclopyr. A spot application of Horsepower to a soccer field occurred at 8AM. Six players, ages 5-11 years, provided shoe wipes and urine samples before and after evening soccer practice on the field later the same day.
Measurements and results: We sent samples to commercial labs where shoe wipes were analyzed for a panel of herbicides and urine samples were analyzed for dicamba, triclopyr, and creatinine. All analytes were below level of detection.
Conclusions: We established the feasibility of both the recruitment and sampling procedures. Spot application, in the one instance examined, did not result in measurable exposure to pesticides. A larger study involving both spot and broadcast application and including direct observation of pesticide application is needed to ascertain whether pesticide application on athletic fields results in measurable and potentially hazardous exposure of children.
Keywords: Athletic field; Children; Exposure; Pesticide; Sampling.
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