Pyrethroid Exposure among Children Residing in Green Versus Non-Green Multi-Family, Low-Income Housing
There is growing concern about children’s chronic low-level pesticide exposure and its impact on health. Green building practices (e.g., tightening the building envelope) have the potential to reduce exposure to pesticides by including integrated pest management practices, but the impact of green housing on pesticide exposure in children is unknown. To address this question, a longitudinal study of pyrethroid metabolites (3-phenoxybenzoic acid [3-PBA], 4-fluoro-3-phenoxybenzoic acid [4-F-3-PBA], trans-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxylic acid [trans-DCCA]) in urine samples from 68 children residing in green and non-green housing in New Orleans, Louisiana was conducted as part of the Green Housing Study (GHS). Regression analyses examined associations between housing type (green v non-green) and urinary pyrethroid metabolites concentration. Ninety-five percent of samples had detectable concentrations of 3-PBA (limit of detection [LOD]: 0.1 μg/L); 8% of 4-F-3-PBA (LOD: 0.1 μg/L), and 12% of trans-DCCA (LOD: 0.6 μg/L). In models examining predictors of 3-PBA, green housing was not associated with statistically significant differences compared to non-green housing.