Pyrethroid Exposure among Children Residing in Green versus Non-Green Multi-Family, Low-Income Housing

BACKGROUND: There is growing concern about children’s chronic low-level pesticide exposure and its impact on health. Green building practices (e.g. reducing leakage of the thermal and pressure barrier that surrounds the structure, integrated pest management, improved ventilation) have the potential to reduce pesticide exposure. However, the potential impact of living in green housing on children’s pesticide exposure is unknown. OBJECTIVE: 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 first morning void urine, collected from 68 children from New Orleans, Louisiana residing in green and non-green housing was conducted. METHODS: Children were followed for one year with three repeated measures of pesticide exposure. Generalized Estimating Equations examined associations between housing type (green v non-green) and urinary pyrethroid metabolite concentrations adjusting for demographic and household factors over the year. RESULTS: 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 adjusted models, green housing was not associated with statistically significant differences in children’s 3-PBA urinary concentrations compared to non-green housing. SIGNIFICANCE: In this study, green building practices had no impact on children’s pyrethroid urinary concentrations. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm these findings.