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Distribution and determinants of Atrazine exposure among Central Ohio farm families

Lakshminarayan, Sooraj T. K.

Abstract Details

2004, Master of Public Health, Ohio State University, Public Health.
The atrazine substudy of the Ohio Farm Family Health Hazard Surveillance Program (OFFHHSP) was a population-based exposure assessment study conducted in central Ohio. The objective of the study was to characterize atrazine exposure among farm families and to evaluate the determinants of atrazine exposure. All Principal Operators (n=25) of the study completed a questionnaire on pesticide use, handling practices on the days of herbicide spraying, and hygienic practices. All the study participants (n=59) provided pre- and post-herbicide application urine samples. The urine samples were assessed for the presence of atrazine by an ELISA technique. None of the pre-application urine samples showed detectable levels of atrazine. In the post-application urine samples, atrazine levels were higher among atrazine-using farm family members. Detectable levels of atrazine were present in the urine samples of non-atrazine-using farm family members, which was probably due to drift of atrazine residues from surrounding atrazine using farms. In a regression analysis, being an atrazine-applicator or a family member of an atrazine-applicator was significantly associated with elevated levels of urine atrazine (regression coefficient 0.48, P- value <0.001). Distance of the domicile from the farm was significantly associated with decreased levels of urine atrazine, and thus seemed to exert a protective effect on atrazine exposure (regression coefficient -0.307, P- value 0.008). One surprising finding was the high levels of urine atrazine among Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) using study subjects, which could be due to faulty use or improper maintenance of the PPE. The principal finding of this study is that atrazine exposure is higher among atrazine-using farm families compared to non-atrazine-using farm families
J.R. Wilkins, III. (Advisor)
John M. Crawford (Committee Member)
108 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Lakshminarayan, S. T. K. (2004). Distribution and determinants of Atrazine exposure among Central Ohio farm families [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1407234952

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Lakshminarayan, Sooraj. Distribution and determinants of Atrazine exposure among Central Ohio farm families. 2004. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1407234952.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Lakshminarayan, Sooraj. "Distribution and determinants of Atrazine exposure among Central Ohio farm families." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2004. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1407234952

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)