ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURES AND BIRTH DEFECTS IN SOUTH TEXAS

神经管缺陷（NTD）是最常见的主要缺陷之一。 在人群中观察到的先天性畸形。的发生率 这些畸形在不同的人群和地理分布中差异很大。 地点最近的证据表明，在一些国家，NTD的发病率升高， 不同的西班牙人最近的其他调查显示， 据报道，各种先天性畸形的风险增加， 与环境接触杀虫剂有关。 一项病例对照研究被提出来评估这一假设， 环境和/或职业暴露于特定农药是 与无脑畸形发展风险增加相关， 其他出生缺陷它将集中在主要是西班牙裔人口， 德克萨斯州南部的NTD发病率很高。其中一个县， 被包括在内（卡梅隆县）一直是最近的目标集群 德克萨斯州卫生部和疾病中心的评估 对照组，报告了超过四倍的无脑畸形， 母亲的后代报告说，他们接触了空中喷洒的 农药 本研究将检验以下假设：1） 环境暴露于特定农药可能会增加风险 无脑畸形; 2）环境暴露于特定农药可能 增加脊柱裂、食管闭锁、肛门直肠闭锁的风险， 肾发育不全/发育不全、关节弯曲和肢体复位缺陷; 3） 饮食中叶酸水平不足会增加神经管缺陷的风险， 在研究人群中。医疗、职业、 和饮食史将通过对受试者的亲自访谈获得 母亲在西班牙语或英语。膳食叶酸将通过以下方式进行评估： 24小时回忆问卷将评估环境暴露 通过免疫测定、GC/MS和HPLC检测水和土壤样品， 具体农药。

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are amongst the most common of the major congenital malformations observed in human populations. The incidence of these malformations varies widely in different populations and geographic locales. Recent evidence suggest an elevated rate of NTDs in several different Hispanic populations. Additional recent investigations have reported increased risk of various congenital malformations in association with environmental exposure to pesticides. A case-control study is proposed to evaluate the hypothesis that environmental and/or occupational exposure to specific pesticides are associated with an increase in risk for the development of anencephaly and other birth defects. It will focus on the primarily Hispanic population in south Texas known to have elevated rates of NTDs. One of the counties to be Included (Cameron County) has been the recent targets of a cluster evaluation by the Texas Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control, which reported a greater than fourfold excess of anencephaly in offspring of mothers who reported they were exposed to aerial, spraying of pesticides. The proposed study will test the following hypotheses: 1) that environmental exposure to specific pesticides may increase the risk of anencephaly; 2) that environmental exposure to specific pesticides may Increase the risk of spina bifida, esophageal atresia, anorectal atresia, renal agenesis/dysgenesis, arthrogryposis, and limb reduction defects; 3) that deficiency in dietary levels of folic acid increased the risk of NTDs in the study populations. Detailed information on medical, occupational and dietary history will be obtained by in-person interview of subject mothers in either Spanish or English. Dietary folate will be assessed by a 24 hour recall questionnaire. Environmental exposure will be evaluated by testing water and soil samples by immunoassay, GC/MS, and HPLC for specific pesticides.