ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURES AND BIRTH DEFECTS IN SOUTH TEXAS

神经管缺陷(NTD)是最常见的 在人类群体中观察到的先天畸形。的发病率。 这些畸形在不同的人群和地理位置有很大的不同。 地点。最近的证据表明，在几个国家中，NTDS的发生率上升 不同的西班牙裔人口。最近的其他调查已经 据报道，各种先天性畸形的风险增加 与环境中的杀虫剂接触有关。 一项病例对照研究被用来评估这一假说 环境和/或职业暴露于特定杀虫剂是 与发展为无脑儿的风险增加和 其他先天缺陷。它将把重点放在#年以西班牙裔为主的人口 众所周知，德克萨斯州南部的NTDS发病率较高。其中一个县 被包括在内(卡梅伦县)最近一直是一个集群的目标 德克萨斯州卫生部和疾病中心的评估 控制组，报告的无脑儿超过四倍。 母亲的子女报告他们暴露在空气中，喷洒 杀虫剂。拟议的研究将检验以下假设：1) 在环境中暴露于特定的杀虫剂可能会增加风险 无脑儿；2)环境中暴露于特定杀虫剂可能 增加脊柱裂、食道闭锁、肛门直肠闭锁的风险， 肾发育不全/发育不全、关节发育不全和肢体畸形；3) 饮食中叶酸水平不足会增加患NTDS的风险 在研究人群中。有关医疗、职业方面的详细信息 饮食历史将通过对受试者的面谈来获得 母亲使用西班牙语或英语。膳食叶酸将通过以下方式进行评估 一份24小时的回忆问卷。将对环境暴露进行评估 通过免疫分析、GC/MS和高效液相色谱对水和土壤样本进行检测 特定的杀虫剂。

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.