Agricultural production has increased substantially due to the commercialization and intensification of agriculture in developing countries such as Mexico. Identification of pesticide use and exposure sources, direct measures of pesticide exposure, quantification of internal dose, and variation over time present the most difficult challenges in performing pesticide exposure assessment. These factors are complicated in developing countries where pesticide sales and use reports, illness reports, and regulatory oversight of applications are limited.

The primary objective of this research is to quantitatively assess organophosphate (OP) pesticide exposure in agricultural workers and their families. We are studying children of agricultural workers living in close proximity to fields where their fathers work, pesticide applicators, and individuals in harvesting activities. Preliminary work in this region identified the major pesticides used in the home, use and application patterns in the field, hygiene practices during application, and storage practices. Micro-environmental, occupational, and biological monitoring of agricultural workers and their families is being conducted three times during the agricultural season.