Current location:world >>
Study links pesticide to breathing problems in children living near farms
world34562People have gathered around
IntroductionVideo PlayerCloseSAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- A new study by the University of California, Ber ...
Video PlayerClose
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- A new study by the University of California, Berkeley, suggests that elemental sulfur, the most heavily used pesticide in California, may harm the respiratory health of children living near farms that use the pesticide.
Published this week in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, the study establishes associations between elemental sulfur use and reduced lung function, more asthma-related symptoms and higher asthma medication use in children living about a half-mile, namely 800 meters, or less from recent elemental sulfur applications compared to unexposed children.
The research was conducted at the agricultural community in Salinas Valley, south of San Francisco Bay.
Generally considered to be safe for the environment and human health by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), elemental sulfur is allowed for use on conventional and organic crops to control fungus and other pests. It is the most heavily used agricultural pesticide in California and Europe, according to a news release from UC Berkeley. In California alone, more than 21 million kilograms of elemental sulfur were applied in agriculture in 2013.
However, previous studies have shown that elemental sulfur is a respiratory irritant to exposed farm workers. The chemical's effect on residential populations, especially children, living near treated fields has not previously been studied despite its widespread use and potential to drift from the fields where it is applied.
In the first study to link agricultural use of sulfur with poorer respiratory health in children living nearby, Rachel Raanan, a UC Berkeley postdoctoral fellow and the study's lead author, and her colleagues examined lung function and asthma-related respiratory symptoms in hundreds of children living near fields where sulfur had been applied, leading to the discovery of several associations between poorer respiratory health and nearby elemental sulfur use.
Among them, a 10-fold increase in the estimated amount of elemental sulfur used within 1 kilometer of a child's residence during the year prior to pulmonary evaluation was associated with a 3.5-fold increased odds in asthma medication usage and a two-fold increased odds in respiratory symptoms such as wheezing and shortness of breath; and each 10-fold increase in the amount of sulfur applied in the previous 12 months within a 1-kilometer radius of the home was associated with an average decrease of 143 milliliters per second (mL/s) in the maximal amount of air that the 7-year-old children could forcefully exhale in one second.
For comparison, the research has shown that exposure to maternal cigarette smoke is associated with a decrease of 101 mL/s after five years of exposure.
The study's authors call for more research to confirm these findings and possible changes in regulations and application methods to limit impacts of sulfur use on respiratory health.
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“Planet Perspectives news portal”。http://faroeislands.prpsystems.net/news-39a099894.html
Related articles
The fightback begins: Boss of London's Queen Mary University tells pro
worldA university boss has been praised after telling a pro-Gaza student mob he will not meet them until ...
【world】
Read moreHamas releases 5th batch of hostages from Gaza
world(Xinhua) 11:08, November 29, 2023GAZA, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing ...
【world】
Read moreSri Lanka witnesses rise in dengue cases with over 10,000 reported in December
world(Xinhua) 16:07, December 29, 2023COLOMBO, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka is witnessing a surge in den ...
【world】
Read more
Popular articles
- Dodgers acquire pitcher Yohan Ramírez from Mets for cash
- China pilots foreign equity limit removal in value
- Strike takes place in Jordan to support Palestinian people in Gaza
- Roman Josi's 2 goals and 2 assists lead Predators over Blue Jackets 6
- Justin Timberlake set to bring his The Forget Tomorrow World Tour to Australia in 2025
- Chinese official meets North Korean leader Kim in highest
Latest articles
Candice Swanepoel stuns in a form
Palestinian president refuses Israel's plans to occupy parts of Gaza
Sports equipment exports from Yiwu to France surge 70 percent ahead of Paris Olympics
Truce deal in Gaza enters into force
Uber and Lyft say they'll stay in Minnesota after Legislature passes driver pay compromise
Lionel Messi scores fifth goal and has an assist in Inter Miami's 3
LINKS
- Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti apologizes for forgetting German on his Bayern Munich return
- King and Queen jet back to London for public
- CJ Abrams homers as Nationals complete 4
- Irish boxing champ Amy Broadhurst switches to Britain in Paris Olympics bid
- How to watch the Kentucky Derby
- Duo charged with murder in killings of couple whose remains were found scattered on Long Island
- Irish boxing champ Amy Broadhurst switches to Britain in Paris Olympics bid
- Bucks and 76ers, who had high expectations this season, face early elimination Tuesday in Game 5s
- Horoscope today: Daily guide to what the stars have in store for YOU
- King and Queen jet back to London for public