Pesticide, allergen, PCB, and lead measurements in childcare centers located on tribal lands in the Pacific Northwest, United States

TL;DR

This study measured pesticide, allergen, PCB, and lead levels in tribal childcare centers in the Pacific Northwest to understand children's environmental exposures.

Contribution

This is the first study to characterize environmental health in tribal childcare centers in the Pacific Northwest.

Findings

Pesticides like permethrin and piperonyl butoxide were detected in all childcare centers.

Lead was found in most surface wipes and all outdoor soil samples, but at lower levels than previously reported.

Allergen residues were present at very low concentrations in vacuum dust samples.

Abstract

Children’s potential exposures to chemical and biological agents in tribal childcare centers are not well characterized.

(1) The environmental health of childcare centers in Portland Area Indian Country was characterized by measuring selected pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), allergens, and lead (Pb) in outdoor soil and indoor dust. (2) We compared our results to other studies of childcare centers in both the United States and globally.

At 31 tribal childcare centers in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, we collected indoor dust and outdoor soil samples from at least one classroom, multipurpose room, and outdoor play area. Number of rooms sampled depended on facility size. Surface wipes were collected from the floor, play/work surface, and windowsill and analyzed for selected pesticides and PCBs. Vacuum samples were collected from the floor and analyzed for selected allergens. Lead was measured in surface wipes and outdoor soil collected at 11 centers. A questionnaire collected information on demographics, cleaning habits, and pesticide usage.

At least one pesticide was measured at all childcare centers. cis-Permethrin (surface wipes: 0.003–180 ng/cm2), trans-permethrin (surface wipes: 0.002–200 ng/cm2) and piperonyl butoxide (surface wipes: 0.001–120 ng/cm2) were measured in all centers. Lead was measured in most surface wipes (<0.25–14 ng/cm2) and all outdoor soil samples (8.4–50 mg/kg). Aroclors 1242 and 1254 were detected on indoor surfaces in three centers at very low loadings. Allergen residues were measured at very low concentrations in vacuum dust samples (Der p 1: <0.012–0.12 µg/g; Der f 1: <0.012–0.09 µg/g; Mus m 1: <0.002–10.055 µg/g). In general, we observed lower levels of chemical and biological agents than what has been reported previously.

By understanding the environmental health of childcare centers, we can better understand the role of child-specific environments in promoting children’s health and well-being.

To our knowledge, this is the first study to characterize the environmental health of tribal childcare centers in the Pacific Northwest. Combined with the information we have on childcare centers from around the world, this study expands our knowledge on young children’s potential exposures to chemical and biological agents in locations where they spend significant amounts of time.

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