# Children’s exposure to herbicides in Jalisco, Mexico—a public health concern perspective

## TL;DR

This study highlights the public health risks of herbicide exposure in children living near Lake Chapala in Mexico, based on urine sample analyses from 2016 to 2018.

## Contribution

The study provides the first evidence of persistent herbicide exposure in children in the Lake Chapala region.

## Key findings

- Glyphosate, 2,4-D, and molinate were detected in all four assessments.
- Herbicide detection rates varied significantly across the study periods.
- The findings suggest a need for further epidemiological research to understand health impacts.

## Abstract

This perspective article examines public health concerns related to herbicide exposure among children living in an agricultural and fishing village on the shores of Lake Chapala in Jalisco, Mexico. The discussion draws on published research comprising four pesticide exposure assessments conducted on children aged 0–14 years between 2016 and 2018. These assessments involved the collection of first-morning urine samples, which were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). The findings are as follows: November 2016 (n = 347; 24.2% positive; 7 herbicides detected), October 2017 (n = 187; 86.6% positive; 6 herbicides detected), May 2018 (n = 347; 52.2% positive; 4 herbicides detected), and October 2018 (n = 347; 12% positive; 4 herbicides detected). A total of three herbicides—glyphosate, 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid), and molinate—were detected in each of the four assessments. These results may represent the first evidence of persistent herbicide exposure in children in the Lake Chapala region. Further epidemiological studies are required to deepen the understanding of these findings.