AUTHOR=Mthethwa Mashudu , Jeebhay Mohamed , Olaniyan Toyib , Wiesner Lubbe , Parker Bhawoodien , Leaner Joy , Röösli Martin , Dalvie Mohamed Aqiel 

TITLE=The Association Between Urinary Concentrations of Organophosphate Metabolites and Asthma-Related Outcomes Among Schoolchildren From Informal Settlements

JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health

VOLUME=68

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2023.1606174

DOI=10.3389/ijph.2023.1606174

ISSN=1661-8564

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objectives:</bold> There is inconsistent evidence on the relationship between pesticide exposure and childhood respiratory outcomes in non-agricultural settings. This study investigated the association between organophosphate (OP) pesticide exposure and asthma-related outcomes in children residing in four informal settlements.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> The study was a longitudinal study of 590 schoolchildren, with a 12 months follow-up period. A standardised questionnaire adopted from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood was administered to caregivers for child’s respiratory symptoms and household characteristics. Spirometry and fractional-exhaled nitric oxide, including a phadiatop test (atopy status) and urinary dialkyl phosphate (DAP) metabolites were measured at baseline and follow-up. DAP metabolites included diethylphosphate (DEP) and dimethyl phosphate (DMP) measured at baseline and follow-up and dimethylthiophosphate (DMTP) measured only at baseline.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> The mean ages of schoolchildren were 9.9 ± 0.91 years and the overal incidence proportions of new doctor diagnosed asthma was 2.2%. No consistent patterns of increased risk of asthma outcomes with increasing DAP concentrations was found in multivariate analysis.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> Future studies with longer follow-up periods and repeated OP biomonitoring are recommended.</p>