Teen researchers studying pesticide exposure in other teens

UPDATE 7/21/2016 6:45 PM:

Local high school students are helping researchers learn more about pesticide exposure. Specifically, how a Latina teen’s development could be at risk later in life.

Previous pesticide exposure studies have linked certain chemicals to neuro-developmental problems like behavioral issues and respiratory problems like asthma. Now, researchers at U.C. Berkeley, the Clinica de Salud del Valle de Salinas and nearly a dozen local high school students are investigating the problem even further.

“This is the first time that we know of that a study has been done to assess how girls are exposed to pesticides,” said Kimberly Parra, field officer coordinator at CHAMACOS (Center for Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas). “So I think this is what makes this study very novel is that often times we really don’t think about teenagers and that they are in this rapid phase of development and what that could mean in terms of their exposure to different chemicals, not only pesticides but other types of environmental contaminants.”

Some 100 Latina teens between the ages of 14 and 16 are wearing silicone bracelets for seven days. They are also wearing GPS devices to see how close they get to ag fields. Their homes are tested for pesticides and they submit urine samples as well.

“We often think it’s farm workers who have the greatest exposure but through this study, that might reveal more information or new information. Maybe it’s not those farm workers, maybe it’s those people who live close to fields, we don’t know.”

Another important aspect of the study – it’s teens studying teens. There are 11 research assistants who are all high school-aged. That includes Everett Alvarez High School junior Giselle Lazaro, who is using this experience as a way to explore different career options.

“I was born and raised in Salinas my entire life and me being in this research is really meaningful to me because when people think of Salinas teens, they think ‘Oh, gangs and violence.’ But they don’t think about the teens working in the fields or teens like us, working in the research to help our community and our health in our community,” Lazaro said.

This study is a part of a larger one that began nearly 20 years ago. Between 1999-2000, hundreds of women were studied to see how they were affected by pesticides during their pregnancies. Of the 600 children born, 100 females were selected to take part in this most recent study. The study is being paid for with a grant from the California Breast Cancer Research Program. Results should be completed by next summer.

ORIGINAL POST:

A group of Salinas high school students are helping researchers study pesticide exposure in Latina teens between the ages of 14 and 16.

Participants wear rubber bracelets and GPS devices to measure pesticide exposure. Their homes are also monitored.

Tonight, KION’s Mariana Hicks will have more on the study and when results are due to be published.