Instituto Regional de Estudios en Sustancias Tóxicas

URI permanente para esta comunidadhttp://10.0.96.45:4000/handle/11056/14395

Instituto Regional de Estudios en Sustancias Tóxicas (IRET-UNA) es un centro de investigación con proyección nacional, regional e internacional, comprometido con el desarrollo sostenible, la protección y conservación de los ecosistemas naturales, la calidad de vida de los trabajadores y de la sociedad afectados por las sustancias tóxicas y otras actividades humanas.

Los conocimientos y datos generados por el Instituto son utilizados por entidades gubernamentales y no gubernamentales como fuente primaria de información en temas de exposición a las sustancias tóxicas y sus efectos en el ambiente y en la salud humana.

Contáctenos:

Página web: www.iret.una.ac.cr

Correo: iret@una.ac.cr

Teléfono: (506) 2277-3584 / (506) 2277-3587

Programas adscritos a IRET-UNA

El Programa Infantes y Salud Ambiental (ISA) es un programa de investigación-extensión realizado en la región Huetar Atlántica, Costa Rica, que utiliza un enfoque eco-sistémico en salud humana (EcoSalud). Estudiamos la exposición ambiental a plaguicidas y manganeso y sus efectos sobre la salud de niño(a)s y sus madres. Además, estudiamos cuáles factores explican las exposiciones a plaguicidas, y posibles alternativas para su uso. Promovemos acciones colaborativas para reducir el contacto con plaguicidas y mitigar sus posibles efectos.

El Programa ISA tiene 3 áreas temáticas: 1) Contexto socio- económico, cultural y percepción de riesgos, 2) Evaluación de exposición y efectos en el crecimiento y desarrollo de infantes y 3) Alternativas agro-ecológicas.

Coordinadora: Ph.D. Berna van Wendel de Joode, correo electrónico: berendina.vanwendel.dejoode@una.cr

Contacto:

Página web: www.isa.una.ac.cr

Correo: programaisa@una.ac.cr

Teléfono: (506) 2562-3678 / (506) 2562-3671

El Programa Salud, Trabajo y Ambiente (SALTRA) se proyecta como un programa estratégico en la integración de principios de desarrollo sostenible en las políticas de salud ocupacional y ambiental a nivel local, nacional y regional desde la gestión del conocimiento: docencia, investigación extensión y traducción política. Se trabaja en Centroamérica para consolidar y extender una estructura regional de centros universitarios en salud ocupacional y ambiental (SOA) que colaboren entre sí y con grupos gubernamentales y no gubernamentales, para conjuntamente construir capacidades locales, nacionales y regionales que favorecen la incorporación de principios de desarrollo sostenible en las políticas de salud ocupacional y ambiental.

Coordinadora regional: Ph. D. Jennifer Crowe, correo electrónico: jennifer.crowe@una.cr

Contacto:

Página web: www.saltra.una.ac.cr

Correo: saltraregional@una.cr

Teléfono: (506) 2263 6375

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3. Informe Técnico ISA 04 Colaboración Programa ISA Y Asistentes Técnicos de Atención Primaria en Salud del Área de Salud de Talamanca: Aprendizaje y estrategias de difusión sobre el uso de plaguicidas y la salud humana
(Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica, 2014-01) Quesada, Rosario; Romero Boniche, Jenny Raquel; van Wendel de Joode, Berna
In the context of the Infants and Environmental Health Program (ISA - www.isa.una.ac.cr) we started working together with the Primary Care Technical Assistants in Health (ATAPS) in the upper Talamanca area, with the support of the Costa Rican Social Security (CCSS). The collaboration of the ATAPS has allowed us to understand even more the knowledge and population's use of pesticides. The support of the Talamanca Health Area (CCSS) made it possible to implement working meetings with ATAPS in the development of a tool for obtain information on the use, knowledge and experience of the population about pesticides. This instrument was built, validated and piloted by the ATAPS during home visits. Also the development of workshops with the ATAPS, allowed the sharing of information on the types of pesticides, their effects health and research findings that the ISA team develops since 2006 in the area. Through the participation of ATAPS and other social actors in the area (such as the Municipality, women's associations, Biological Corridor, governments among others), it was possible to form a Commission1 (see Annex 01) for attend to the problem of the sky bags that constitute a source of contamination in the communities of the indigenous territory. The ISA Program is very interested in maintaining collaboration with the CCSS and to continue working with ATAPS. The purpose of this document is to report on the main activities carried out with the ATAPS.
A participatory assessment of ecosystem services and human wellbeing in Rural Costa Rica using Photo-Voice
(Springer, 2012-03-09) Berbes-Blazquez, Marta
Human well-being is intricately connected to ecosystem services. A keystone contribution to the ecosystem service literature has been the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, MA, (Ecosystems and human well-being: a framework for assessment, Island Press, Washington, DC; 2003, 2005). Much of the work on ecosystem services to date has focused on the assessment and classification of environmental functions. The need for inclusion of community perspectives in ecosystem assessments has been widely recognized in order to better understand the distribution of impacts and benefits resulting from natural resource use. Communities can offer a direct route to understanding the complex relationships between ecosystems and human well-being and how environmental management affects their livelihoods. Photovoice has been made popular as a tool for participatory needs assessment but it has had limited use in ecosystem assessments to date. The purpose of this paper is twofold: (1) to present the results of a community-level assessment of environmental services in a watershed dominated by pineapple monoculture in Costa Rica; and (2) to evaluate the strengths and the limitations of photovoice as a tool for mapping the relationship between ecosystems and people. I argue that photovoice is an underutilized methodology that has the potential to complement biophysical ecosystem service assessments in the context of impoverished and resource-dependent communities, particularly, since assessing ecosystem services and acting upon that information requires integrating the knowledges of diverse stakeholders, recognizing power imbalances, and grappling with the complexity of social-ecological systems. Processes such as photovoice have the potential to catalyze community self-organization, which is a critical component for empowerment.
A pilot field evaluation on heat stress in sugarcane workers in Costa Rica: What to do next?
(Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica, 2009) Van Wendel de Joode, Berendina; Wesseling Hoogervors, Catharina; Crowe, Jennifer
Climate change is producing major impacts including increasing temperatures in tropical countries, like Costa Rica, where the sugarcane industry employs thousands of workers who are exposed to extreme heat. Objectives: This article outlines a pilot qualitative evaluation of working conditions and heat in the sugarcane industry. Design: A literature review, direct observations and exploratory interviews with workers were conducted to reach a preliminary understanding of the dimensions of heat-related health issues in the sugarcane industry, as a basis for the design of future studies. Results: The industry employs temporary workers from Nicaragua and Costa Rica as well as year-round employees. Temporary employees work 12-hour shifts during the harvest and processing ('zafra') season. In many cases, sugarcane field workers are required to carry their own water and often have no access to shade. Sugar mill workers are exposed to different levels of heat stress depending upon their job tasks, with the most intense heat and workload experienced by the oven ('caldera') cleaners. Conclusions: Research is needed to achieve better understanding of the multiple factors driving and interacting with heat exposures in the sugarcane industry in order to improve the health and safety of workers while maintaining worker productivity. © 2009 Jennifer Crowe et al.
Acute health effects of organophosphorus pesticides on Tanzanian small-scale coffee growers
(Nature Publishing Group, 2001-07-01) Ngowi, Aiwerasia; Maeda, David; Partanen, Timo; Sanga, Michael
A cute health effects of organophosphorus (PP) pesticides on coffee farmworkers in 1991-1992 in Tanzania are reported to provide a basis for concern over farmworkers being overexposed during application. Workers exposed to OP pesticides (N = 133) were drawn from a population of about 240,000 coffee farmers. They were interviewed on symptoms and personal protection, and their erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase (ACHE) activity was determined during both spraying and nonspraying period. AChE activities during spraying and nonspraying period were comparable (mean 32.0, SD 7.8 vs. 33.0, SD 8.7 U/g HgB, P = 0.26). The prevalence of cough, headache, abdominal pain, excessive sweating, nausea, excessive salivation, diarrhea, and vomiting did not differ significantly between spraying and nonspraying periods. There was no suggestion of decreased AChE in exposed subjects who complained of OP-related symptoms compared to symptomless exposed subjects. Use of gloves, long boots, head cover, face cover, and coverall was not significantly associated with AChE activity. No marked AChE depression was found during spraying season, which may explain the lack of association between symptoms and ACHE. The fact that only moderately toxic OP pesticides were used may indicate that toxicity was not sufficiently high to cause depression. Experience, however, suggests that occupational poisoning remains a potential serious danger in coffee cultivation in Tanzania.
Acute, chronic and biochemical effects of chlorothalonil on Agalychnis callidryas, Isthmohyla pseudopuma and Smilisca baudinii tadpoles
(Springer, 2016-08-05) Méndez, Michael; Obando, Priscilla; Pinnock Branford, Margaret Verónica; Ruepert, Clemens; Castillo, Luisa E.; Mena, Freylan; Alvarado, Gilbert
Declines of amphibian populations have been a worldwide issue of concern for the scientific community during the last several decades. Efforts are being carried out to elucidate factors related to this phenomenon. Among these factors, pathogens, climate change, and environmental pollution have been suggested as possible causes. Regarding environmental pollutants, some pesticides are persistent in the environment and capable of being transported long distances from their release point. In Costa Rica, some pesticides have been detected in protected areas, at locations where amphibian populations have declined. Information about toxicity of pesticides used in Costa Rican agriculture to amphibians is still scarce, particularly for native species. Toxicity tests with chlorothalonil, a fungicide intensively used in Costa Rica, were carried out exposing tadpoles of three Costa Rican native species: Agalychnis callidryas, Isthmohyla pseudopuma, and Smilisca baudinii in order to evaluate acute and chronic toxicity as well as the biomarkers cholinesterase activity (ChE), glutathione-S transferase activity (GST), and lipid peroxidation (LPO). 96-h LC50: 26.6 (18.9–35.8) μg/L to A. callidryas, 25.5 (21.3–29.7) μg/L to I pseudopuma and 32.3 (26.3–39.7) μg/L to S. baudinii were determined for chlorothalonil. These three species of anurans are among the most sensitive to chlorothalonil according to the literature. Besides, GST was induced in S. baudinii after exposure to sub-lethal concentrations of chlorothalonil while evisceration occurred in S. baudinii and A. callidryas tadpoles exposed to lethal concentrations of the fungicide. Chronic exposure to sub-lethal concentrations accelerated development in S. baudinii and caused lesions in tail of S. baudinii and I. pseudopuma tadpoles. Our results demonstrate that chlorothalonil is highly toxic to native amphibian species and that low concentrations can cause biochemical responses related to phase II of biotransformation and effects on development.
Aerial application of mancozeb and urinary ethylene thiourea (ETU) concentrations among pregnant women in Costa Rica: the Infants' Environmental Health Study (ISA)
(Environmental Health Perspectives, 2014-12-01) van Wendel de Joode, Berna; Mora, Ana Maria; Cordoba, Leonel; Cano, Juan Camilo; Quesada, Rosario; Faniband, Moosa; Wesseling, Catharina; Ruepert, Clemens; Öberg, Mattias; Eskenazi, Brenda; Mergler, Donna; Lindh, Christian
Background: Mancozeb and its main metabolite ethylene thiourea (ETU) may alter thyroid function; thyroid hormones are essential for fetal brain development. In Costa Rica, mancozeb is aerially sprayed at large-scale banana plantations on a weekly basis. Objectives: Our goals were to evaluate urinary ETU concentrations in pregnant women living near large-scale banana plantations, compare their estimated daily intake (EDI) with established reference doses (RfDs), and identify factors that predict their urinary ETU concentrations. Methods: We enrolled 451 pregnant women from Matina County, Costa Rica, which has large-scale banana production. We visited 445 women up to three times during pregnancy to obtain urine samples (n = 872) and information on factors that possibly influence exposure. We determined urinary ETU concentrations using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Results: Pregnant women’s median urinary ETU concentrations were more than five times higher than those reported for other general populations. Seventy-two percent of the women had EDIs above the RfD. Women who lived closest (1st quartile, < 48m) to banana plantations on average had a 45% (95% CI: 23, 72%) higher urinary ETU compared with women who lived farthest away (4th quartile, ≥ 565m). Compared with the other women, ETU was also higher in women who washed agricultural work clothes on the day before sampling (11%; 95% CI: 4.9, 17%), women who worked in agriculture during pregnancy (19%; 95% CI: 9.3, 29%), and immigrant women (6.2%; 95% CI: 1.0, 13%). Conclusions: The pregnant women’s urinary ETU concentrations are of concern, and the principal source of exposure is likely to be aerial spraying of mancozeb. The factors predicting ETU provide insight into possibilities for exposure reduction.
Aerial application of mancozeb and urinary ethylene thiourea (ETU) concentrations among pregnant women in Costa Rica: the Infants' Environmental Health Study (ISA).
(Research: Children´s health, 2014-12) van Wendel de Joode, Berna; Mora, Ana María; Córdoba, Leonel; Cano, Camilo; Quesada, Rosario; Faniband, Moosa; Wesseling, Catharina; Ruepert, Clemens; Oberg, Mathias; Eskenazi, Brenda; Mergler, Donna; Lindh, Christian
Background: Mancozeb and its main metabolite ethylene thiourea (ETU) may alter thyroid function; thyroid hormones are essential for fetal brain development. In Costa Rica, mancozeb is aerially sprayed at large-scale banana plantations on a weekly basis. Objectives: Our goals were to evaluate urinary ETU concentrations in pregnant women living near large-scale banana plantations, compare their estimated daily intake (EDI) with established reference doses (RfDs), and identify factors that predict their urinary ETU concentrations. Methods: We enrolled 451 pregnant women from Matina County, Costa Rica, which has large-scale banana production. We visited 445 women up to three times during pregnancy to obtain urine samples (n = 872) and information on factors that possibly influence exposure. We determined urinary ETU concentrations using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Results: Pregnant women’s median urinary ETU concentrations were more than five times higher than those reported for other general populations. Seventy-two percent of the women had EDIs above the RfD. Women who lived closest (1st quartile, < 48 m) to banana plantations on average had a 45% (95% CI: 23, 72%) higher urinary ETU compared with women who lived farthest away (4th quartile, ≥ 565 m). Compared with the other women, ETU was also higher in women who washed agricultural work clothes on the day before sampling (11%; 95% CI: 4.9, 17%), women who worked in agriculture during pregnancy (19%; 95% CI: 9.3, 29%), and immigrant women (6.2%; 95% CI: 1.0, 13%). Conclusions: The pregnant women’s urinary ETU concentrations are of concern, and the principal source of exposure is likely to be aerial spraying of mancozeb. The factors predicting ETU provide insight into possibilities for exposure reduction.
Agricoh: A consortium of agricultural cohorts
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute(MDPI), Switzerland., 2011-04-29) Leon, Maria; Beane Freeman, Laura; Douwes, Jeroen; Hoppin, Jane; Kromhout, Hans; Lebailly, Pierre; Christian Nordby, Karl; Schenker, Marc; Schüz, Joachim; Waring, Stephen; Alavanja, Michael; Annesi Maesano, Isabella; Baldi, Isabelle; Aqiel Dalvie, Mohamed; Ferro, Giles; Fervers, Beatris; Langseth, Hilde; London, Leslie; Lynch, Charles; McLaughlin, John; Merchant, James; Pahwa, Punam; Sigsgaard, Torben; Stayner, Leslie; Wesseling, Catharina; Keun-Young, Yoo; Zahm, Sheila; Straif, Kurt; Blair, Aaron
AGRICOH is a recently formed consortium of agricultural cohort studies involving 22 cohorts from nine countries in five continents: South Africa (1), Canada (3), Costa Rica (2), USA (6), Republic of Korea (1), New Zealand (2), Denmark (1), France (3) and Norway (3). The aim of AGRICOH, initiated by the US National Cancer Institute (NCI) and coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), is to promote and sustain collaboration and pooling of data to investigate the association between a wide range of agricultural exposures and a wide range of health outcomes, with a particular focus on associations that cannot easily be addressed in individual studies because of rare exposures (e.g., use of infrequently applied chemicals) or relatively rare outcomes (e.g., certain types of cancer, neurologic and auto-immune diseases). To facilitate future projects the need for data harmonization of selected variables is required and is underway. Altogether, AGRICOH provides excellent opportunities for studying cancer, respiratory, neurologic, and auto-immune diseases as well as reproductive and allergic disorders, injuries and overall mortality in association with a wide array of exposures, prominent among these the application of pesticides. © 2011 by the authors.
Alternativas agroecológicas para UNA producción de plátano saludable en Talamanca
(Instituto Regional de Estudios en Sustancias Tóxicas, Universidad Nacional, 2011) Díaz Quesada, Melvin; Romero Boniche, Jenny Raquel; van Wendel de Joode, Berna
Realiza una comparación de plaguicidas químicos, con otras alternativas culturales y orgánicas.
Alternativas agroecológicas para UNA producción de plátano saludable en Talamanca: elaboración de abono foliar
(Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica, 2011) Rodríguez Gómez, Luis; Díaz, Melvin; Romero Boniche, Jenny Raquel; van Wendel de Joode, Berna
Describe los materiales y forma de elaboración de abono foliar orgánico.
Alternativas agroecológicas para UNA producción de plátano saludable en Talamanca: elaboración de abono orgánico sólido o tierra fermentada
(Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica, 2011) Rodríguez Gómez, Luis; Díaz Quesada, Melvin; Romero Boniche, Jenny Raquel; van Wendel de Joode, Berna
Describe los materiales y forma de elaboración de abono orgánico sólido o tierra fermentada.
Análisis ético de las estrategias de comunicación adoptados por la industria farmacéutica en Costa Rica
(Universidad Nacional (Costa Rica). Escuela de Filosofía., 2017) Selva Herrera, Allen
Analiza los problemas bioéticos asociados a las relaciones que se dan entre la industria farmacéutica y los profesionales sanitarios, en lo que respecta a las actividades del tipo de información que se suministra y la publicidad para promover la venta y el consumo de medicamentos. Asimismo, examina la problemática bioética presente en los mecanismos de comunicación mercadológica empleados por la industria farmacéutica en Costa Rica en pos de dotar de elementos de juicio o criterios que aseguren la dignidad de los involucrados durante los procesos de toma de decisiones. Los objetivos específicos son: identificar los principales modelos de mercadeo farmacéutico que se aplican en el ámbito nacional que puedan transgredir los principios de la bioética tales como de autonomía, beneficencia y no maleficencia, y explicitar diferentes ardides retóricos usados por la industria farmacéutica para maximizar la inserción de productos en el mercado y validar su discurso. El tipo de estudio que se enmarca en la presente investigación es cualitativo, documental e interpretativo. Se utilizaron dos tipos de técnicas de recolección de datos: la revisión bibliográfica y el análisis documental. Con el análisis previo, se llega a la conclusión, que se evidenciaron seis métodos de comunicación y promoción farmacéutica, pero el principio de autonomía se ve violentado, pues en estas técnicas de mercadeo el tipo de información que se entrega, puede no ser fidedigna para el médico y por usuarios.
Análisis general del cantón de Talamanca como base para el desarrollo de la etapa de la validación de alternativas agroecológicas al uso de agroquímicos en el cultivo de plátano: ISA-02
(Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica, 2011-06) Díaz Quesada, Melvin
Ubica al proyecto de Infantes y Salud Ambiental (ISA) en el contexto social, ambiental, económico y cultural de la zona de Talamanca. La zona de Talamanca se ha convertido en una región pluricultural, donde conviven además de los Bribris y Cabécares, pobladores autóctonos con más de 7000 años de habitar la región, inmigrantes de descendencia africana, mestizos del valle central y Nicaragua , inmigrantes provenientes de China y Europa, y pobladores del vecino país de Panamá, cuyos principales representantes son de la etnia Ngäbe, los cuales constituyen una importante mano de obra en las plantaciones de banano y plátano, del valle de Sixaola. Entender este contexto tanto desde el enfoque eco-sistémico en salud humana, como desde el área de alternativas agroecológicas al uso de agroquímicos, es importante y necesario para el proyecto Infantes y Salud Ambiental (ISA) para el desarrollo y validación de estrategias, que promuevan la disminución del uso de agroquímicos en la producción del cultivo de plátano, como principal alcance de esta investigación participativa, Lograr una reducción del uso de plaguicidas y de la exposición en comunidades con diferentes sistemas de producción del banano y plátano poniendo a prueba diferentes estrategias para reducir los riesgos de exposición, es uno de los grandes componentes del proyecto Infantes y Salud Ambiental (www.isa.una.ac.cr). Proyecto que hace parte de los estudios del Instituto Regional de Estudios en Sustancias Tóxicas (IRET) de la Universidad Nacional.
Assessment of dermal exposure to bitumen condensate among road paving and mastic crews with an observational method
(Oxford University Press, 2011-05-19) Agostini, Michela; Wouter, Fransman; De Vocht, Frank; Van Wendel de Joode, Berna; Kromhout, Hans
Objective: To assess dermal exposure to bitumen condensate among road pavers and indoor mastic workers in multiple crews using a semi-quantitative observational method [DeRmal Exposure Assessment Method (DREAM)].Methods: Two skilled observers assessed dermal exposure to bitumen condensate among 85 asphalt workers from 12 crews from nine companies active within four European countries using the DREAM methodology, which produces an estimate of exposure expressed in dimensionless DREAM units. Both observers independently evaluated each crew member's job (N = 14 jobs) for road paving and mastic applications. Potential and actual dermal exposures were estimated for hands and for the rest of the body separately, taking into account the effect of protective clothing. To evaluate the reproducibility of the observational method intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) were estimated. The exposures in DREAM units were modelled using linear mixed models to estimate average relative scores for each job. Correlations between dermal exposure parameters were evaluated by estimating Pearson correlation coefficients.Results: A total of 170 observations were completed by two observers independently (n = 118 and n = 52 for 59 road pavers and 26 mastic workers, respectively) in 11 days. The mean ICCs (for potential and actual exposure in DREAM units) varied between 0.74 and 0.80 with values for actual units being slightly higher. Geometric mean potential dermal exposure units of mastic workers were higher than for road pavers (factor 3 for hands and factor 4 for rest of the body). Differences for actual dermal exposure units were smaller for hands (factor 2) and larger for actual exposure units of rest of the body (factor 5). Differences in dermal exposure at the hands between jobs within a paving crew were much larger than between jobs within a mastic crew. Within paving crews, a consistent pattern for all exposure units emerged with 'screed man' and 'raker' as the two highest exposed jobs. Within mastic crews, 'driver dumper truck' and 'spreader of mastic' were scored as the two jobs with the highest exposure units. Potential and actual exposure units were highly correlated. Hands were more profoundly exposed than the rest of the body, with transfer from contaminated surface to the hands as the most important route.Conclusions: DREAM observations were reproducible and showed a consistent dermal exposure pattern among the observed crews. The study provided a clear picture of dermal exposure among road pavers and indoor mastic workers, with the mastic workers being considerably more highly exposed. The most important route of exposure appeared to be transferred from contaminated surfaces to the hands. © The Author 2011.
Assessment of pesticide exposure in the agricultural population of Costa Rica
(British Occupational Hygiene Society, 2005) Monge, Patricia; Partanen, Timo; Wesseling, Catharina; Bravo, Viria; Ruepert, Clemens; Burstyn, Igor
We describe a model for the retrospective assessment of parental exposure to 26 pesticides, selected by toxicity-based prioritization, in a population-based case–control study of childhood leukaemia in Costa Rica (301 cases, 582 controls). The model was applied to a subset of 227 parents who had been employed or self-employed in agriculture or livestock breeding. It combines external data on pesticide use for 14 crops, 21 calendar years and 14 regions, and individual interview data on determinants (task and technology, personal protective equipment, field reentry, storing of pesticides, personal hygiene) of exposure. Recall was enhanced by use of checklists of pesticides in the interview. An external database provided information on the application rate (proxy for intensity of potential exposure) for each pesticide. The calendar time was individually converted to five time windows (year before conception, first, second and third trimester, and first year of the child). Time-windowed individual data on determinants of exposure and their expert-based general weights and their category-specific hazard values jointly provided an individual determinant score. This score was multiplied by the application rate to obtain an individual index of exposure intensity during application. Finally, average exposure intensity during entire time windows was estimated by incorporating in the model the individual time fraction of exposure during application. Estimates of exposure intensities were proxies assumed to be proportional to dermal exposure intensity, which represents the major pathway of occupational exposure to pesticides. A simulated sensitivity analysis resulted in a correlation coefficient of 0.91 between two sets of 10 000 values of individual exposure indices, based on two different but realistic sets expert-assigned weights. Lack of measurement data on concurrent exposures in comparable circumstances precluded direct validation of the model.
Basic questionnaire and methodological criteria for Surveys on Working Conditions, Employment, and Health in Latin America and the Caribbean
(Cadernos de Saúde Pública, Rio de Janeiro, 2016-09-01) Benavides, Fernando; Merino Salazar, Pamela; Cornelio, Cecilia; Avila Assunção, Ada; Agudelo Suárez, Andrés; Amable, Marcelo; Artazcoz, Lucía; Astete, Jonh; Berhó, Fabián; Carmenate Milián, Lino; Delclòs, George; Funcasta, Lorena; Gerke, Johanna; Gimeno, David; Itatí Iñiguez, María José; Lima, Eduardo de Paula; Martínez Iñigo, David; Medeiros, Adriane Mesquita de; Orta, Lida; Pinilla, Javier; Rodrigo, Fernando; Rojas, Marianela; Sabastizagal, Iselle; Vallebuona, Clelia; Vermeylen, Greet; Villalobos, Gloria; Vives, Alejandra; Barraza, Douglas
El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar un cuestionario básico y criterios metodológicos mínimos, para ser considerados en futuras Encuestas sobre Condiciones de Trabajo, Empleo y Salud (ECTES) en América Latina y el Caribe. Para ello, se llevó a cabo un proceso de consenso, tanto virtual co mo presencial, con la participación de un grupo internacional de expertos que, para definir la propuesta, partieron de las encuestas disponibles en la región hasta 2013. El cuestionario final incluyó 77 preguntas agrupadas en seis dimensiones: características sociodemográficas del trabajador y la empresa; condiciones de empleo; condiciones de trabajo; estado de salud; recursos y actividades preventivas; y características familiares. Entre los criterios metodológicos mínimos destacan el domicilio de la persona en trevistada como lugar de la entrevista y los relacionados con la calidad del trabajo de campo. Estos resultados pueden ayudar a mejorar la compara bilidad de las futuras ECTES en América Latina y el Caribe, lo que contri buiría a mejorar la información en salud laboral en la región
Biomarkers of manganese exposure in pregnant women and children living in an agricultural community in California
(American Chemical Society, 2014) Gunier, Robert; Mora, Ana María; Smith, Donald; Arora, Manish; Austin, Christine; Eskenazi, Brenda; Bradman, Asa
Manganese (Mn) is an essential nutrient but at high exposure levels is a neurotoxicant. There is no wellvalidated biomarker to assess perinatal Mn exposure. A total of 75 mother-child pairs provided blood, urine, and/or deciduous tooth samples. We analyzed Mn in dentin and enamel of shed teeth; maternal, cord, and child blood; and maternal and child urine and examined the interrelationships of Mn levels in all matrices. We observed higher Mn levels in prenatal than postnatal dentin (geometric mean (GM) = 0.51 vs 0.16 Mn:Ca, p < 0.001), maternal blood at delivery than 26 weeks gestation (GM = 20.7 vs. 14.6 μg/L, p = 0.001), and cord blood than child blood at 24 months of age (39.9 vs 25.0 μg/L, p = 0.005). There were no significant correlations between Mn in dentin and Mn concentrations in maternal blood or maternal or child urine. Levels of Mn in prenatal dentin, prenatal maternal blood, and 24 month urine were higher (p < 0.05) among mothers and children living with a farm worker. Prenatal Mn levels in dentin were correlated with Mn loadings and concentrations in prenatal house dust. Levels of Mn measured in tooth dentin constitute a promising biomarker of perinatal exposure.
Blood and hair manganese concentrations in pregnant women from the infants' environmental health study (ISA) in Costa Rica
(American Chemical Society, 2014-03) Mora, Ana María; van Wendel de Joode, Berna; Mergler, Donna; Córdoba, Leonel; Cano, Camilo; Quesada, Rosario; Smith, Donald R; Lindh, Christian H; Bradman, Asa; Eskenazi, Brenda; Menezes-Filho, José A.; Lundh, Thomas
Manganese (Mn), an essential nutrient, is a neurotoxicant at high concentrations. We measured Mn concentrations in repeated blood and hair samples collected from 449 pregnant women living near banana plantations with extensive aerial spraying of Mncontaining fungicide mancozeb in Costa Rica, and examined environmental and lifestyle factors associated with these biomarkers. Mean blood Mn and geometric mean hair Mn concentrations were 24.4 μg/L (8.9−56.3) and 1.8 μg/g (0.05−53.3), respectively. Blood Mn concentrations were positively associated with gestational age at sampling (β = 0.2; 95% CI: 0.1 to 0.2), number of household members (β = 0.4; 95% CI: 0.1 to 0.6), and living in a house made of permeable and difficult-to-clean materials (β = 2.6; 95% CI: 1.3 to 4.0); and inversely related to smoking (β = −3.1; 95% CI: −5.8 to −0.3). Hair Mn concentrations were inversely associated with gestational age at sampling (% change = 0.8; 95% CI: −1.6 to 0.0); and positively associated with living within 50 m of a plantation (% change = 42.1; 95% CI: 14.2 to 76.9) and Mn concentrations in drinking water (% change = 17.5; 95% CI: 12.2 to 22.8). Our findings suggest that pregnant women living near banana plantations aerially sprayed with mancozeb may be environmentally exposed to Mn.
Caesarean delivery and risk of childhood leukaemia: a pooled analysis from the Childhood Leukemia International Consortium (CLIC)
(The Lancet, 2016-04-07) Marcotte, Erin; Thomopoulos, Thomas P; Infante Rivard, Claire; Clavel, Jacqueline; Schuz, Joachim; Ezzat, Sameera; Dockerty, John; Metayer, Catherine; Magnani, Corrado; Scheurer, Michael; Mueller, Beth; Mora, Ana M; Wesseling, Catharina; Skalkidou, Alkistis; Rashed, Wafaa; Francis, Stephen; Ajrouche, Roula; Erdmann, Friederike; Orsi, Laurent; Spector, Logan G
Results from case-control studies have shown an increased risk of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in young children born by caesarean delivery, and prelabour caesarean delivery in particular; however, an association of method of delivery with childhood leukaemia subtypes has yet to be established. We therefore did a pooled analysis of data to investigate the association between childhood leukaemia and caesarean delivery. Methods: We pooled data from 13 case-control studies from the Childhood Leukemia International Consortium done in nine countries (Canada, Costa Rica, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, New Zealand, and the USA) for births from 1970-2013. We analysed caesarean delivery overall and by indications that probably resulted in prelabour caesarean delivery or emergency caesarean delivery. We used multivariable logistic regression models, adjusted for child's birthweight, sex, age, ethnic origin, parental education, maternal age, and study, to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs for the risk of ALL and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) in children aged 0-14 years at diagnosis. Findings: The studies provided data for 8780 ALL cases, 1332 AML cases, and 23 459 controls, of which the birth delivery method was known for 8655 (99%) ALL cases, 1292 (97%) AML cases, and 23 351 (>99%) controls. Indications for caesarean delivery were available in four studies (there were caesarean deliveries for 1061 of 4313 ALL cases, 138 of 664 AML cases, and 1401 of 5884 controls). The OR for all indications of caesarean delivery and ALL was 1Â·06 (95% CI 0Â·99-1Â·13), and was significant for prelabour caesarean delivery and ALL (1Â·23 [1Â·04-1Â·47]; p=0Â·018). Emergency caesarean delivery was not associated with ALL (OR 1Â·02 [95% CI 0Â·81-1Â·30]). AML was not associated with caesarean delivery (all indications OR 0Â·99 [95% CI 0Â·84-1Â·17]; prelabour caesarean delivery 0Â·83 [0Â·54-1Â·26]; and emergency caesarean delivery 1Â·05 [0Â·63-1Â·77]). Interpretation: Our results suggest an increased risk of childhood ALL after prelabour caesarean delivery. If this association is causal, maladaptive immune activation due to an absence of stress response before birth in children born by prelabour caesarean delivery could be considered as a potential mechanism. Funding: National Cancer Institute. Â© 2016 Elsevier Ltd.
Cambios en la superficie sembrada de palma aceitera en el cantón de Osa, Puntarenas. Período 2014-2018
(Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica, 2020-06-29) Salas González, Denis Mauricio
El cultivo de palma aceitera muestra un acelerado crecimiento a nivel mundial. Según datos oficia-les, solo en la región latinoamericana se evidencia un crecimiento del 150,8% en el área cultivada de palma de aceite al pasar de 443 000 hectáreas en 2001 a 1 111 000 hectáreas sembradas en 2014, de las cuales 818 000 se encontraban en etapa productiva aportando cerca del 6% del aceite de palma producido en el mundo (González, 2016). Estas plantaciones han impactado los paisajes tro-picales por la disminución de la vegetación natural, pastos o por el reemplazo de otros cultivos. La expansión del cultivo de palma de aceite aumentó en Costa Rica y de acuerdo con la tendencia de los últimos años, seguirá en aumento. En los últimos años se han realizado censos y encuestas agro-pecuarias que muestran el crecimiento general, pero no detallan las áreas geográficas donde se da ese crecimiento y el consecuente impacto a la dinámica natural de las áreas cultivadas, información clave para los procesos de ordenamiento territorial regional y local que tenemos en el país. Por tal motivo, los objetivos de esta investigación fueron: analizar el cambio en la superficie sembrada con palma aceitera en el cantón de Osa, provincia de Puntarenas en el periodo 2014-2018 y evaluar la expansión del cultivo de palma aceitera en los distritos del cantón. Para esto, se analizaron datos de instituciones gubernamentales y se identificaron y digitalizaron las plantaciones de palma aceitera de los seis distritos del cantón de Osa.

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