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Years: 2019-2020

Training Site: Scientific Research Center, Academic Hospital Paramaribo

Country: Suriname

Mentors: Maureen Lichtveld, MD, MPH:;Wilco Zijlmans, MD, PhD; Jeffrey Wickliffe, PhD; Arti Shankar, PhD

Title: “Pesticide Levels and the Literacy of Pesticide Use of Women in Suriname”

Program Objectives:

Hypothesis: That pesticide levels in women living in agricultural intensive areas will be higher compared to those who do not.

Aim 1: Determine pesticide levels in pregnant women residing in Suriname. Urine samples have been collected during the 1st and 2nd trimester of pregnant women living in Nickerie and Paramaribo. If the woman entered the study during her 2nd trimester, her biological samples were collected during the 2nd and 3rd trimester. Samples are being analyzed at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s environmental health laboratory for several pesticide metabolites which include, phenoxy acid herbicide, organophosphate insecticides, and pyrethroid insecticides, as these are commonly used in agricultural and residential settings in Suriname.

Hypothesis 2: That pesticide literacy will be higher in participants living in agricultural intensive areas and are of higher socioeconomic status, compared to those who do not live in agricultural areas and are of higher socioeconomic status.

Aim 2: Assess literacy regarding pesticide use among a sub cohort of women of reproductive age, the CCREOH cohort in Suriname. Participants will be asked questions pertaining to their demographics, their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to the use of pesticides, the various settings of pesticide use, proper personal protective equipment, duration of pesticide use, and adverse health outcomes of pesticides.

Hypothesis 3: That high urinary pesticide levels correlate with high reported pesticide use and consumption of most likely pesticide-containing products.

Aim 3: Identify potential sources of pesticide exposures among women of reproductive age in Suriname.

NIH Support: Fogarty scholar doctoral training award

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