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The ability of questionnaires to predict children's exposure to pesticides was examined as part of the Minnesota Children's Pesticide Exposure Study (MNCPES). The MNCPES focused on a probability sample of 102 children between the ages of 3 and 13 years living in either urban (Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN) or nonurban (Rice and Goodhue Counties in Minnesota) households. Samples were collected in a variety of relevant media (air, food, beverages, tap water, house dust, soil, urine), and chemical analyses emphasized three organophosphate insecticides (chlorpyrilos, diazinon, malathion) and a herbicide (atrazine). Results indicate that the residential pesticideuse questions and overall screening approach used in the MNCPES were ineffective for identifying and oversampling children/households with higher levels of individual target pesticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on results of the Minnesota Children's Pesticide Exposure Study between May and September 2001. Measurement of urinary metabolite levels and the variability of napthalene or carbaryl, atrazine, malathion and chlorpyrifos, chlorpyrifos-methyl or triclopyr; Consideration of sociodemographic factors; Higher levels of children's metabolite than those of adults.