Sex and adrenal hormone alteration in Ecuadorian adolescents with home and school proximity to floriculture crop area

Pesticides frequently used in agriculture, including organophosphates, glyphosate, and 2,4-D, have endocrine disrupting potential. We previously found that residential proximity to floriculture crops can increase the potential for pesticide exposure of children and adolescents. Little is known about whether residential or school proximity to crops can affect their hormone levels. We examined 507 adolescents (12–17 years, 51% female, ESPINA cohort) living in agricultural communities in Ecuador. Salivary dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), testosterone, estradiol, and cortisol were measured. Using linear regression, we analyzed the association of hormones with residential distance to floricultural crops and crop areas near homes and schools within various radii (150 m, 200 m, 300 m, and 500 m). The median (25th-75th percentile) residential proximity to floricultural crops was 312.6 m (112.3, 653.2), and 49% of adolescent participants lived within 300 m. Among these, the median (25th-75th percentile) crop area within 300 m was 8000m2. Within 150 m of children’s homes, doubling crop area was associated with lower concentrations of testosterone in boys (-9.14% (95% CI: -15.08%, -2.79%)). Doubling crop area within 300 m of homes was associated with greater cortisol concentrations in boys (8.05% (95% CI: 0.45%, 16.23%)). Doubling crop area within 500 m of homes was associated with lower estradiol in boys (-4.82% (95% CI: -9.26%, -0.17%)). Doubling crop area within 100 m of children’s schools was associated with lower estradiol in boys (-6.70% (95% CI: -11.78%, -1.34%)). We found greater crop area near homes was associated with testosterone, estradiol, and cortisol alterations in boys but not girls. Greater crop area near schools was associated with estradiol alterations in boys. This research suggests home and school proximity to pesticide spray site pose a risk to the developing endocrine systems of children.