Genetic Susceptibility in Migrant Farmworker Children
Condition: Epidemiology
MeSH terms: Disease Susceptibility; Genetic Predisposition to Disease
Study type: Observational

Summary: 
      Primary Objectives:

        1. To test the hypothesis that children whose mothers are Migrant/Seasonal Farmworkers
           (MSFs) (occupationally-exposed to pesticides) may be at a higher risk for exhibiting
           mutagen-induced DNA damage than children whose mothers and fathers are not MSFs.

        2. To test the hypothesis that MSF mothers (occupationally-exposed to pesticides) may be at
           a higher risk for exhibiting mutagen-induced DNA damage than mothers who are not MSFs.

      Secondary Objectives:

        1. To test the hypothesis that both the extent of pesticide exposure and the type of
           polymorphisms in chemical detoxification genes and DNA repair genes contribute to the
           extent of cytogenetic damage found in children of MSF women.

        2. To test the hypothesis that both the extent of pesticide exposure and the type of
           polymorphisms in chemical detoxification genes and DNA repair genes contribute to the
           extent of cytogenetic damage found in MSF mothers.

        3. To test the hypothesis that the total concentration levels of organochlorine (OCP) and
           organophosphate (OP) pesticides will correlate with the mutagenic potency of the serum
           and urine of the children.

        4. To test the hypothesis that the total concentration levels of OCP and OP pesticides will
           correlate with the mutagenic potency of the serum and urine of the mothers.

        5. To test the hypothesis that inherited polymorphisms in the PON1 gene and its expression
           modulate the risk for OP genotoxicity measured by the inhibition of the
           acetylcholinesterase enzyme in MSF children.

        6. To test the hypothesis that inherited polymorphisms in the PON1 gene and its expression
           modulate the risk for OP genotoxicity measured by the inhibition of the
           acetylcholinesterase enzyme in MSF mothers.
    

Detailed description: 
      Participants in this study are either MSF children and their mothers or non-MSF women (women
      who have never worked in agriculture) and their children. If a mother has more than one child
      in the school system, only one child can participate in the study. A major effort of this
      study is to collect, store and analyze blood and urine samples from MSF women children and a
      group of non-MSF women and children. Only the MSF children will be matched by ethnicity, sex,
      age (2 or more years), and place of residence to non-MSF children.

      All mothers and children participants will be recruited from the school rosters of the Goose
      Creek Consolidated Independent School District in Harris County, and the La Joya School
      District in Hidalgo County. The names and addresses of all the children and their mothers are
      also included in the rosters. Each mother will be contacted by a telephone call or letter
      inviting her and her child to participate in the study. If they agree, they will then be
      asked if they would like to complete the interview by telephone with the interviewer from M.
      D. Anderson or prefer to do the interview at the on-site visit.

      A bilingual interviewer will ask each child's mother if she and her child would like to
      participate in the study. The interviewer will ask each participating mother about her and
      her child's age, child's gender, her and her child's exposure to chemicals, medical history,
      places they have lived, places she has worked, family history of disease, reproductive and
      breast feeding histories, diet, alcohol and tobacco use. The interview will take from 60 to
      70 minutes to complete the mother's and the child participants' questionnaires. All
      interviews will be completed by telephone or on-site in the language of choice (English or
      Spanish).

      Two (2) members of the research team will collect the blood and urine samples, and transport
      them to M. D. Anderson since an overnight carrier is not available on the required days of
      collection. About 5 teaspoons of blood will be drawn and a urine sample will be collected. In
      addition, the height and weight of the mothers and the children will be measured. All blood
      and urine collected will be used only by the researchers involved in this study. If the
      child's mother agrees, the type(s) and levels of the pesticides detected will be provided to
      the child's physician for diagnostic purposes only. The data will be analyzed in a way that
      will help maintain confidentiality.

      This is an investigational study. A total of 400 children participants and their mothers
      (N=400) will take part in this study. All 800 participants will be enrolled at UT MD Anderson
      Cancer Center.
    

Intervention name(s): Interview
Intervention type(s): Behavioral
Intervention description(s): Interview by telephone or on-site in language of choice (English or Spanish), 60 to 70 minutes to complete the mother's and the child participants' questionnaires
Other intervention name(s): Questionnaire
Observational model: Case-Only
Time perspective: Prospective
Sampling method: Non-Probability Sample
Study population: 
        Migrant or seasonal farmworker (MSF) woman who has a child attending the Migrant Education
        Program, or a child of a MSF woman, or a woman who has never worked in agriculture
        (non-MSF) but has a child attending the ESL Bilingual Education, Immigrant or the Main
        Stream Programs in the Goose Creek Consolidated School District in Harris County, TX, or in
        the La Joya School District in Hidalgo County, TX.
      
Biospecimen description: 
      10 teaspoons of blood drawn and a urine sample from each mother/child.
    
Keywords: Epidemiology; Genetic Susceptibility; Migrant Farmworker Children; Migrant Education Program; Interview; Questionnaire