ABSTRACT
An evaluation of the sustainability of the semiarid prairie ecosystem, including the land, the biota, and the people, was the primary objective of the Prairie Ecosystem Study (PECOS). To further our understanding of potential human health risks associated with pesticide exposure, we selected a defined, rural geographical area and, in cooperation with the residents, we designed and undertook a study to:
Characterize human environmental and occupational exposure to pesticides by analyzing data from questionnaires and by analysis of blood samples
Assess pulmonary function using spirometry
Examine neuropsychological function using a battery of psychometric tests
Evaluate the frequency of autoimmunity as reflected by the presence of antinuclear antibodies
Assess the determinants of unintentional injury in this rural population
Determine the concentrations of 44 chemical elements in drinking water samples
