Publications

Time after a peak-pesticide use period and neurobehavior among Ecuadorian children and adolescents: The ESPINA study

Espinosa da Silva, C., Gahagan, S., Suarez-Torres, J., Lopez-Paredes, D., Checkoway, H., Suarez-Lopez, J.R.

Published in final edited form as: Environmental Research. Published online 2021 December 7. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112325

This article which pooled data from three exam periods (Jul-Aug 2008, April 2016 and Jul-Oct 2016) found that children examined sooner after the Mother’s day flower harvest, which marks the end of a period of peak pesticide use, had lower neurobehavioral performance compared to children examined later, suggesting that peak pesticide spray seasons may transiently affect neurobehavior followed by recovery during low pesticide-use periods.

Concurrent urinary organophosphate metabolites and acetylcholinesterase activity in Ecuadorian adolescents

Skomal A; Zhang J, Yang K Yen J, Tu X, Suarez-Torres J, Lopez-Paredes D, Calafat A, Ospina M, Martinez D, Suarez-Lopez, JR

Published in final edited form as: Environmental Research. Published online 2021 October 8. doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2021.112163

In this study we characterized for the first time in children inverse associations between organophosphate urinary pesticide metabolites and AChE activity. Specifically we found that the urinary organophosphate metabolites, PNP, TCPy and MDA, particularly at concentrations above the 80th percentile, were associated with lower AChE activity. We previously published direct associations between AChE activity and neurobehavioral performance. These findings bring attention to the value of using multiple constructs of pesticide exposure in epidemiologic studies. 

Testosterone, estradiol, DHEA, and cortisol in relation to anxiety and depression scores in adolescents

Briana NC Chronister, Eduardo Gonzalez, Dolores Lopez-Paredes, Jose Suarez-Torres, Shelia Gahagan, Danilo Martinez, Janeth Barros, David R Jacbobs Jr, Harvey Checkoway, Jose R Suarez-Lopez

Published in final edited form as: Journal of Affective Disorders. Published online 2021 July. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.07.26

We found thatelevated testosterone, cortisol, and estradiol (≥90th percentile) were associated with altered mood (anxiety/depression scores). Cortisol and testosterone were considerable effect modifiers to the associations of most hormones with depression and anxiety.

Acetylcholinesterase activity and thyroid hormone levels in Ecuadorian adolescents living in agricultural settings where organophosphate pesticides are used

Phillips, S., Suarez-Torres J., Checkoway H., Lopez-Paredes, D., Gahagan, S., Suarez-Lopez, JR.

Published in final edited form as: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health. Published online 2021 February 10. doi:10.1016/j.dib.2021.113692

The findings of this manuscript suggest that alterations in the cholinergic system from organophosphate exposures can increase fT4 levels coupled with a beyond-compensatory downregulation of TSH in female adolescents. This is the first study to characterize these associations in adolescents.

Summary data of home proximity to the nearest greenhouse (floricultural) crops and areas of greenhouse crops around various distances from homes in agricultural settings in Ecuador

Noor Nazeeh, José R. Suárez-López

Data Brief. 2020 Aug; 31: 105980. Published online 2020 Jul 3. doi: 10.1016/j.dib.2020.105980

Residential proximity to greenhouse crops and pesticide exposure (via acetylcholinesterase activity) assessed from childhood through adolescence

Suarez-Lopez, J.R., Nazeeh, N., Kayser, G., Suarez-Torres, J., Checkoway, H., López-Paredes, D., Jacobs, D.R., Cruz, F.

Published in final edited form as: Environmental Research. Published online 2020 July 10. 109728. doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.109728

Associations of Acetylcholinesterase inhibition between pesticide spray seasons with depression and anxiety symptoms in adolescents, and the role of sex and adrenal hormones on gender moderation

Suarez-Lopez, J.R., Nguyen, A., Klas, J., Gahagan, S., Checkoway, H., Lopez-Paredes, D., Jacobs, D.R., Noble, M.

Publishes in final edited form as: Exposure and Health. Published online 2020 May 21. doi: 10.1007/s12403-020-00361-w

In this article we found that greater AChE inhibition between April and July-October 2016 was positively associated with greater depression symptoms among adolescents, with stronger associations among females than males. Furthermore, we found that after adjusting for sex and adrenal hormones, the effect modification by gender was reduced or removed.

Residential proximity to greenhouse agriculture and nuerobehavioral performance in Ecuadorian children

Friedman, E., Hazlehurst, M.F., Loftus, C., Karr, C., McDonald, K.N., Suarez-Lopez, J.R.

Published in final edited form as: Int J Hyg Environ Health. Published online 2019 October 10. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2019.08.009

Associations of acetylcholinesterase activity with depression and anxiety symptoms among adolescents growing up near pesticide spray sites

Jose R Suarez-Lopez, Naomi Hood, José Suaráz-Torres, Sheila Gahagan, Megan R. Gunnar, Dolores Lopez-Paredes

Int J Hyg Environ Health. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2020 Aug 1.

Published in final edited form as: Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2019 Jun 13 : S1438-4639(19)30117-8. Published online 2019 Jun 13. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2019.06.001

Blood pressure after a heightened pesticide spray period among children living in agricultural communities in Ecuador

Jose R. Suarez-Lopez, Fatimaezzahra Amchich, Jonathan Murillo, Julie Denenberg

Environ Res. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2020 Aug 1.

Published in final edited form as: Environ Res. 2019 Aug; 175: 335–342. Published online 2019 May 21. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.05.030

Home proximity to flower plantations and higher systolic blood pressure among children

Jose R. Suarez-Lopez, Vennis Hong, Kelsey N. McDonald, Jose Suarez-Torres, Dolores López, Franklin De La Cruz

Int J Hyg Environ Health. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2019 Sep 1.

Published in final edited form as: Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2018 Sep; 221(8): 1077–1084. Published online 2018 Aug 18. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2018.08.006

Acetylcholinesterase activity and time after a peak pesticide use period among Ecuadorian children

Jose R. Suarez-Lopez, Cheyenne R. Butcher, Sheila Gahagan, Harvey Checkoway, Bruce H. Alexander, Wael K. Al-Delaimy

Int Arch Occup Environ Health. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2019 Feb 1.

Published in final edited form as: Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2018 Feb; 91(2): 175–184. Published online 2017 Oct 13. doi: 10.1007/s00420-017-1265-4

Potential short-term neurobehavioral alterations in children associated with a peak pesticide spray season: The Mother’s Day flower harvest in Ecuador

Jose R. Suarez-Lopez, Harvey Checkoway, David R. Jacobs, Jr, Wael K. Al-Delaimy, Sheila Gahagan

Neurotoxicology. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2018 May 1.

Published in final edited form as: Neurotoxicology. 2017 May; 60: 125–133. Published online 2017 Feb 7. doi: 10.1016/j.neuro.2017.02.002

Acetylcholinesterase Activity and Neurodevelopment in Boys and Girls

Jose R. Suarez-Lopez, John H. Himes, David R. Jacobs, Jr, Bruce H. Alexander, Megan R. Gunnar

Pediatrics. 2013 Dec; 132(6): e1649–e1658. doi: 10.1542/peds.2013-0108

Acetylcholinesterase Activity, Cohabitation with Floricultural Workers, and Blood Pressure in Ecuadorian Children

Jose R. Suarez-Lopez, David R. Jacobs, Jr., John H. Himes, Bruce H. Alexander

Environ Health Perspect. 2013 May; 121(5): 619–624. Published online 2013 Jan 25. doi: 10.1289/ehp.1205431

Lower Acetylcholinesterase Activity among Children Living with Flower Plantation Workers

Jose R. Suarez-Lopez, David R. Jacobs, Jr., John H. Himes, Bruce H. Alexander, DeAnn Lazovich, Megan Gunnar

Environ Res. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2013 Apr 1.

Published in final edited form as: Environ Res. 2012 Apr; 114: 53–59. Published online 2012 Mar 10. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2012.01.007