Additional Funding Sources
Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award No. K01ES028745, the National Science Foundation S-STEM Gateway Scholarships in Biological Sciences under Grant Award No. DUE-1644233, and by the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program through the U.S. Department of Education under Award No. P217A170273. We acknowledge support from the Center of Excellence in Biomedical Research through the Institutional Development Awards (IDeA) from the National Institute Research Center at Boise State, the Biomolecular Research Center, RRID:SCR_019174, with funding from the National Science Foundation, Grant Nos. 061979 of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Grant Nos. P20GM103408, P20GM109095, and 1C06RR020533. We also acknowledge support from The Biomolecular 3 and #0923535, the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, Lori and Duane Stueckle, and the Idaho State Board of Education.
Presentation Date
7-2022
Abstract
The herbicide glyphosate has become the world’s most popular agricultural chemical, the use of which has risen more than 12-fold in the last two decades. Recent epidemiologic research suggests that exposure to glyphosate may lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Despite the widespread use and potential toxicity, little research exists to quantify human exposure to glyphosate. This study aims to measure long-term glyphosate exposure in pregnant women and to attribute that exposure to agricultural and dietary sources. We recruited 40 women from whom we collected 1,395 urine samples throughout their pregnancies. We conducted quality assurance checks on the collected data and are working with the CDC to analyze glyphosate concentrations in a subset of the samples. Here, we aim to describe challenges and opportunities in conducting human subjects research in a vulnerable population – particularly during a global pandemic. Challenges included the need to revise protocols to eliminate “in-person” contact; inherent logistical obstacles to maintaining long-term contact with hard-to-reach populations; and difficulties with accurately and consistently assessing and resolving database issues. Opportunities included the collection of real-world data; the chance to provide aid to study participants; and the potential to build unique connections with those participants.
Challenges and Opportunities in Human Subjects Research: Assessing Glyphosate Exposure in Pregnant Women
The herbicide glyphosate has become the world’s most popular agricultural chemical, the use of which has risen more than 12-fold in the last two decades. Recent epidemiologic research suggests that exposure to glyphosate may lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Despite the widespread use and potential toxicity, little research exists to quantify human exposure to glyphosate. This study aims to measure long-term glyphosate exposure in pregnant women and to attribute that exposure to agricultural and dietary sources. We recruited 40 women from whom we collected 1,395 urine samples throughout their pregnancies. We conducted quality assurance checks on the collected data and are working with the CDC to analyze glyphosate concentrations in a subset of the samples. Here, we aim to describe challenges and opportunities in conducting human subjects research in a vulnerable population – particularly during a global pandemic. Challenges included the need to revise protocols to eliminate “in-person” contact; inherent logistical obstacles to maintaining long-term contact with hard-to-reach populations; and difficulties with accurately and consistently assessing and resolving database issues. Opportunities included the collection of real-world data; the chance to provide aid to study participants; and the potential to build unique connections with those participants.