CERCH – Center for Environmental Research and Children's Health

The CHAMACOS Study

The CHAMACOS Study is a longitudinal birth cohort study examining chemicals and other factors in the environment and children’s health.

In 1999-2000, we enrolled 601 pregnant women living in the agricultural Salinas Valley. We are following their children through age 12 to measure their exposures to pesticides and other chemicals and to determine if this exposure impacts their growth, health, and development.

In 2010-2011 we enrolled 300 additional 9-year-old children into the cohort and will be following them also until age 12.  Learn more about the cohort.

“C.H.A.M.A.C.O.S.” stands for Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas, and also means “little children” in Mexican Spanish.

The CHAMACOS Study investigates:

• How children are exposed to pesticides and other environmental chemicals
  • Exposure Assessment Studies

• How these exposures are related to children’s growth, neurodevelopment, and health
  • Health Outcomes Studies

• The mechanisms by which these exposures may impact health
  • Epigenetics Study
  • Functional Genomics (PON1) Study

• Ways to reduce exposure to children and families
  • Community Outreach
  • Intervention Studies
    

The CHAMACOS Study is a Community-University partnership modeled on the tenets of community-based participatory research.

Community Partners:

• Natividad Medical Center
• Clinica de Salud del Valle de Salinas
• Learn more about our Community Partners here.