Carbamate pesticides exposure and delayed physical development at the age of seven: Evidence from the SMBCS study

Background: Carbamate pesticides are widely used in agriculture and cause widespread human exposure. The health effect of carbamates on physical development remains unclear. The current study aimed to explore the carbamate's health effect on physical development. Methods: Prenatal, 3-year-old, 7-year-old urinary carbofuranphenol concentration was measured by gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and adjusted by creatinine. Anthropometric indices were measured by standard method and z-score standardized. Generalized linear models (GLM) were using to assess associations between exposure measurements and anthropometric indices. The generalized estimate equation (GEE) was applied to analyze the association between multiperiod exposure and anthropometric indices, and time-interaction terms were used to exam health effect consistency of exposure in each period. Gender-stratified analysis were conducted according to results of gender-interaction terms to identify gender-specific effects. Results The gender-interaction term of prenatal exposure with height z-score was significant (beta = -0.057; 95% CI: -0.113, -0.001; p = 0.045). The 3-year-old carbofuranphenol level showed negative associations with weight z-score (beta = -0.019; 95% CI: -0.038, -0.000; p = 0.040), height z-score (beta = -0.015; 95% CI: -0.028, -0.001; p = 0.026), chest circumference (beta = -0.086; 95% CI: -0.171, -0.001; p = 0.046), and waist circumference (beta = -0.128; 95% CI: -0.230, -0.026; p = 0.014). No statistically significant trend was found for prenatal and 7-year-old carbofuranphenol levels. In GEEs, carbofuranphenol level was negatively associated with weight z-score (beta = -0.103; 95% CI: -0.195, -0.011; p = 0.027), height z-score (beta = -0.087; 95% CI: -0.152, -0.022; p = 0.008), and chest circumference (beta = -0.472; 95% CI: -0.918, -0.026; p = 0.037). Boy's height z-score was inversely associated with carbamate exposure (beta = -0.140; 95% CI: -0.227, -0.053; p = 0.001). Conclusions: Prenatal and postnatal carbamate exposure may affect physical developmental process.

Automated summary

The present study investigated the potential health effects of carbamate pesticides on physical development. The results showed that prenatal and postnatal carbamate exposure could negatively affect physical growth, particularly in terms of height. Gender-specific effects were also observed, indicating that the association between exposure and height z-score differed between boys and girls. Further research is needed to validate these findings and strengthen the regulation of pesticide use for human health.