☆ 4.7 Article

Impact of low-level gestational exposure to organophosphate pesticides on neurobehavior in early infancy: a prospective study

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH (2013)

Journal

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

Volume 12, Issue -, Pages -

Publisher

BMC

DOI: 10.1186/1476-069X-12-79

Keywords

NNNS; Organophosphates; Pesticides; Neurobehavior; Infancy; Prenatal exposure

Funding

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Environmental Protection Agency [R01 ES015517, P01 ES11261]

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Abstract

Background: National data suggest widespread gestational exposure to organophosphate pesticides (OPs) based on the detection of OP metabolites in the urine of pregnant women. Associations with early infant neurobehavior are largely understudied, with only two studies reporting abnormal reflexes in newborns in association with gestational exposure to OPs. Our objective was to utilize biological markers of OP metabolites in pregnant women and a comprehensive assessment of infant neurobehavior to determine the association of gestational exposure to OPs with neurobehavioral outcomes during early infancy. Methods: Among a cohort of 350 mother/infant pairs, we measured six common dialkylphosphate metabolites of OP pesticides in maternal urine, at two times during pregnancy (16 w & 26 w gestation), then calculated aggregate concentrations of diethylphosphate, dimethylphosphate, and total dialkyphosphate metabolites. We measured infant neurobehavior at about five weeks of age using the NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale (NNNS), a comprehensive assessment of neurobehavior in young infants. Analyses of associations between gestational exposure to OPs and neurobehavior at five weeks included multiple linear and logistic regression. Results: After adjustment for covariates, higher creatinine-corrected urinary concentrations of diethylphosphate metabolites were associated with improved attention and reduced lethargy and hypotonia in young infants. Higher creatinine-corrected urinary concentrations of total dialkylphosphate metabolites were associated with fewer signs of autonomic stress. Women who were white, married, had advanced education, and reported more frequent consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables had higher concentrations of OP metabolites during pregnancy. Conclusions: In this sample of pregnant women whose urinary concentrations of dialkylphosphate metabolites are representative of national exposure levels, we found no detrimental effects of gestational exposure to OPs on neurobehavioral outcomes among young infants. These results are important as they suggest there may be minimal to no detectable adverse impact of low level prenatal OP exposure on the neurobehavior of young infants.

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Prenatal exposure to organophosphate pesticides and risk-taking behaviors in early adulthood

Sharon K. Sagiv, Stephen Rauch, Katherine R. Kogut, Carly Hyland, Robert B. Gunier, Ana M. Mora, Asa Bradman, Julianna Deardorff, Brenda Eskenazi

Summary: This study investigated the association between prenatal exposure to organophosphate pesticides and risk-taking behaviors in adolescence and young adulthood in a Mexican American cohort. The results did not show clear or consistent evidence of such associations, although there were isolated findings of increased risk for smoking or vaping nicotine and driving without a license. The small sample size may have limited the ability to detect subtle associations between early life OP exposure and risk-taking behaviors.

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH (2022)