Associations of maternal exposure to organophosphate and pyrethroid insecticides and the herbicide 2,4-D with birth outcomes and anogenital distance at 3 months in the Odense Child Cohort

Abstract

In Odense Child Cohort (OCC), concentrations of the pesticide metabolites 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA), 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPY), 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and dialkyl phosphates (DAPs) were measured in urine samples collected in gestational week 28 in up to 858 women. Gestational length, birth weight, head and abdominal circumference were obtained from birth records and anogenital distance (AGD) was measured at age three month. We did not find consistent dose-related associations between pesticide metabolite concentrations and birth outcomes or AGD. However, females tended to have shorter abdominal circumference with higher maternal 3-PBA concentrations (β: -0.3 (95% CI: -0.5, -0.003) cm). Further, a non-significant dose-related elongation of AGD in females was seen for 3-PBA (p-trend: 0.14) and diethyl phosphates (p-trend: 0.08). In males, exposure to 2,4-D in the second compared to the first tertile showed a statistically significant shorter AGD (β: -1.55 (-2.81, -0.28) mm). These findings may suggest a weak disturbance of sex-hormone action.

The association between maternal exposure to organophosphate pesticides and neonatal anthropometric measures: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Asian studies were as follows one in Taiwan,[ 19 ] one in China,[ 20 ] and one in Thailand. [ 21 ] Furthermore, European studies were as follows one in Greece,[ 4 ] one in Denmark,[ 22 ] and one in Netherland. [ 23 ] The other four studies are related to the USA.…”

“…[ 12 24 25 26 ] Of these ten articles, eight selected to assess birth weight. [ 12 19 21 22 24 25 26 ] In addition, five and six studies, respectively, were selected to evaluate the birth length[ 12 19 20 21 25 ] and head circumference. [ 12 19 21 22 25 26 ] The year of publication of studies was from 2004 to 2019.…”

“…[ 12 19 21 22 25 26 ] The year of publication of studies was from 2004 to 2019. Sample sizes ranged from 59[ 21 ] to 858,[ 22 ] with a total of 2503 participants for birth weight, 1166 for birth length, and 2010 for head circumference. Pregnant women in the considered studies have a mean age of 25–35 years.…”

“…[ 20 ] The results are consistent with the results of the Odense child cohort that found no association between maternal urinary concentration of OP pesticides and birth outcomes. [ 22 ] Likewise, the results of a cohort study in Taipei, Taiwan, showed that exposure to diethyl organophosphate (DEPs) metabolites in the second trimester of pregnancy not correlated with birth weight and birth length. [ 19 ] Given the disagreement between the results of various studies, the current systematic review and meta-analyses have conducted on the relationship between maternal exposure to OP pesticide and anthropometric measures.…”

Prenatal exposure to the herbicide 2,4-D is associated with deficits in auditory processing during infancy

“…Glyphosate, a well-studied herbicide, has been associated with endocrine disrupting effects in human liver cell lines (Gasnier et al, 2009) and rat testicular cells (Clair et al, 2012) at environmentally relevant doses. Prenatal exposure to the herbicide 2,4-D was associated with shorter anogenital distance in 3-month-old boys (Dalsager et al, 2018).Vinclozilin, a fungicide, and its metabolites can act as agonists or antagonists for a number of steroid receptors (Molina-Molina et al, 2006), and parental use of fungicides for farm application was significantly associated with having a girl (Garry et al, 2002).…”