Gestational Pesticide Exposure and Child Respiratory Health

Abstract

Background: Childhood wheeze may be related to pesticide exposure, and diet and genetics (Paroxonase; PON1) may modify the effects of exposure. Methods: We analyzed data from the HOME Study, a prospective pregnancy and birth cohort, to examine the association of gestational urinary organophosphate (OP) and pyrethroid (3PBA) metabolite concentrations with child wheeze, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) at ages 4 and 5 years, and wheeze trajectory patterns through age 8 years. Results: Among 367 singletons, the frequency of wheeze ranged from 10.6% to 24.1% at each measurement age. OP and 3PBA metabolite concentrations were not associated with wheeze at 8 years or from birth to 8 years, but there were three significant interactions: (1) maternal daily fruit and vegetable consumption (less than daily consumption and increasing 3PBA was associated with wheeze at age 8 years, OR = 1.40), (2) maternal PON1-108 allele (CT/TT genotypes and high DE was associated with wheeze at age 8 years, OR = 2.13, 2.74) and (3) PON1192 alleles (QR/RR genotypes with higher diethylphosphate (DE) and dialkyl phosphate (DAP) were associated with wheeze at age 8 years, OR = 3.84). Pesticide metabolites were not consistently related to FEV1 or wheeze trajectory. Conclusions: Gestational OP and 3PBA metabolites were associated with child respiratory outcomes in participants with maternal dietary and genetic susceptibility.

Respiratory and allergic outcomes among 5-year-old children exposed to pesticides

“…Similar to our findings, a birth cohort in Cincinnati found null associations of prenatal urinary pyrethroid metabolite concentrations with wheeze among children aged 8, but no current exposure levels were reported. 29 In contrast to our findings, a cohort in New York City reported higher prenatal permethrin and air concentrations were associated with cough, but not wheeze, in children aged 5 years. 30 An analysis among a subset of these children indicated prenatal indoor air PBO (a synergist for pyrethroid insecticides), but not current PBO or permethrin, which was associated with cough at age 5–6 years, but not with asthma or wheeze.…”

“…Similar to our findings, a birth cohort in Cincinnati found null associations of prenatal urinary pyrethroid metabolite concentrations with wheeze among children aged 8, but no current exposure levels were reported 29. In contrast to our findings, a cohort in New York City reported higher prenatal permethrin and air concentrations were associated with cough, but not wheeze, in children aged 5 years 30.…”

Effect of Gestational Pesticide Exposure on the Child’s Respiratory System: A Narrative Review

“…Finally, the study by Gilden et al (2020) found an association between gestational exposure to organophosphate pesticides (OPP) and pyrethroid metabolites (3PBA) metabolites with child respiratory symptoms in participants with genetic susceptibility and lower fruit and vegetable consumption (OR: 1.35; 95%CI: 1.013–1.815, p -value: 0.038). This study conducted a secondary data analysis within the Health Outcomes and Measures Of the Environment (HOME) Study, a prospective pregnancy and birth cohort that followed mothers and their children in the greater Cincinnati, Ohio, USA metropolitan area from the second trimester of pregnancy [ 30 ].…”

“…Furthermore, exposure to other components, such as mancozeb and ethylenethiourea, has also shown a positive relationship with children’s respiratory outcomes in the first year of life [ 37 ]. However, some authors [ 30 ] did not find strong associations between gestational pesticide exposure and specific birth defect phenotypes.…”

“…The studies reviewed in many of these articles provide evidence that chemicals placed in the environment by human activity can promote disease by altering gene expression [ 30 , 38 ]. Environmental exposure to pesticides and persistent organic pollutants can modulate the expression levels of different genes (NRXN and PAX6 genes) and induces epigenetic alterations in the modulation of DNA methylation status and in the expression levels of miRNAs [ 39 ].…”