In utero pesticide exposure, maternal paraoxonase activity, and head circumference.

Abstract

Although the use of pesticides in inner-city homes of the United States is of considerable magnitude, little is known about the potentially adverse health effects of such exposure. Recent animal data suggest that exposure to pesticides during pregnancy and early life may impair growth and neurodevelopment in the offspring. To investigate the relationship among prenatal pesticide exposure, paraoxonase (PON1) polymorphisms and enzyme activity, and infant growth and neurodevelopment, we are conducting a prospective, multiethnic cohort study of mothers and infants delivered at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. In this report we evaluate the effects of pesticide exposure on birth weight, length, head circumference, and gestational age among 404 births between May 1998 and May 2002. Pesticide exposure was assessed by a prenatal questionnaire administered to the mothers during the early third trimester as well as by analysis of maternal urinary pentachlorophenol levels and maternal metabolites of chlorpyrifos and pyrethroids. Neither the questionnaire data nor the pesticide metabolite levels were associated with any of the fetal growth indices or gestational age. However, when the level of maternal PON1 activity was taken into account, maternal levels of chlorpyrifos above the limit of detection coupled with low maternal PON1 activity were associated with a significant but small reduction in head circumference. In addition, maternal PON1 levels alone, but not PON1 genetic polymorphisms, were associated with reduced head size. Because small head size has been found to be predictive of subsequent cognitive ability, these data suggest that chlorpyrifos may have a detrimental effect on fetal neurodevelopment among mothers who exhibit low PON1 activity.

Exposição a agrotóxicos e eventos adversos na gravidez no Sul do Brasil, 1996-2000

“…No entanto, estudos em outras coortes não têm corroborado relações entre prematuridade e exposição a agrotóxi-cos organoclorados 40,41,42 , organofosforados 19 e outras classes de agrotóxicos 43 .…”

Pesticide loadings of select organophosphate and pyrethroid pesticides in urban public housing

“…Adverse health effects associated with pesticide exposure from residential use include altered fetal growth from prenatal exposure (Berkowitz et al, 2004;Whyatt et al, 2004), childhood cancer (Buckley et al, 2000;Daniels et al, 2001;Flower et al, 2004) and asthma (Salam et al, 2004). The association with asthma may be particularly concerning, given the fact that pest management may have the objective of reducing allergen exposures and related asthma development and exacerbations.…”

Impact of Prenatal Chlorpyrifos Exposure on Neurodevelopment in the First 3 Years of Life Among Inner-City Children

“…3 As a result of heavy indoor use, largely for cockroach control, pesticide exposure is widespread among pregnant women living in New York City. [3][4][5][6][7][8] Specifically, 72% to 85% of women participating in 2 different cohort studies reported using some form of pest control during pregnancy, 3,[7][8][9] and 46% reported using ≥1 of the higher-toxicity methods, such as exterminator sprays, can sprays, and pest bombs. 3 A survey of pest control measures conducted in 2000 and 2001 by the office of the New York State Attorney General found that 93% of New York City public housing residents applied pesticides at home and more than one half did so approximately once per week.…”