Pesticide Exposure in Children

Abstract

Pesticides are a collective term for a wide array of chemicals intended to kill unwanted insects, plants, molds, and rodents. Food, water, and treatment in the home, yard, and school are all potential sources of children’s exposure. Exposures to pesticides may be overt or subacute, and effects range from acute to chronic toxicity. In 2008, pesticides were the ninth most common substance reported to poison control centers, and approximately 45% of all reports of pesticide poisoning were for children. Organophosphate and carbamate poisoning are perhaps the most widely known acute poisoning syndromes, can be diagnosed by depressed red blood cell cholinesterase levels, and have available antidotal therapy. However, numerous other pesticides that may cause acute toxicity, such as pyrethroid and neonicotinoid insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and rodenticides, also have specific toxic effects; recognition of these effects may help identify acute exposures. Evidence is increasingly emerging about chronic health implications from both acute and chronic exposure. A growing body of epidemiological evidence demonstrates associations between parental use of pesticides, particularly insecticides, with acute lymphocytic leukemia and brain tumors. Prenatal, household, and occupational exposures (maternal and paternal) appear to be the largest risks. Prospective cohort studies link early-life exposure to organophosphates and organochlorine pesticides (primarily DDT) with adverse effects on neurodevelopment and behavior. Among the findings associated with increased pesticide levels are poorer mental development by using the Bayley index and increased scores on measures assessing pervasive developmental disorder, inattention, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Related animal toxicology studies provide supportive biological plausibility for these findings. Additional data suggest that there may also be an association between parental pesticide use and adverse birth outcomes including physical birth defects, low birth weight, and fetal death, although the data are less robust than for cancer and neurodevelopmental effects. Children’s exposures to pesticides should be limited as much as possible.

Acute Poisoning with Neonicotinoid Insecticide

“…They are atached to the nicotinic receptors of the postsynaptic membranes from both nerve and muscle cells and thus disrupt the transmission of the nervous inlux into the central and peripheral nervous system. Additionally, this interaction with the nicotinic receptors determines their desensitization, leading to a loss of synaptic transmission of the nervous impulse [6,7]. In recent years, some studies have suggested that neonicotinoids have a negative impact on bees near crops exposed to neonicotinoids.…”

Chemical composition and larvicidal activity of essential oils from different Mentha L. and Pulegium species against Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae)

“…The use of synthetic pesticides leads to many ecological problems. The most important negative impacts include ecological imbalance, high toxicity, residues in soil and water that affect human and animal health (Casida 2012;Roberts & Karr 2012), and the resistance of Culex against insecticides (Gordon & Ottea 2012). It was found that Culex populations could develop resistance on account of the widespread use of insecticides (Jones et al 2012).…”

Factores de riesgo prenatales y su asociación a malformaciones congénitas en un Hospital Universitario de Referencia

“…Varios estudios a lo largo de la historia han intentado asociar la presencia de malformaciones congénitas con factores de riesgo, algunos mencionan como factores de riesgo evidenciados: edad materna (5,6) avanzada, bajo peso y talla para la edad gestacional . Otros mencionan al retraso del crecimiento fetal, antecedentes de malformaciones congénitas en la familia, factores físicos y enfermedades agudas de la (6) madre en el primer trimestre del embarazo .…”