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

Abstract

BackgroundLittle is known about the effects of pesticides on children’s respiratory and allergic outcomes. We evaluated associations of prenatal and current pesticide exposures with respiratory and allergic outcomes in children from the Infants’ Environmental Health Study in Costa Rica.MethodsAmong 5-year-old children (n=303), we measured prenatal and current specific gravity-corrected urinary metabolite concentrations of insecticides (chlorpyrifos, pyrethroids), fungicides (mancozeb, pyrimethanil, thiabendazole) and 2,4-D. We collected information from caregivers on respiratory (ever doctor-diagnosed asthma and lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI), wheeze and cough during last 12 months) and allergic (nasal allergies, itchy rash, ever eczema) outcomes. We fitted separate multivariable logistic regression models for high (≥75th percentile (P75)) vs low (<P75) metabolite concentrations with respiratory and allergic outcomes. We also ran models including metabolite concentrations as continuous exposure variables.ResultsChildren’s respiratory outcomes were common (39% cough, 20% wheeze, 12% asthma, 5% LRTI). High current pyrethroid metabolite concentrations (∑pyrethroids) were associated with wheeze (OR=2.37, 95% CI 1.28 to 4.34), itchy rash (OR=2.74, 95% CI 1.33 to 5.60), doctor-diagnosed asthma and LRTI. High current ethylene thiourea (ETU) (specific metabolite of mancozeb) was somewhat associated with LRTI (OR=2.09, 95% CI 0.68 to 6.02). We obtained similar results when modelling ∑pyrethroids and ETU as continuous variables. We saw inconsistent or null associations for other pesticide exposures and health outcomes.ConclusionsCurrent pyrethroid exposure may affect children’s respiratory and allergic health at 5 years of age. Current mancozeb exposure might contribute to LRTI. These findings are important as pyrethroids are broadly used in home environments and agriculture and mancozeb in agriculture.

Association between environmental mercury exposure and allergic disorders in Korean children: Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) cycles 3–4 (2015–2020)

“…Allergic rhinitis is known to be affected by various environmental factors such as season, region, and lifestyle 30 , 31 . Moreover, in previous studies investigating the association between harmful environmental factors and allergic rhinitis, a significant negative association was observed for substances such as bisphenol S, vanadium, and 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol 32 – 34 . Considering these findings, the lack of consistent associations observed in this study may be due to differences in variables of the study environment that were not examined.…”

Association between environmental mercury exposure and allergic disorders in Korean children: Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) cycles 3−4 (2015−2020)

“…30,31 Moreover, in previous studies investigating the association between harmful environmental factors and allergic rhinitis, a signi cant negative association was observed for substances such as bisphenol S, vanadium, and 3,5,6-trichloro-2pyridinol. [32][33][34] Considering these ndings, the lack of consistent associations observed in this study may be due to differences in variables of the study environment that were not examined.…”

Pesticides impacts on human health and the environment with their mechanisms of action and possible countermeasures

“…Several studies have found associations between pesticide exposure and the development of asthma, particularly in children. Pesticides used in agriculture, such as organophosphates and pyrethroids, have been linked to an increased risk of asthma in children living near agricultural areas [ 232 , 233 ]. Pesticides produce asthma symptoms that include edema, irritation, endocrine disruption, and immunological suppression [ 232 , [234] , [235] , [236] ].…”