Impact of low-level gestational exposure to organophosphate pesticides on neurobehavior in early infancy: a prospective study

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Environ Health
• Personal Author:
  Yolton, Kimberly ; Xu, Yingying ; Sucharew, Heidi ; Succop, Paul ; Altaye, Mekibib ; Popelar, Ann ; Montesano, M Angela ; Calafat, Antonia M ; Khoury, Jane C
• Description:
  Background
  
  National data suggest widespread gestational exposure to organophosphate pesticides (OPs) based on the detection of OP metabolites in the urine of pregnant women. Associations with early infant neurobehavior are largely understudied, with only two studies reporting abnormal reflexes in newborns in association with gestational exposure to OPs. Our objective was to utilize biological markers of OP metabolites in pregnant women and a comprehensive assessment of infant neurobehavior to determine the association of gestational exposure to OPs with neurobehavioral outcomes during early infancy.
  
  Methods
  
  Among a cohort of 350 mother/infant pairs, we measured six common dialkylphosphate metabolites of OP pesticides in maternal urine, at two times during pregnancy (16 w & 26 w gestation), then calculated aggregate concentrations of diethylphosphate, dimethylphosphate, and total dialkyphosphate metabolites. We measured infant neurobehavior at about five weeks of age using the NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale (NNNS), a comprehensive assessment of neurobehavior in young infants. Analyses of associations between gestational exposure to OPs and neurobehavior at five weeks included multiple linear and logistic regression.
  
  Results
  
  After adjustment for covariates, higher creatinine-corrected urinary concentrations of diethylphosphate metabolites were associated with improved attention and reduced lethargy and hypotonia in young infants. Higher creatinine-corrected urinary concentrations of total dialkylphosphate metabolites were associated with fewer signs of autonomic stress. Women who were white, married, had advanced education, and reported more frequent consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables had higher concentrations of OP metabolites during pregnancy.
  
  Conclusions
  
  In this sample of pregnant women whose urinary concentrations of dialkylphosphate metabolites are representative of national exposure levels, we found no detrimental effects of gestational exposure to OPs on neurobehavioral outcomes among young infants. These results are important as they suggest there may be minimal to no detectable adverse impact of low level prenatal OP exposure on the neurobehavior of young infants.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Adult Biological Markers Cohort Studies Environmental Monitoring Environmental Pollutants Female Humans Infant Infant, Newborn Infant Behavior Maternal Exposure Organophosphorus Compounds Pregnancy Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects Prospective Studies Socioeconomic Factors Young Adult

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• Source:
  Environ Health. 2013; 12:79.
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  P01 ES11261/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 ES015517/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio
• Volume:
  12
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:484b539abc91c31ef16215e8921896632a27ae35d0f7d7aa4fba7aef292762ec
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/21370/cdc_21370_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 186.18 KB ]