Details:

Alternative Title:
Pediatrics
Personal Author:
Roberts, James R. ; Karr, Catherine J.
Roberts, James R. ; Karr, Catherine J. Less -
Corporate Authors:
COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Description:
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.
Subject:
[+]
Abnormalities, Drug-Induced
Attention Deficit Disorder With Hyperactivity
Child
Curriculum
Developmental Disabilities
Environmental Exposure
Environmental Monitoring
Female
Fetal Death
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Insecticides
Leukemia
Neoplasms
Occupational Exposure
Pediatrics
Pesticides
Poisoning
Pregnancy
Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
Risk Factors

Source:
Pediatrics. 130(6):e1765-e1788.
Pubmed ID:
23184105
Pubmed Central ID:
PMC5813803
Document Type:
Journal Article
Funding:
U61 TS000238/TS/ATSDR CDC HHS/United States
Place as Subject:
United States
Collection(s):
CDC Public Access
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:8c0d273454e1af5e7ae27a19500832c1633b4b2374be2b02c8bfed6e74f45b33
File Type:

Supporting Files

• nihms937558.nxml

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