Exposure to indoor pesticides during pregnancy in a multiethnic, urban cohort.

Abstract

Evidence is growing that indoor pesticide exposure is of considerable magnitude in the United States and that pesticide concentrations may be especially high in urban areas. Of particular concern is exposure of pregnant women because animal data suggest that exposure to pesticides during pregnancy and early life may impair neurodevelopment in the offspring. To investigate the relationship between prenatal exposure to indoor pesticides and infant growth and development, we are conducting a prospective, multiethnic cohort study of mothers and infants delivered at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. This article provides data on pesticide exposure based on questionnaire items and analysis of maternal urinary metabolite levels among 386 women. Both the questionnaire and laboratory data revealed that exposure to indoor pesticides was considerable. The proportion of women estimated from questionnaire data as having been exposed during pregnancy to indoor pesticides (approximately 70%) was somewhat lower than the 80-90% of American households who reportedly used pesticides in previous surveys, but some of the latter surveys included both indoor and outdoor pesticide use. Urinary metabolite levels of 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPy; median = 11.3 micro g/g creatinine), phenoxybenzoic acid (PBA; median =19.3 micro g/g creatinine), and pentachlorophenol (PCP; median =7.3 micro g/g creatinine) were higher than those reported in other studies of adults in the United States. Furthermore, no associations were evident between the pesticide questionnaire data and the urinary metabolites. Assessments of sociodemographic and building characteristics with questionnaire data and the metabolite levels revealed no consistent trends. Significant temporal variations were observed for urinary PBA but not TCPy or PCP. The temporal variations for PBA were consistent with seasonal spraying of pyrethroid pesticides. These data underscore the need to assess the potentially adverse effects of pesticide exposure on fetuses and infants and the importance of finding alternative methods for pest management to reduce pesticide exposures.

Cited by papers we hold 10

• Association of prenatal pesticide exposures with adverse pregnancy outcomes and stunting in rural Bangladesh · 2019
  Not checked
• Prenatal Exposure to Organophosphates, Paraoxonase 1, and Cognitive Development in Childhood · 2011
  No notice
• Seven-Year Neurodevelopmental Scores and Prenatal Exposure to Chlorpyrifos, a Common Agricultural Pesticide · 2011
  No notice
• Prenatal Phthalate Exposure Is Associated with Childhood Behavior and Executive Functioning · 2010
  No notice
• Potential developmental neurotoxicity of pesticides used in Europe · 2008
  No notice
• Organophosphate Pesticide Exposure and Neurodevelopment in Young Mexican-American Children · 2007
  No notice
• DDT and Breast Cancer in Young Women: New Data on the Significance of Age at Exposure · 2007
  No notice
• Human Exposure to Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and Prenatal Risk Factors for Cryptorchidism and Hypospadias: A Nested Case–Control Study · 2007
  No notice
• Organophosphate Urinary Metabolite Levels during Pregnancy and after Delivery in Women Living in an Agricultural Community · 2005
  No notice
• Developmental Neurotoxicity of Pyrethroid Insecticides: Critical Review and Future Research Needs · 2004
  No notice

Reads

A person counts once a day per paper. We keep no cookie and no address: a reader is a hash that changes every day. Any month under five reads shows no number.