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Published on: August 25, 2014
[Impact of prenatal pyrethroid exposure on neurodevelopment of one-year old infants]
Xiaojuan Qi1, Minglan Zheng, Chunhua Wu
1School of Public Health, Fudan University/Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Fudan University, Ministry of Education, Shanghai 200032, China. coin.hero@163.com
Insights
Prenatal exposure to pyrethroid pesticides may negatively impact infant neurodevelopment. This study found a significant association between higher maternal pyrethroid metabolite levels and lower infant neurodevelopmental scores at one year of age.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Neuroscience
- Toxicology
Context:
- Pyrethroid pesticides are widely used globally.
- Prenatal exposure is a growing public health concern.
- Understanding developmental impacts is crucial for risk assessment.
Purpose:
- To examine the relationship between prenatal pyrethroid pesticide exposure and neurodevelopment in infants.
- To quantify pyrethroid metabolite levels in pregnant women.
- To assess infant neurodevelopmental outcomes at one year of age.
Summary:
- Pyrethroid metabolites were detected in 95% of pregnant women's urine samples.
- Infants were categorized into high, medium, and low exposure groups based on maternal urinary metabolite levels.
- A significant association was found between higher prenatal pyrethroid exposure and reduced infant neurodevelopmental index (DQ) (P < 0.05).
Impact:
- Findings suggest prenatal pyrethroid exposure is linked to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants.
- Highlights the need for strategies to minimize environmental pesticide exposure during pregnancy.
- Informs public health policies regarding pesticide use and child development.
Objective:
To investigate the impact of prenatal exposure to pyrethroid pesticides on neurodevelopment and behavior in a group of one-year old infants.
Methods:
Three metabolites of pyrethroids (cis-Cl2CA, trans-Cl2CA and 3-PBA) in urine samples of 301 pregnant women enrolled from somewhere of Jiangsu Province were detected, The anthropometrics and the neurodevelopment of their 1-year old infants were assessed using DST scales. The mothers were consent informed before the study.
Results:
Three metabolites of pyrethroid were detected in 95% of urine samples. The infants were divided into high, medium or low exposure group by the level of pyrethroid in their mothers' urine detected during pregnancy. The difference of neurodevelopment index (DQ) among three groups of one-year old children was significant (P < 0.05), and the association of pyrethroid exposure with neurodevelopment was verified by multiple liner regression analysis (beta = - 0.1453, P < 0.05).
Conclusion:
Prenatal exposure to elevated levels of pyrethroid pesticides was associated with reduced neurodevelopment of infants in this population.
