Multiple Neonicotinoids in Children's Cerebro-Spinal Fluid, Plasma, and Urine

Abstract

Background: Neonicotinoids (NN) are selectively neurotoxic pesticides that bind to insect but also mammals nicotinic acetycholine receptors (nAChRs). As the most widely used class of insecticides worldwide, they are ubiquitously found in the environment, wildlife, and foods and thus of special concern for their impacts on the environment and human health. nAChRs are vital to proper brain organization during the prenatal period and play important roles in various motor, emotional, and cognitive functions. Little is known on children’s contamination by NN. In a pilot study we tested the hypothesis that children's cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) can be contaminated by NN. Methods: NN were analysed in leftover CSF, blood, and urine samples from children treated for leukaemias and lymphomas and undergoing therapeutic lumbar punctions. We monitored all neonicotinoids approved on the global market and some of their most common metabolites by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Findings: From August to December 2020, 14 children were consecutively included. Median age was 8 years (range 3-18). All CSF and plasma samples were positive for at least one NN. Nine (64%) CSF samples and 13 (93%) plasma samples contained more than one NN. Thirteen (93%) CSF samples had desmethyl-acetamiprid (median 0·0123, range 0·0024-0·1068 ng/mL). All but one urine samples were positive for ≥ one NN. Interpretation: Multiple NN and/or their metabolites are present in children's CSF, plasma, and urine. Our data suggest that contamination by multiple NN is not only an environmental hazard for non-target insects such as bees but also potentially for children. Funding: Lausanne University Hospital, University of Neuchâtel, Stichting Triodos Foundation (The Netherlands), for the Institutional Review Board fees, NN analysis costs, and Open Source publication fees if relevant. Declaration of Interest: AA and EM are members of the IUCN Task Force on Systemic Pesticides. MISSING OTHER AUTHORS ON DOI Ethical Approval: The study was approved by our local Institutional Review Board (Commission cantonale d'ethique de la recherche sur l'etre humain, CER-VD).