Abstract
Organophosphate (OP) pesticides can transfer from mother to fetus via the placenta and amniotic fluid and may affect the development of infants. This study aims to evaluate the associations between maternal OP concentrations collected in the 1st–2nd trimester and the 3rd trimester of pregnancy and the infant developmental performance. The Screening Test of the Bayley Scales of Infants and Toddler Development, Third Edition (BSID–III screening test) was used to assess development performance at 2 and 6 months of age. Multiple regression analysis showed a negative correlation between cognitive performance at 2 months and maternal diethylthiophosphate (DETP) levels in the 1st–2nd trimester (β ± SE = −0.012 ± 0.004, p < 0.05). We also found that expressive communication and fine motor performance at 6 months were negatively associated with maternal diethyldithiophosphate (DEDTP) levels in the 3rd trimester (β ± SE = −0.047 ± 0.016, p < 0.05, and β ± SE = −0.044 ± 0.017, p < 0.05, respectively). These results suggest that maternal ethylated OP concentrations at different timing of exposure during pregnancy may influence different aspects of infant developmental performance.
Highlights
Organophosphate (OP) pesticides are a class of insecticide commonly used for agricultural purposes to control pests
Two participants were excluded from analysis due to threatened miscarriage before the second visit 88 infants underwent developmental performance testing
Almost all participants (80.7%) were agricultural workers and most reported working in the fields during pregnancy (70.5%). 70.5% worked during the 1st trimester, 60.23% worked during the 2nd trimester, and 30.68% worked during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy
Summary
Organophosphate (OP) pesticides are a class of insecticide commonly used for agricultural purposes to control pests. Chronic low-dose exposure to OP pesticides such as occupational exposure could induce long-term adverse health effects through a noncholinergic process. Some of these effects could include cytotoxicity, cytoarchitectural abnormalities, neuroinflammation, abnormal energy homeostasis and neurotransmission, and blood–brain barrier impairment [1]. Fetuses and young children are more susceptible to the neurotoxic effects of OP than adults as the human central nervous system, especially the brain, is undergoing rapid growth and development during the fetal period [3]. Several previous studies described the relationships between maternal urinary OP metabolites and adverse birth outcomes including shortened gestation age, low birth weight, and smaller head circumference [6,7,8,9]
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