Neurobehavioral Effects of Chronic Organophosphorus Pesticide Exposures in Children

Introduction: Concern regarding the widespread use of pesticides and potential impacts on children’s health is an ongoing theme in both popular and scientific circles. In the United States, a mixture of pesticide residues are detected in the blood and/or urine of nearly all persons sampled. Organophosphorus pesticides (OP) are among those of greatest concern, due to their wide spread use throughout the world and their established neurotoxic effects. Scientific field investigations have focused on delineating the extent of exposure and potential health effects in agricultural and non-agricultural communities. Children have been the focus of many of these field investigations. Although children can be exposed to pesticides through residential use of pesticides and diet, children of agricultural workers are considered to have a higher risk of exposure to pesticides compared to the general population because of the close proximity of their homes to the fields where pesticides are applied and from take-home exposure. By adolescence, children are often working in agriculture and exposure occurs occupationally.  

Methods: This presentation will review the major epidemiological studies that are providing scientific information of the population impact.   Results: While it is well established that OPs can be very toxic to young children if they are ingested or children are exposed to them in large quantities, research findings from the last decade has greatly increased our knowledge of the increased exposure among young children and their developmental vulnerability.  

Discussion: The current longitudinal studies being conducted in the United States will continue to provide new knowledge regarding the extent of the risk of exposure to low levels of OPs and other pesticide groups. This increasing body of evidence will provide a platform upon which to base public health policy to provide the protection that is needed for these vulnerable populations.   (Support by R21 ES017223:Rohlman, PI)