Maryland Pesticide Network

Prenatal Organochlorine Exposure and Measures of Behavior in Infancy Using the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS)

Sharon K. Sagiv,¹ J. Kevin Nugent,^2,3 T. Berry Brazelton,² Anna L. Choi,¹ Paige E. Tolbert,⁴ Larisa M. Altshul,¹ and Susan A. Korrick ^1,5

BACKGROUND: Previous literature suggests an association between organochlorines and behavioral measures in childhood, including inattention. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to assess whether prenatal organochlorine exposure is associated with measures of attention in early infancy.

METHODS: We investigated an association between cord serum polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and p,p ́-dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethene (DDE) levels and measures of attention from the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS) in a cohort of 788 infants born 1993–1998 to mothers residing near a PCB-contaminated harbor and Superfund site in New Bedford, Massachusetts.

RESULTS: Medians (ranges) for the sum of four prevalent PCB congeners and DDE levels were 0.19 (0.01–4.41) and 0.30 (0–10.29) ng/g serum, respectively. For the 542 subjects with an NBAS exam at 2 weeks, we observed consistent inverse associations between cord serum PCB and DDE levels and NBAS measures of alertness, quality of alert responsiveness, cost of attention, and other potential attention-associated measures including self-quieting and motor maturity. For example, the decrement in quality of alert responsiveness score was –0.51 (95% confidence interval, –0.99 to –0.03) for the highest quartile of exposure to the sum of four prevalent PCB congeners compared with the lowest quartile. We found little evidence for an association with infant orientation, habituation, and regulation of state, assessed as summary cluster measures.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide evidence for an association between low-level prenatal PCB and DDE exposures and poor attention in early infancy. Further analyses will focus on whether organochlorine-associated decrements in attention and attention-related skills in infancy persist in later childhood.

KEY WORDS: behavior, infant, organochlorines, p,p ́-dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethene (DDE), poly- chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Environ Health Perspect 116:666–673 (2008). doi:10.1289/ehp.10553 available via http://dx.doi.org/ [Online 24 January 2008]

The Herbicide Atrazine Activates Endocrine Gene Networks via Non-Steroidal NR5>A Nuclear Receptors in Fish and Mammalian Cells

A Nuclear Receptors in Fish and Mammalian Cells

Miyuki Suzawa^1,2, Holly A. Ingraham^1,2*

1 Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America2 Department of Physiology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America

Abstract

Atrazine
(ATR) remains a widely used broadleaf herbicide in the United States despite the fact that this s-chlorotriazine has been linked to reproductive abnormalities in fish and amphibians. Here, using zebrafish we report that environmentally relevant ATR concentrations elevated zcyp19a1 expression encoding aromatase (2.2 µg/L), and increased the ratio of female to male fish (22 µg/L). ATR selectively increased zcyp19a1, a known gene target of the nuclear receptor SF-1 (NR5A1), whereas zcyp19a2, which is estrogen responsive, remained unchanged. Remarkably, in mammalian cells ATR functions in a cell-specific manner to upregulate SF-1 targets and other genes critical for steroid synthesis and reproduction, including Cyp19A1, StAR, Cyp11A1, hCG, FSTL3, LHß, INHα, αGSU, and 11ß-HSD2. Our data appear to eliminate the possibility that ATR directly affects SF-1 DNA- or ligand-binding. Instead, we suggest that the stimulatory effects of ATR on the NR5A receptor subfamily (SF-1, LRH-1, and zff1d) are likely mediated by receptor phosphorylation, amplification of cAMP and PI3K signaling, and possibly an increase in the cAMP-responsive cellular kinase SGK-1, which is known to be upregulated in infertile women. Taken together, we propose that this pervasive and persistent environmental chemical alters hormone networks via convergence of NR5A activity and cAMP signaling, to potentially disrupt normal endocrine development and function in lower and higher vertebrates.

Full study: http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0002117

INTERNATIONAL MEETING FOR AUTISM RESEARCH

May 15, 2008;   ORAL 2899

Household Pesticide Use in Relation to Autism

. Hertz-Picciotto
Public Health Sciences and the M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California at Davis, Dept PHS, Davis, CA 95616

I. N. Pessah
3 Department of Veterinary Molecular Biosciences, University of California at Davis, M.I.N.D. Institute, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616

R. Hansen
Pediatrics and the M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California at Davis, 2825, 50th Street, Sacramento, CA 95817

P. Krakowiak
M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California at Davis, 2825 50th Street, Sacramento, CA 95817

Abstract
Background: Pesticides affect a number of targets in the CNS, and cross the placenta. One previous report suggests a link between maternal residential proximity to commercial organochlorine pesticide exposure during early prenatal life and the risk of autism. That study did not evaluate individual exposures to household pesticides.

Objectives: To examine household pesticide use during the prenatal period or early postnatal period in relation to autism.

Methods: Participants were from the CHARGE (Childhood Autism Risks from Genetics and the Environment study, a large population-based case-control study in California. Autism spectrum disorders were confirmed using the ADI and ADOS. Mothers were extensively interviewed regarding demographics, lifestyle, and prenatal and early postnatal exposures of the child. Questions addressed use of numerous household products, including insecticides for flies and ants, pet shampoos, and weed control products. Interview data were available for 333 ASD cases and 198 confirmed typically developing controls. Logistic regression models were adjusted for family socioeconomic status. An index exposure period was defined as three months prior to conception through the child's first year of life.

Results: Mothers of ASD children were twice as likely to report using pet shampoos for fleas or ticks during the index period as compared with control mothers: adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) = 2.0, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = [1.2, 3.6]. When examined by trimester, the strongest association was during the second trimester: aOR = 2.6, 95% CI = [1.3, 6.0].

Conclusions: The higher prevalence of self-reported use of pet shampoos by CHARGE study mothers of children with ASD could be due to reporting bias, although many other products did not show differences. Pyrethrins have largely replaced organophosphates for flea control, but early life exposure to pyrethrins has been shown to compromise the blood-brain barrier in rodents, raising concern about prenatal and early postnatal exposures.

" … reduction of the cognitive potential of a child is a very tragic thing, and an event which has major costs to society as well as to the individual."

Carpenter, D., 2006.

Environmental contaminants and learning and memory.

International Congress Series 1287: 185– 189

Abstract.
A number of environmental contaminants are known to cause a reduction in IQ in children exposed prenatally or early in life. These effects are well documented for exposure to lead, methylmercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and cigarette smoke, all of which can reduce IQ by up to 5–7 IQ points. Similar effects may result from exposure to dioxins and some pesticides. In most or all of these situations there are also behavioral changes as a result of exposure, including shortened attention span and hyperactivity. Recent studies have shown that adverse effects of contaminants such as lead and cigarette smoke on IQ occur at lower levels of exposure than previously thought, and that the dose–response relationship is actually steeper at lower concentrations than what is seen at higher levels. While adults are not as sensitive as children, there is evidence for a rather selective loss of memory function in adults exposed to the same substances. Our group has attempted to determine the mechanisms whereby these effects occur using long-term potentiation (LTP), an electrophysiological measure known to be related to learning and memory, studied in rodent brain slices. We find that lead and PCBs both reduce LTP whether given during gestation and lactation or acutely applied to brain slices of unexposed animals. Surprisingly, these very different contaminants appear to have a similar mechanism of action, that being alteration of the activity of protein kinase C.

[from body of text]

… Our studies lead to the somewhat surprising hypothesis that these diverse contaminants may be all acting through a common mechanism, and suggest that a target molecule may be protein kinase C. Certainly, more evidence is needed before this can be considered to be proven. However, reduction of the cognitive potential of a child is a very tragic thing, and an event which has major costs to society as well as to the individual. It is critical to both prevent exposure in the first place but also to understand how these decrements of brain function occur if one hopes to find ways to reduce and prevent the harm.

Roman, G., 2007.

Autism: Transient in utero hypothyroxinemia related to maternal flavonoid ingestion during pregnancy and to other environmental antithyroid agents.

Journal of the Neurological Sciences 262 :15–26

Abstract
The incidence and prevalence of autism have increased during the past two decades. Despite comprehensive genetic studies the cause of autism remains unknown. This review emphasizes the potential importance of environmental factors in its causation. Alterations of cortical neuronal migration and cerebellar Purkinje cells have been observed in autism. Neuronal migration, via reelin regulation, requires triiodothyronine (T3) produced by deiodination of thyroxine (T4) by fetal brain deiodinases. Experimental animal models have shown that transient intrauterine deficits of thyroid hormones (as brief as 3 days) result in permanent alterations of cerebral cortical architecture reminiscent of those observed in brains of patients with autism. I postulate that early maternal hypothyroxinemia resulting in low T3 in the fetal brain during the period of neuronal cell migration (weeks 8–12 of pregnancy) may produce morphological brain changes leading to autism. Insufficient dietary iodine intake and a number of environmental antithyroid and goitrogenic agents can affect maternal thyroid function during pregnancy. The most common causes could include inhibition of deiodinases D2 or D3 from maternal ingestion of dietary flavonoids or from antithyroid environmental contaminants. Some plant isoflavonoids have profound effects on thyroid hormones and on the hypothalamus–pituitary axis. Genistein and daidzein from soy (Glycine max) inhibit thyroperoxidase that catalyzes iodination and thyroid hormone biosynthesis. Other plants with hypothyroid effects include pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and fonio millet (Digitaria exilis); thiocyanate is found in Brassicae plants including cabbage, cauliflower, kale, rutabaga, and kohlrabi, as well as in tropical plants such as cassava, lima beans, linseed, bamboo shoots, and sweet potatoes. Tobacco smoke is also a source of thiocyanate. Environmental contaminants interfere with thyroid function including 60% of all herbicides, in particular 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), acetochlor, aminotriazole, amitrole, bromoxynil, pendamethalin, mancozeb, and thioureas. Other antithyroid agents include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), perchlorates, mercury, and coal derivatives such as resorcinol, phthalates, and anthracenes. A leading ecological study in Texas has correlated higher rates of autism in school districts affected by large environmental releases of mercury from industrial sources. Mercury is a well known antithyroid substance causing inhibition of deiodinases and thyroid peroxidase. The current surge of autism could be related to transient maternal hypothyroxinemia resulting from dietary and/or environmental exposure to antithyroid agents. Additional multidisciplinary epidemiological studies will be required to confirm this environmental hypothesis of autism.

Environmental chemicals with antithyroid effects Howdeshell [103] and Colborn [104,105] have recently reviewed the potential effects of environmental chemical agents on endocrine function—causing in particularly thyroid disruption and abnormal brain development. Low doses of toxins could become deleterious in cases of low maternal iodine [104] . Table 2 [103] provides a comprehensive list of chemical agents with effects at several levels of thyroid metabolism. More than 60% of herbicides are endocrine disruptors [104] in particular the widely used 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), mancozeb, acetochlor, aminotriazole, amitrole, bromoxynil, pendamethalin, and the thioureas. Contamination of drinking water from areas rich in coal and shale by naturally occurring powerful antithyroid products such as resorcinol (1,3-dihydroxybenzene dihydroxybenzene) and the substituted resorcinol 2,4- dihydroxyacetophenone, methoxy-anthracene, phthalate esters and phthalic acid, can produce endemic goiter and hypothyroidism [106]. The developmental neurotoxicity of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxins has been known since the 1990s [107,108] . Neurobehavioral alterations have been observed in newborn children exposed to PCBs including motor immaturity, hyporreflexia, and lower psychomotor scores between 6 months and 2 years of age; along with decrease in dopamine in basal ganglia and prefrontal cortex [107] . Similar dopamine alterations have been reported in children with autism [109] . These abnormalities could be mediated by disruptionof thyroid hormones by competitive binding of PCBs (structurally similar to thyroid hormones) to serum transport proteins [110] and by alterations in thyroid hormone-responsive genes in the developing brain [103–105,110–112] . Recently, Kimura-Kuroda et al. [113] demonstrated that several hydroxy- PCBs are capable of inhibiting the thyroid-hormone-dependent development of dendrites in cerebellar Purkinje cells and suggested that PCBs could be a cause of autism and other developmental disorders.

Although many authors have suggested that environmental pollutants–such as those affecting thyroid hormones– may play a role in autism [85,103–105,112,113,125] only recently Palmer and colleagues [126] , from the University of Texas at San Antonio, reported an ecological association between autism and environmental mercury pollution. This study was based on quantitative data on mercury released in the Texas environment, provided by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The authors correlated environmentally released mercury (per 1000 lb) with rates of autism in Texas using county (N=254) and school district (N=1184) information by means of a multilevel Poisson regression model adjusted for racial composition, socioeconomic level and urbanicity. They concluded that the risk for autism increased 6.15% per each 100 lb of environmentally released mercury (RR=1.614, 95% CI 1.487–1.752); the highest increase in relative rates of autism in school districts was for urban relative to rural (RR=4.726, 95% CI 3.8–5.9) and for suburban vs. rural districts (RR=2.547, 95% CI 2.1–3.2). Autism accounted for the increase in special education rate whereby each 100 lb of mercury released increased 4.3% the rate of special education students (RR=1.433, 95% CI 1.35–1.52) [126]. This study from our institution is one of the first to demonstrate an association between environmental pollution and autism.

Reproductive Toxicology 25 (2008) 184-191

Circulating estradiol in men is inversely related to urinary metabolites of nonpersistent insecticides

John D. Meeker a , * , Sarena R. Ravi a , Dana B. Barr b , Russ Hauser c , d a Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan, School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
b Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
c Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
d The Fertility Center, Vincent Memorial Obstetrics and Gynecology Service, Massachusetts General Hospital,

Boston, MA, United States
Received 14 August 2007; received in revised form 4 December 2007; accepted 19 December 2007
Available online 28 December 2007

Abstract
Background: Estradiol plays an important role in male reproductive health as a germ cell survival factor. Chlorpyrifos and carbaryl, nonpersistent insecticides to which the general population are commonly exposed, were recently shown to inhibit estradiol metabolism in

vitro which could lead to altered hormone balance. Methods: Subjects (N= 322) were the male partners in couples presenting to a Massachusetts infertility clinic from years 2000-2003. 3,5,6-Trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPY),

the major urinary metabolite of chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-methyl, and 1- and 2-naphthol (1N and 2N), urinary metabolites of carbaryl and naphthalene, were measured in a spot urine sample from each subject. Estradiol, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), and prolactin were measured in serum collected from subjects during the same clinic visit. Results: Using multiple linear regression, an interquartile range (IQR) increase in TCPYwas

associated with a 1.36 pg/mL decline (95% confidence interval =-2.91 to -0.22) in estradiol concentration. When estradiol and TCPY were divided into quintiles, there was a dose- dependent increase in the odds of being in the lowest estradiol quintile with increasing TCPY quintiles. Conclusion: On a population level, these reductions in estradiol levels are of potential

public health importance because of widespread exposure to TCPY and its parent insecticides.

Complete inhibition of spontaneous activity in neuronal networks in vitro by deltamethrin and permethrin

Shafer TJ, Rijal SO, Gross GW.

Neurotoxicology Division, MD-B105-05, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, United States.

Neurotoxicology. 2008 Jan 19

Types I and II pyrethroid insecticides cause temporally distinct decreases in voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) inactivation rates that are proposed to underlie their characteristic differences in toxicity signs. How alterations in VGSC channel function give rise to the characteristic differences in signs of pyrethroid intoxication is not completely understood, particularly those changes that occur in functional networks of interconnected neurons. To characterize better pyrethroid actions at the network level, effects of the Type I pyrethroid permethrin (PM) and the Type II pyrethroid deltamethrin (DM) on spontaneous glutamate network-dependent spikes and bursts were investigated in primary cultures of frontal cortex or spinal cord neurons grown on microelectrode arrays (MEAs). Fast GABAergic transmission was blocked by BIC, and concentration-dependent effects of DM (1nM to 5muM) and PM (10nM to 50muM) were examined. Both compounds caused concentration-dependent reductions in the network spike and burst rates. DM was more potent than PM, with IC(50) values of approximately 0.13 and approximately 4muM for inhibition of spike rate in cortical and spinal cord neurons, respectively. Both compounds decreased the percentage of spikes that occurred within a burst and increased the interspike interval within bursts. Onset of effects was rapid, but recovery from total activity loss was not readily achievable. Individual neurons responded heterogeneously; activity of most declined monophasically, but activity in others exhibited biphasic responses with increases followed by decreases in activity. In spinal cord, DM caused a greater number of biphasic responses (29%) than PM (10%). These results demonstrate that both DM and PM inhibit activity of glutamatergic networks, but with different potencies.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18304643?dopt=AbstractPlus

PMID: 18304643 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Pesticides and child neurodevelopment.

Rosas LG, Eskenazi B.

University of California at Berkeley, School of Public Health, Center for Children s Environmental Health Research, Berkeley, California, USA.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review summarizes the recent research on pesticide exposure and child neurobehavioral development with a focus on in-utero exposure to organochlorine and organophosphate pesticides. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies on in-utero exposure to the organochlorine pesticide dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its breakdown product, dichlorodiphenyldichloroethene, indicate that exposure is associated with poorer infant (6 months and older) and child neurodevelopment. Yet, the studies differ on the domain of development that is affected. Research on organophosphate pesticide exposure and neurodevelopment is limited but suggests some negative association of exposure and neurodevelopment at certain ages. Two reports agree that increased levels of organophosphate exposure in utero result in greater numbers of abnormal reflexes in neonates and studies in older infants and young children also point to a negative association with development. In young children (2-3 years) two separate studies observed an increase in maternally reported pervasive developmental disorder with increased levels of organophosphate exposure. SUMMARY: Given that the literature suggests a link between organochlorine and in-utero pesticide exposure and impaired child neurodevelopment, clinicians should educate parents about prevention of exposure, especially in populations living in agricultural areas or where household use is common.

PMID: 18332717 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18332717&itool=iconabstr&itool=pubmed

Carpenter, D., 2006.

Environmental contaminants and learning and memory.

International Congress Series 1287: 185– 189

Abstract.

A number of environmental contaminants are known to cause a reduction in IQ in children exposed prenatally or early in life. These effects are well documented for exposure to lead, methylmercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and cigarette smoke, all of which can reduce IQ by up to 5–7 IQ points. Similar effects may result from exposure to dioxins and some pesticides. In most or all of these situations there are also behavioral changes as a result of exposure, including shortened attention span and hyperactivity. Recent studies have shown that adverse effects of contaminants such as lead and cigarette smoke on IQ occur at lower levels of exposure than previously thought, and that the dose–response relationship is actually steeper at lower concentrations than what is seen at higher levels. While adults are not as sensitive as children, there is evidence for a rather selective loss of memory function in adults exposed to the same substances. Our group has attempted to determine the mechanisms whereby these effects occur using long-term potentiation (LTP), an electrophysiological measure known to be related to learning and memory, studied in rodent brain slices. We find that lead and PCBs both reduce LTP whether given during gestation and lactation or acutely applied to brain slices of unexposed animals. Surprisingly, these very different contaminants appear to have a similar mechanism of action, that being alteration of the activity of protein kinase C.

[from body of text]

"Our studies lead to the somewhat surprising hypothesis that these diverse contaminants may be all acting through a common mechanism, and suggest that a target molecule may be protein kinase C. Certainly, more evidence is needed before this can be considered to be proven. However, reduction of the cognitive potential of a child is a very tragic thing, and an event which has major costs to society as well as to the individual. It is critical to both prevent exposure in the first place but also to understand how these decrements of brain function occur if one hopes to find ways to reduce and prevent the harm."

Intersex in Smallmouth Bass Coincident with Population and Agriculture in Potomac Watershed

Released: 2/7/2008 12:50:58 PM

Contact Information:
U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey
Office of Communication
119 National Center
Reston, VA 20192

For several years, scientists have been working to determine why so many male smallmouth bass in the Potomac River basin have immature female egg cells in their testes - a form of intersex. They are closer to finding an answer.

Research by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) shows that a high incidence of intersex occurs in the Potomac watershed at sites where farming is most intense and where human population density is highest. The study also shows the greatest prevalence of this form of intersex, known as testicular oocytes (TO), occurs in the spring, just before and during the spawning season.

These results are published in the current edition of the Journal of Aquatic Animal Health.

"We collected smallmouth bass from the Shenandoah, the South Branch of the Potomac, and out of the basin for comparison," said USGS scientist Vicki Blazer, who led the study. "The fish from the sites with the highest human population density and the most farming had the highest incidences of intersex," said Blazer. "On the Shenandoah, rates of intersex were highest, ranging from 80-100 percent intersex."

Out of the Potomac basin, the most densely populated heavily farmed site had bass with a TO rate of 75 percent, where less habited sites had 14-35 percent of male bass with TO. Sites along the South Branch of the Potomac ranged from 47-77 percent; again the higher percents corresponding with increased farming and human population.

Seasonal comparisons are also striking. In the study, the USGS sampled six sites. At every site sampled, the incidence of male bass with TO was significantly higher during the spring pre-spawn to spawning period, ranging from 69-100 percent, compared to the summer post-spawn period, when it ranged from 25-67 percent.

The reproductive anomalies in the Potomac's smallmouth bass population are not readily apparent on gross examination of an affected fish -- they were discovered by accident. In 2003, scientists investigating massive fish kills and widespread lesions found many individuals with TO while looking at tissues from the testes of male fish under the microscope.

A prevalence of intersex is not unique to the Potomac basin, nor is it unique to smallmouth bass. It has been documented in other wild fish populations including spot-tail shiners in the St. Lawrence River, white suckers in Colorado, shovelnose sturgeon in the Mississippi, white perch from the Great Lakes, roach fish in the U.K and Denmark, sharp-tooth catfish in South Africa, three-spine stickleback in Germany, and barbel in Italy. It has also been noted in marine and estuarine fishes in Japan, the UK and the Mediterranean.

At many of these places, it has been associated with known or suspected endocrine disrupting compounds in wastewater effluent, which are not removed during standard sewage treatment, and in runoff from farming operations. These compounds can include estrogen from birth control pills and hormone replacements, pesticides and fertilizers used on crops, and hormones from livestock operations.

Scientists are continuing to assess the extent of TO in bass in the Potomac River system. They are examining samples collected at reference sites within and outside of the drainage basin to determine a background prevalence of TO for both smallmouth and largemouth bass, and to identify potential causes. They are also assessing the reproductive and general health of fish at sites with high and low prevalence of TO, and evaluating land use in risk assessment.

Reporters: The article "Intersex (Testicular Oocytes) in Smallmouth Bass from the Potomac River and Selected Nearby Drainages," is available by email dnoseral@usgs.gov

Studies of fish health are part of the USGS Chesapeake Bay studies, which provide integrated science for improved understanding and management of the Bay ecosystem. More information about USGS Chesapeake Bay studies, and a soon to be released report "USGS Circular 1316, "Synthesis of USGS Science for the Chesapeake Bay Ecosystem and Implications for Environmental Management," can be found at http://chesapeake.usgs.gov/.

ASAP Environ. Sci. Technol., ASAP Article, 10.1021/es702304c
Web Release Date: February 20, 2008

Copyright © 2008 American Chemical Society

Bioaccumulation of Pharmaceuticals and Other Anthropogenic Waste Indicators in Earthworms from Agricultural Soil Amended With Biosolid or Swine Manure

Chad A. Kinney,^*† Edward T. Furlong,^‡ Dana W. Kolpin,^§ Mark R. Burkhardt,^‡ Steven D. Zaugg,^‡ Stephen L. Werner,^‡ Joseph P. Bossio,^△ and Mark J. Benotti^⊥

Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University at Pueblo, 2200 Bonforte Blvd, Pueblo, Colorado 81001, National Water Quality Laboratory, U.S. Geological Survey, P.O. Box 25046, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225-0046, U.S Geological Survey, 400 S. Clinton St. Suite 269, Iowa City, Iowa 52240-4105, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Eastern Washington University, Cheney, Washington 99004, and U.S. Geological Survey, 2045 Route 112, Building 4, Coram, New York 11727

Received for review September 14, 2007

Revised manuscript received December 21, 2007

Accepted January 7, 2008

Abstract:

Analysis of earthworms offers potential for assessing the transfer of organic anthropogenic waste indicators (AWIs) derived from land-applied biosolid or manure to biota. Earthworms and soil samples were collected from three Midwest agricultural fields to measure the presence and potential for transfer of 77 AWIs from land-applied biosolids and livestock manure to earthworms. The sites consisted of a soybean field with no amendments of human or livestock waste (Site 1), a soybean field amended with biosolids from a municipal wastewater treatment plant (Site 2), and a cornfield amended with swine manure (Site 3). The biosolid applied to Site 2 contained a diverse composition of 28 AWIs, reflecting the presence of human-use compounds. The swine manure contained 12 AWIs, and was dominated by biogenic sterols. Soil and earthworm samples were collected in the spring (about 30 days after soil amendment) and fall (140−155 days after soil amendment) at all field sites. Soils from Site 1 contained 21 AWIs and soil from Sites 2 and 3 contained 19 AWIs. The AWI profiles at Sites 2 and 3 generally reflected the relative composition of AWIs present in waste material applied. There were 20 AWIs detected in earthworms from Site 1 (three compounds exceeding concentrations of 1000 µg/kg), 25 AWIs in earthworms from Site 2 (seven compounds exceeding concentrations of 1000 µg/kg), and 21 AWIs in earthworms from Site 3 (five compounds exceeding concentrations of 1000 µg/kg). A number of compounds that were present in the earthworm tissue were at concentrations less than reporting levels in the corresponding soil samples. The AWIs detected in earthworm tissue from the three field sites included pharmaceuticals, synthetic fragrances, detergent metabolites, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), biogenic sterols, disinfectants, and pesticides, reflecting a wide range of physicochemical properties. For those contaminants detected in earthworm tissue and soil, bioaccumulation factors (BAF) ranged from 0.05 (galaxolide) to 27 (triclosan). This study documents that when AWIs are present in source materials that are land applied, such as biosolids and swine manure, AWIs can be transferred to earthworms.

Organochlorines and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma

John J. Spinelli ^{1 *}, Carmen H. Ng ¹, Jean-Philippe Weber ², Joseph M. Connors ¹, Randy D. Gascoyne ¹, Agnes S. Lai ¹, Angela R. Brooks-Wilson ¹, Nhu D. Le ¹, Brian R. Berry ¹, Richard P. Gallagher ^{1 1}BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
²Centre de Toxicologie du Québec, Sainte-Foy, Québec
email: John J. Spinelli (jspinelli@bccrc.ca)

^*Correspondence to John J. Spinelli, BC Cancer Agency, 675 W. 10th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Z 1L3 Canada

Fax: +604-675-8180.

Funded by:
 Canadian Cancer Society through the National Cancer Institute of Canada
 Canadian Institutes of Health Research
 Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research

Abstract

Organochlorine chemicals and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been suspected as possible risk factors for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). We investigated PCBs and organochlorine pesticides and risk of NHL in a population-based case-control study in British Columbia, Canada. Congeners of PCBs (including dioxinlike congeners) and pesticides or pesticide metabolites were measured in plasma of 422 pretreatment cases and 460 control subjects. This is so far the largest study to examine organochlorines in plasma to date. Several dioxin-like PCB congeners were associated with increased risk of NHL, including dioxin-like PCB nos. 118 and 156 with odds ratios (OR) for the highest versus lowest quartile between 1.6 and 1.8. Several non-dioxin-like congeners also showed significant associations. The PCB congener with the strongest association was no. 180 with an OR for the highest versus the lowest quartile of 1.83 (95% confidence interval = 1.18-2.84). Six pesticide analytes also showed a significant association with NHL; -hexachlorocyclohexane, p,p-DDE, hexachlorobenzene, mirex, oxychlordane and trans-nonachlor. The strongest association was found for oxychlordane, a metabolite of the pesticide chlordane (highest vs. lowest quartile OR = 2.68, 95% confidence interval = 1.69-4.24). Our results provide further evidence that organochlorines contribute to NHL risk. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Vol 177. pp. 11-18, (2008)
© 2008 American Thoracic Society
doi: 10.1164/rccm.200706-821OC

Pesticides and Atopic and Nonatopic Asthma among Farm Women in the Agricultural Health Study

Jane A. Hoppin¹, David M. Umbach², Stephanie J. London¹, Paul K. Henneberger³, Greg J. Kullman³, Michael C. R. Alavanja⁴ and Dale P. Sandler¹

¹ Epidemiology Branch and ² Biostatistics Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina; ³ Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services, Morgantown, West Virginia; and ⁴ Occupational Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville, Maryland

Correspondence and requests for reprints should be addressed to Jane A. Hoppin, Sc.D., NIEHS Epidemiology Branch, MD A3-05, P.O. Box 12233, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2233. E-mail: hoppin1@niehs.nih.gov

Rationale: Risk factors for asthma among farm women are understudied.

Objectives: We evaluated pesticide and other occupational exposuresas risk factors for adult-onset asthma.

Methods: Studying 25,814 farm women in the Agricultural Health Study, we used self-reported history of doctor-diagnosed asthma with or without eczema and/or hay fever to create two case groups: patients with atopic asthma and those with nonatopic asthma.We assessed disease-exposure associations with polytomous logistic regression.

Measurements and Main Results: At enrollment (1993–1997), 702 women (2.7%) reported a doctor's diagnosis of asthma after age 19 years (282 atopic, 420 nonatopic). Growing up on a farm (61% of all farm women) was protective for atopic asthma (odds ratio [OR], 0.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.43–0.70)and, to a lesser extent, for nonatopic asthma (OR, 0.83; 95%CI,0.68–1.02; P value for difference = 0.008). Pesticideuse was almost exclusively associated with atopic asthma. Anyuse of pesticides on the farm was associated only with atopicasthma (OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.14–1.87). This associationwith pesticides was strongest among women who had grown up ona farm. Women who grew up on farms and did not apply pesticideshad the lowest overall risk of atopic asthma (OR, 0.41; 95%CI, 0.27–0.62) compared with women who neither grew upon farms nor applied pesticides. A total of 7 of 16 insecticides,2 of 11 herbicides, and 1 of 4 fungicides were significantlyassociated with atopic asthma; only permethrin use on cropswas associated with nonatopic asthma.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that pesticides may contributeto atopic asthma, but not nonatopic asthma, among farm women.

Children's environmental health and the precautionary principle

Jarosinska, D., Gee, D., 2007. Children's environmental health and the precautionary principle.  International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health . Article in Press. doi:10.1016/j.ijheh.2007.07.017

Abstract

The concept of precaution has a long history in medicine and public health. The modern precautionary principle (PP), originating from environmental debates in Germany in the 1970s, has been included in many international agreements, such as the Treaty on European Union. PP is a public policy tool that justifies actions, which protect human health and the environment in face of uncertain risks. The outcome of the application of PP depends on the level, nature, and distribution of acceptable risks and on the availability of alternatives, and can range from taking no action to banning of substances or the activities of concern.

Given the complex nature and uncertainty of environmental risks to children's health, a precautionary approach is warranted. Public health professionals and clinical practitioners could adopt such an approach within the wider context of considering the environment as a source of risks to children's health. Relevant knowledge and skills are needed to enable health care professionals to address these issues. New methodological and scientific approaches are necessary to make use of scattered, but potentially relevant clinical evidence in providing ‘early warnings’ of health hazards.

Multiple exposure to pesticides and impacts on health: a cross- section study of 102 rural workers, Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

Araújo AJ, Lima JS, Moreira JC, Jacob SD, Soares MD, Monteiro MC, Amaral AM, Kubota A, Meyer A, Cosenza CA, Neves CD, Markowitz S. NETT, IDT, HUCFF, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-913.

Cien Saude Colet. 2007 Mar;12(1):115-130.

A cross section study was carried out in a farming community from Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, to examine epidemiological, clinical and laboratory aspects of multiple exposure episodes of acute intoxication by organophosphorates either described behavioral syndromes and psychiatric disorders associated to the continued use of pesticides were diagnosed. These results indicate recurrent multiple overexposures to high concentrations of different chemicals, with serious damage to vital functions, especially considering their young age (average 35 ± 11 years old) and the productive period in their lifetime.

These results show how important it is to monitor multiple exposure to pesticides - a chain of events that may have major impacts on public health and the environment.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=17680063&itool=pubmed_DocSum

PMID: 17680063 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Maternal Residence Near Agricultural Pesticide Applications and Autism Spectrum Disorders among Children in the California Central Valley

Eric M. Roberts,¹ Paul B. English,² Judith K. Grether,² Gayle C. Windham,² Lucia Somberg,³ and Craig Wolff²

¹Public Health Institute, Oakland, California, USA; ²California Department of Health Services, Richmond, California, USA; ³School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA

Abstract
Background: Ambient levels of pesticides ("pesticide drift") are detectable at residences near agricultural field sites.

Objective: Our goal was to evaluate the hypothesis that maternal residence near agricultural pesticide applications during key periods of gestation could be associated with the development of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in children.

Methods: We identified 465 children with ASD born during 1996–1998 using the California Department of Developmental Services electronic files, and matched them by maternal date of last menstrual period to 6,975 live-born, normal-birth-weight, term infants as controls. We determined proximity to pesticide applications using California Department of Pesticide Regulation records refined using Department of Water Resources land use polygons. A staged analytic design applying a priori criteria to the results of conditional logistic regressions was employed to exclude associations likely due to multiple testing error.

Results: Of 249 unique hypotheses, four that described organochlorine pesticide applications—specifically those of dicofol and endosulfan—occurring during the period immediately before and concurrent with central nervous system embryogenesis (clinical weeks 1 through 8) met a priori criteria and were unlikely to be a result of multiple testing. Multivariate a posteriori models comparing children of mothers living within 500 m of field sites with the highest nonzero quartile of organochlorine poundage to those with mothers not living near field sites suggested an odds ratio for ASD of 6.1 (95% confidence interval, 2.4–15.3) . ASD risk increased with the poundage of organochlorine applied and decreased with distance from field sites.

Conclusions: The association between residential proximity to organochlorine pesticide applications during gestation and ASD among children should be further studied.

The full version of this article is available for free in HTML or PDF formats.

Zhang, S-Y, Y Ito, O Yamanoshita, Y Yanagiba, M Kobayashi, K Taya, C-M Li, A Okamura, M Miyata, J Ueyama, C-H Lee, M Kamijima and T Nakajima.   Endocrinology, in press.

This version published online on April 26, 2007
Endocrinology, doi:10.1210/en.2006-1497
Submitted on November 13, 2006
Accepted on April 18, 2007

Permethrin May Disrupt Testosterone Biosynthesis via Mitochondrial Membrane Damage of Leydig Cells in Adult Male Mouse

Shu-Yun Zhang, Yuki Ito, Osamu Yamanoshita, Yukie Yanagiba, Miya Kobayashi, Kazuyoshi Taya, Chun-Mei Li, Ai Okamura, Maiko Miyata, Jun Ueyama, Chul-Ho Lee, Michihiro Kamijima, and Tamie Nakajima*

Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan; College of Human life and Environment, Kinjo Gakuin University, Nagoya 463-8521, Japan; Department of Basic Veterinary Science, the United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan; Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan; Department of Medical Technology, Nagoya University School of Health Sciences, Nagoya 461-8673, Japan

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: tnasu23@med.nagoya-u.ac.jp .

Permethrin, a popular synthetic pyrethroid insecticide used to control noxious insects in agriculture, forestry, households, horticulture and public health throughout the world, poses risks of environmental exposure. Here we evaluate the reproductive toxicity of cis-permethrin in adult male ICR mice that were orally administered cis-permethrin (0, 35 or 70 mg/kg/day) for 6 wk. Caudal epididymal sperm count and sperm motility in the treated groups were statistically reduced in a dose-dependent manner. Testicular testosterone production and plasma testosterone concentration were decreased with an increase in luteinizing hormone (LH) significantly and dose-dependently and a significant regression was observed between testosterone levels and cis-permethrin residues in individual mice testes after exposure. However, no significant changes were observed in body, reproductive organ absolute and relative weights, sperm morphology, and plasma follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) concentration after cis-permethrin treatment. Moreover, cis-permethrin exposure significantly diminished the testicular mitochondrial mRNA expression levels of peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR), steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), and cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage (P450scc) enzyme and protein expression levels of StAR and P450scc. At the electron microscopic level, mitochondrial membrane damage was found in Leydig cells of the exposed mouse testis. Our results suggest that insecticide permethrin may cause the mitochondrial membrane impairment in Leydig cells and disrupt testosterone biosynthesis by diminishing the delivery of cholesterol into the mitochondria and decreasing the conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone in the cells, thus reducing subsequent testosterone production.

1: Rev Environ Health. 2007 Jan-Mar;22(1):57-73.

The interrelation between organophosphate toxicity and the epidemiology of depression and suicide.

• Jaga K,
• Dharmani C.

Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, New York, NY, USA. Kushik.Jaga@va.gov

The literature on an association between organophosphate (OP) toxicity and depression or suicide is scarce. An interrelation exists among populations exposed to OPs, acute OP toxicity, neurobehavioral effects, depression, suicide, and fatality. Acute OP toxicity is characterized by the cholinergic syndrome with systemic and central nervous system effects. Organophosphate-induced neurobehavioral effects result in depression. A potential risk of depression and suicide exists in farm workers exposed to OPs. The sociodemographics of depression include age, gender, race, geographic region, social factors, economics, psychiatric disorders, medical conditions, and hereditary factors. Suicide is a major consequence of depression, with multiple sociodemographic risk factors. Developing countries have a higher incidence of OP toxicity, with limited information on the prevalence of depression. In these countries, the incidence of suicide is high, affecting more females. Suicide is more prevalent in rural areas, and in farming communities, commonly with ingestion of OPs. In industrialized countries,=20the incidence of OP toxicity is lower, but the prevalence of depression is higher. Suicide rates are lower in industrialized countries, affecting more males, the urban population, and farming communities. Other lethal methods of suicide, such as hanging, firearms, electrocution, and drug overdose are more common in industrialized countries. A potential risk of depression or suicide certainly exists from OP toxicity, largely depending on the epidemiology or sociodemographics of these disorders. Scientific evidence shows that the association between environmental toxicology and psychiatry has important public health implications.

PMID: 17508698 [PubMed - in process]

Atopy, exposure to pesticides and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Vajdic CM, Fritschi L, Grulich AE, Kaldor JM, Benke G, Kricker A, Hughes AM, Turner JJ, Milliken S, Goumas C, Armstrong BK

National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, University of NSW, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia.

Pesticide exposure has been associated with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) risk in a number of studies, and two recent studies suggest that the increased risk may be confined to those with a history of asthma. We examined the interaction between occupational pesticide exposure and atopy on risk of NHL in an Australian population-based case-control study. Incident cases (n = 694) were diagnosed in New South Wales or the Australian Capital Territory between 2000 and 2001 and controls (n = 694) were randomly selected from electoral rolls and frequency-matched to cases by age, sex and State of residence. Occupational pesticide exposure was determined by an expert occupational hygienist's assessment of job-specific questionnaires administered by telephone. History of atopy (asthma, hay fever, eczema and food allergy) was self-reported. Logistic regression models included the three matching variables, ethnicity and sun exposure. The OR for NHL with substantial pesticide exposure and any history of asthma was 3.07 (95% CI 0.55-17.10) and with substantial pesticide exposure and no asthma history it was 4.23 (95% CI 1.76-10.16). The p-value for interaction was 0.29. A similar pattern of risk was observed for each of the pesticide subtypes; for asthma at various times of life; for hay fever, eczema, food allergy and any atopy, in men only and for follicular lymphomas only. Although this study had limited power, the findings do not suggest modification of the association between pesticide exposure and NHL risk by asthma or atopic disease more generally. (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Increased Rate of Hospitalization for Diabetes and Residential Proximity of Hazardous Waste Sites

Maria Kouznetsova,¹ Xiaoyu Huang,¹ Jing Ma,¹ Lawrence Lessner,^1,2 and David O. Carpenter²

¹Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, and ²Institute for Health and the Environment, University at Albany, Rensselaer, New York, USA

Full Article in PDF

Abstract
Background: Epidemiologic studies suggest that there may be an association between environmental exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and diabetes.

Objective: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that residential proximity to POP-contaminated waste sites result in increased rates of hospitalization for diabetes.

Methods: We determined the number of hospitalized patients 25–74 years of age diagnosed with diabetes in New York State exclusive of New York City for the years 1993–2000. Descriptive statistics and negative binomial regression were used to compare diabetes hospitalization rates in individuals who resided in ZIP codes containing or abutting hazardous waste sites containing POPs ("POP" sites); ZIP codes containing hazardous waste sites but with wastes other than POPs ("other" sites); and ZIP codes without any identified hazardous waste sites ("clean" sites).

Results: Compared with the hospitalization rates for diabetes in clean sites, the rate ratios for diabetes discharges for people residing in POP sites and "other" sites, after adjustment for potential confounders were 1.23 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.15–1.32] and 1.25 (95% CI, 1.16–1.34), respectively. In a subset of POP sites along the Hudson River, where there is higher income, less smoking, better diet, and more exercise, the rate ratio was 1.36 (95% CI, 1.26–1.47) compared to clean sites.

Conclusions: After controlling for major confounders, we found a statistically significant increase in the rate of hospitalization for diabetes among the population residing in the ZIP codes containing toxic waste sites.

Key words: behavior, diabetes mellitus, dioxins, negative binomial regression, PCBs, persistent pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, SES, socioeconomic status, ZIP codes. Environ Health Perspect 115:75–79 (2007). [Online 18 August 2006]

Unidentified inert ingredients in pesticides: implications for human and environmental health.

• Cox C,
• Surgan M.

Center for Environmental Health, Oakland, California, USA.

Background: By statute or regulation in the United States and elsewhere, pesticide ingredients are divided into two categories: active and inert (sometimes referred to as other ingredients, adjuvants, or coformulants). Despite their name, inert ingredients may be biologically or chemically active and are labeled inert only because of their function in the formulated product. Most of the tests required to register a pesticide are performed with the active ingredient alone, not the full pesticide formulation. Inert ingredients are generally not identified on product labels and are often claimed to be confidential business information.

 

Objectives: In this commentary, we describe the shortcomings of the current procedures for assessing the hazards of pesticide formulations and demonstrate that inert ingredients can increase the toxicity of and potential exposure to pesticide formulations.

 

Discussion: Inert ingredients can increase the ability of pesticide formulations to affect significant toxicologic end points, including developmental neurotoxicity, genotoxicity, and disruption of hormone function. They can also increase exposure by increasing dermal absorption, decreasing the efficacy of protective clothing, and increasing environmental mobility and persistence. Inert ingredients can increase the phytotoxicity of pesticide formulations as well as the toxicity to fish, amphibians, and microorganisms.

 

Conclusions: Pesticide registration should require full assessment of formulations. Evaluations of pesticides under the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, and similar statutes should include impact assessment of formulations. Environmental monitoring for pesticides should include inert ingredients. To enable independent research and risk assessment, inert ingredients should be identified on product labels.

PMID: 17185266
[PubMed - in process]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=17185266&itool=iconabstr&itool=pubmed_DocSum

An Intervention To Reduce Residential Insecticide Exposure During Pregnancy Among An Inner-City Cohort.

Williams MK, Barr DB, Camann DE, Cruz LA, Carlton EJ, Borjas M, Reyes A, Evans D, Kinney PL, Whitehead RD Jr, Perera FP, Matsoanne S, Whyatt RM.

Environ Health Perspect. 2006 Nov;114(11):1684-9.

Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA.

BACKGROUND: We previously reported widespread insecticide exposure during pregnancy among inner-city women from New York City. Here we report on a pilot intervention using integrated pest management (IPM) to reduce pest infestations and residential insecticide exposures among pregnant New York City African-American and Latina women (25 intervention and 27 control homes). METHODS: The IPM consisted of professional cleaning, sealing of pest entry points, application of low-toxicity pesticides, and education. Cockroach infestation levels and 2-week integrated indoor air samples were collected at baseline and one month postintervention. The insecticides detected in the indoor air samples were also measured in maternal and umbilical cord blood collected at delivery. RESULTS: Cockroach infestations decreased significantly (p = 0.016) after the intervention among intervention cases but not control households. Among the intervention group, levels of piperonyl butoxide (a pyrethroid synergist) were significantly lower in indoor air samples after the intervention (p = 0.016). Insecticides were detected in maternal blood samples collected at delivery from controls but not from the intervention group. The difference was significant for trans-permethrin (p = 0.008) and of borderline significance (p = 0.1) for cis-permethrin and 2-isopropoxyphenol (a propoxur metabolite). CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first study to use biologic dosimeters of prenatal pesticide exposure for assessing effectiveness of IPM. These pilot data suggest that IPM is an effective strategy for reducing pest infestation levels and the internal dose of insecticides during pregnancy.

Link to PDF

Pesticide measurements from the first national environmental health survey of child care centers using a multi-residue GC/MS analysis method.

Tulve NS, Jones PA, Nishioka MG, Fortmann RC, Croghan CW, Zhou JY, Fraser A, Cavel C, Friedman W.

National Exposure Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, MD-E20504, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA. tulve.nicolle@epa.gov

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, in collaboration with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, characterized the environments of young children (<6 years) by measuring lead, allergens, and pesticides in a randomly selected nationally representative sample of licensed institutional child care centers. Multi-stage sampling with clustering was used to select 168 child care centers in 30 primary sampling units in the United States. Centers were recruited into the study by telephone interviewers. Samples for pesticides, lead, and allergens were collected at multiple locations in each center by field technicians. Field sampling was conducted from July through October 2001. Wipe samples from indoor surfaces (floors, tabletops, desks) and soil samples were collected at the centers and analyzed using a multi-residue GC/MS analysis method. Based on the questionnaire responses, pyrethroids were the most commonly used pesticides among centers applying pesticides. Among the 63% of centers reporting pesticide applications, the number of pesticides used in each center ranged from 1 to 10 and the frequency of use ranged from 1 to 107 times annually. Numerous organophosphate and pyrethroid pesticides were detected in the indoor floor wipe samples. Chlorpyrifos (0.004-28 ng/cm2), diazinon (0.002-18 ng/cm2), cis-permethrin (0.004-3 ng/cm2), and

PMID: 17120552 [PubMed - in process]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=17120552&itool=iconabstr&itool=pubmed_DocSum

Published online November 20, 2006 PEDIATRICS (doi:10.1542/peds.2006-0338)

ARTICLE

Impact of Prenatal Chlorpyrifos Exposure on Neurodevelopment in the First 3 Years of Life Among Inner-City Children

Virginia A. Rauh, ScDa, Robin Garfinkel, PhDa, Frederica P. Perera, DrPHa, Howard F. Andrews, PhDa, Lori Hoepner, MPHa, Dana B. Barr, PhD, DLSb, Ralph Whitehead, MPHb, Deliang Tang, DrPHa and Robin W. Whyatt, DrPHa
a Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York
b National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
OBJECTIVE.: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of prenatal exposure to chlorpyrifos on 3-year neurodevelopment and behavior in a sample of inner-city minority children.
METHODS.: As part of an ongoing prospective cohort study in an inner-city minority population, neurotoxicant effects of prenatal exposure to chlorpyrifos were evaluated in 254 children through the first 3 years of life. This report examined cognitive and motor development at 12, 24, and 36 months (measured with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II) and child behavior at 36 months (measured with the Child Behavior Checklist) as a function of chlorpyrifos levels in umbilical cord plasma.
RESULTS.: Highly exposed children (chlorpyrifos levels of >6.17 pg/g plasma) scored, on average, 6.5 points lower on the Bayley Psychomotor Development Index and 3.3 points lower on the Bayley Mental Development Index at 3 years of age compared with those with lower levels of exposure. Children exposed to higher, compared with lower, chlorpyrifos levels were also significantly more likely to experience Psychomotor Development Index and Mental Development Index delays, attention problems, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder problems, and pervasive developmental disorder problems at 3 years of age.
CONCLUSIONS.: The adjusted mean 36-month Psychomotor Development Index and Mental Development Index scores of the highly and lower exposed groups differed by only 7.1 and 3.0 points, respectively, but the proportion of delayed children in the high-exposure group, compared with the low-exposure group, was 5 times greater for the Psychomotor Development Index and 2.4 times greater for the Mental Development Index, increasing the number of children possibly needing early intervention services.

Key Words: pesticides * chlorpyrifos * neurodevelopment * behavior problems
Abbreviations:
ADHD-attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder * BSID-II-Bayley Scales of Infant Development II * CBCL-Child Behavior Checklist * DSM-IV-Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition * EPA-Environmental Protection Agency * ETS-environmental tobacco smoke * HOME-Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment * MDI-Mental Development Index * PDD-pervasive developmental disorder * PDI-Psychomotor Development Index * GLM-general linear modeling * CI-confidence interval
Prenatal exposure to the pesticide chlorpyrifos is associated with developmental delays in children and attention deficit hyperactivity problems. The proportion of New York City 3-yr olds showing delayed development was five times greater in the higher exposure group. Pediatrics. More... [related stories] http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/peds.2006-0338v1?papetoc

The bactericidal agent triclosan modulates thyroid hormone-associated gene expression and disrupts postembryonic anuran development

Nik Veldhoena, Rachel C. Skirrowb, Heather Osachoffb, Heidi Wigmoreb, David J. Clapsona, Mark P. Gundersona, Graham Van Aggelenb and Caren C. Helbinga, Corresponding Author Contact Information, E-mail The Corresponding Author

^{aDepartment of Biochemistry and Microbiology, P.O. Box 3055, Stn. CSC, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 3P6, Canada}

^{bPacific Environmental Science Centre, 2645 Dollarton Highway, North Vancouver, British Columbia V7H 1V2, Canada}

Received 26 July 2006; revised 17 August 2006; accepted 30 August 2006. Available online 29 September 2006.

Abstract

We investigated whether exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of the bactericidal agent, triclosan, induces changes in the thyroid hormone-mediated process of metamorphosis of the North American bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana and alters the expression profile of thyroid hormone receptor (TR) α and β, basic transcription element binding protein (BTEB) and proliferating nuclear cell antigen (PCNA) gene transcripts. Premetamorphic tadpoles were immersed in environmentally relevant concentrations of triclosan and injected with 1 × 10−11 mol/g body weight 3,5,3′-triiodothyronine (T3) or vehicle control. Morphometric measurements and steady-state mRNA levels obtained by quantitative polymerase chain reaction were determined. mRNA abundance was also examined in Xenopus laevis XTC-2 cells treated with triclosan and/or 10 nM T3. Tadpoles pretreated with triclosan concentrations as low as 0.15 ± 0.03 μg/L for 4 days showed increased hindlimb development and a decrease in total body weight following T3 administration. Triclosan exposure also resulted in decreased T3-mediated TRβ mRNA expression in the tadpole tail fin and increased levels of PCNA transcript in the brain within 48 h of T3 treatment whereas TRα and BTEB were unaffected. Triclosan alone altered thyroid hormone receptor α transcript levels in the brain of premetamorphic tadpoles and induced a transient weight loss. In XTC-2 cells, exposure to T3 plus nominal concentrations of triclosan as low as 0.03 μg/L for 24 h resulted in altered thyroid hormone receptor mRNA expression. Exposure to low levels of triclosan disrupts thyroid hormone-associated gene expression and can alter the rate of thyroid hormone-mediated postembryonic anuran development.

Keywords: Thyroid hormone; Metamorphosis; Rana catesbeiana; XTC-2; Environmental contaminant; Triclosan; Endocrine disruptor; Irgasan

Behavioral and neurochemical effects induced by pyrethroid-based mosquito repellent exposure in rat offsprings during prenatal and early postnatal period

Chaitali Sinha^a, Kavita Seth^a, Fakhrul Islam^b, Rajnish Kumar Chaturvedi^a, Shubha Shukla^a, Neeraj Mathur^c, N. Srivastava^a and Ashok Kumar Agrawal<sup>a, ,

a</sup>Developmental Toxicology Division, Industrial Toxicology Research Centre, Post Box-80, M.G. Marg Lucknow 226001, India
^bDepartment of Toxicology, Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University), New Delhi 110062, India
^cEpidemiology Division, Industrial Toxicology Research Centre, Post Box-80, M.G. Marg Lucknow 226001, India

Received 5 April 2005;  revised 20 February 2006;  accepted 28 March 2006.  Available online 13 July 2006.

	This Document Abstract Full Text + Links PDF (385 K) Actions E-mail Article Neurotoxicology and Teratology Volume 28, Issue 4 , July-August 2006, Pages 472-481

Environmental Health Perspectives Volume 114, Number 9, September 2006 Research | Children's Health

A Longitudinal Approach to Assessing Urban and Suburban Children's Exposure to Pyrethroid Pesticides

Chensheng Lu,1 Dana B. Barr,2 Melanie Pearson,1 Scott Bartell,1 and Roberto Bravo

1Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; 2National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Abstract

We conducted a longitudinal study to assess the exposure of 23 elementary school–age children to pyrethroid pesticides, using urinary pyrethroid metabolites as exposure biomarkers. We substituted most of the children's conventional diets with organic food items for 5 consecutive days and collected two daily spot urine samples, first morning and before bedtime voids, throughout the 15-day study period. We analyzed urine samples for five common pyrethroid metabolites. We found an association between the parents' self-reported pyrethroid use in the residential environment and elevated pyrethroid metabolite levels found in their children's urine. Children were also exposed to pyrethroids through their conventional diets, although the magnitude was smaller than for the residential exposure. Children's ages appear to be significantly associated with pyrethroids exposure, which is likely attributed to the use of pyrethroids around the premises or in the facilities where older children engaged in the outdoor activities. We conclude that residential pesticide use represents the most important risk factor for children's exposure to pyrethroid insecticides. Because of the wide use of pyrethroids in the United States, the findings of this study are important for both children's pesticide exposure assessment and environmental public health. Key words: children's pesticide exposure, dietary exposure, PBA, permethrin, pyrethroids, residential exposure, trans-DCCA, urinary biomarker. Environ Health Perspect 114: 1419–1423 (2006) . doi:10.1289/ehp.9043 available via http://dx.doi.org/ [Online 26 April 2006]

Address correspondence to C. Lu, 1518 Clifton Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA. Telephone: (404) 727-2131. Fax: (404) 727-8744. E-mail: clu2@sph.emory.edu

We express our sincere appreciation to the children who participated and to their parents who greatly assisted in this study. We also thank R. Irish, K. Toepel, and P. Sande for their assistance in conducting this study, and A. Bishop, P. Restrepo, R. Walker, J. Nguyen, and D. Walden at the National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for their help with sample analysis.

This study was supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) , Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program (RD-829364) , and the NCEH, CDC. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official view of the U.S. EPA or CDC.

The authors declare they have no competing financial interests.

Received 26 January 2006 ; accepted 26 April 2006.

Review and meta-analysis of risk estimates for prostate cancer in pesticide manufacturing workers

Cancer Causes and Controls, 2006 May;17(4):353-73.

Van Maele-Fabry G, Libotte V, Willems J, Lison D.

Unite de Toxicologie Industrielle et Medecine du travail, Ecole de Sante Publique, Universite Catholique de Louvain, Bruxelles, Belgium.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present paper is to review cohort studies that examined the occurrence of prostate cancer in pesticide manufacturing workers in order to undertake a qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the risk as well as to assess the level of epidemiological evidence for each class of chemical compounds. METHODS: Following a systematic literature search, relative risk (RR) estimates for prostate cancer were extracted from 18 studies published between 1984 and 2004. All studies were summarised and evaluated for homogeneity and publication bias. As no significant heterogeneity was detected, combined RR estimators were calculated using a fixed effect model. Meta-analyses were performed both on the whole set of data and for each chemical class separately. RESULTS: The meta-rate ratio estimate for all studies was 1.28 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05-1.58]. After stratification by specific chemical class, consistent increases in the risk of prostate cancer were found in all groups but statistical significance was found only for accidental or non-accidental exposure to phenoxy herbicides contaminated with dioxins and furans. There was no obvious indication of publication bias. CONCLUSION: The overall meta-analysis provides additional quantitative evidence consistent with prior reviews focusing on other groups exposed to pesticides (farmers, pesticide applicators). The results again point to occupational exposure to pesticides as a possible risk factor for prostate cancer but the question of causality remains unanswered. Epidemiological evidence did not allow identifying a specific pesticide or chemical class that would be responsible for the increased risk but the strongest evidence comes from workers exposed to phenoxy herbicides possibly in relation with dioxin and/or furan contamination.

 Neurology. 2006 Jul 5; [Epub ahead of print] Related Articles, Links

Paraoxonase cluster polymorphisms are associated with sporadic ALS.

Saeed M, Siddique N, Hung WY, Usacheva E, Liu E, Sufit RL, Heller SL, Haines JL, Pericak-Vance M, Siddique T.

From the Davee Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurosciences (M.S., N.S., W.-Y.H., E.U., E.L., R.L.S., S.L.H.), Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL; Center for Human Genetics Research (J.L.H.), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN; Center for Human Genetics (M.P.-V.), Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC; and Department of Cell and Molecular Biology (T.S.), Northwestern University Institute of Neuroscience, Chicago, IL.

Abstract-- BACKGROUND: Paraoxonases (PONs) are involved in the detoxification of organophosphate pesticides and chemical nerve agents. Due to a reported possible twofold increased risk of ALS in Gulf War veterans and the associations of PON1 polymorphisms with the neurologic symptom complex of the Gulf War syndrome, the authors investigated the association between sporadic ALS (SALS) and PON gene cluster variants in a large North American Caucasian family-based and case-control cohort (N = 1,891). METHODS: Clinically definite and probable ALS was diagnosed according to the revised El Escorial criteria, exclusion of family history of ALS, and SOD1 mutation analysis. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping was done using TaqMan assays on ABI7900HT. Data were analyzed using SPSS, Haploview, FBAT, and THESIAS. RESULTS: A haploblock of high linkage disequilibrium (LD) spanning PON2 and PON3 was associated with SALS. The SNPs rs10487132 and rs11981433 were in strong LD and associated with SALS in the trio (parents-affected child triad) model. The association of rs10487132 was replicated in 450 nuclear pedigrees comprising trios and discordant sibpairs. No association was found in case-control models, and their haplostructure was different from that of the trios with overall reduced LD. Resequencing identified an intronic variant (rs17876088) that differentiated between detrimental and protective SALS haplotypes. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates evidence of significant association of variants in the Paraoxonase gene cluster with sporadic ALS and is compatible with the hypothesis that environmental toxicity in a susceptible host may precipitate ALS.

PMID: 16822964 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
 
For more information on this topic go to:  http://www.law.Cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html

Parental occupational exposure and the risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in offspring in Israel.  (PDF)

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2006 Feb;48(2):165-74.

Abadi-Korek I, Stark B, Zaizov R, Shaham J.

National Institute of Occupational & Environmental Health, Shneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach-Tikva, Israel.

OBJECTIVE: Parental employment in occupations that have potential exposures to organic solvents or pesticides could be associated with the risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in their offspring. METHODS: We explored this hypothesis by studying the association with respect to exposure time windows. Our case-control study included 224 children, 112 diagnosed with ALL and 112 matched controls. RESULTS: A significantly higher odds ratio (OR) was found between childhood ALL and reported parental occupational exposures. Analysis of exposures of both parents by exposure time windows revealed significant OR during the preconception and postnatal periods separately. CONCLUSIONS: The results provide support to the association between parental occupational exposures and ALL in their children. These results should be interpreted cautiously because of the small numbers, biases characterizing case-control studies, and the use of hospital-based controls.

 

*        Parental exposure to pesticides had a higher risk of developing acute lymphoblastic leukemia (OR- 2.35, 95% CI: 1.10, 5.0)

*        There was small sample size for pesticides, 45 cases and 14 controls and the authors recommend a larger study.

Household exposure to pesticides and risk of childhood acute leukaemia (PDF)

Occupational and Environmental Study, 2006 Feb;63(2):131-4.

Menegaux F, Baruchel A, Bertrand Y, Lescoeur B, Leverger G, Nelken B, Sommelet D, Hemon D, Clavel J.

INSERM, U170, IFR69, Villejuif, France. menegaux@vjf.inserm.fr

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relation between childhood acute leukaemia and household exposure to pesticides. METHODS: The study included 280 incident cases of acute leukaemia and 288 controls frequency matched on gender, age, hospital, and ethnic origin. The data were obtained from standardised face to face interviews of the mothers with detailed questions on parental occupational history, home and garden insecticide use, and insecticidal treatment of pediculosis. Odds ratios were estimated using unconditional regression models including the stratification variables parental socioeconomic status and housing characteristics. RESULTS: Acute leukaemia was observed to be significantly associated with maternal home insecticide use during pregnancy (OR = 1.8, 95% CI 1.2 to 2.8) and during childhood (OR = 1.7, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.4), with garden insecticide use (OR = 2.4, 95% CI 1.3 to 4.3), and fungicide use (OR = 2.5, 95% CI 1.0 to 6.2) during childhood. Insecticidal shampoo treatment of pediculosis was also associated with childhood acute leukaemia (OR = 1.9, 95% CI 1.2 to 3.3). CONCLUSION: The results reported herein support the hypothesis that various types of insecticide exposure may be a risk factor for childhood acute leukaemia. The observed association with insecticidal shampoo treatment of pediculosis, which has never been investigated before, requires further study.

 

*        The study aim to investigate an association between pesticide use and childhood leukemia by type of pesticide used (Home Insecticide, Garden Pesticide (insecticide, herbicide, and fungicide) and time of exposure (Pesticide Use During Pregnancy and Pesticide Use During Childhood). 

*        In the Home Insecticide Use group, there was significant associations amongst those who "Ever" used During Pregnancy, OR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.2, 2.8, and for those who use During Childhood, OR=1.7, 95% CI: 1.1-2.4.

*        In the overall Garden Pesticide Use group, there were significant associations for those who  "Ever" used During Childhood, OR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.1, 2.7.  When the Garden Pesticide Use was subdivided into Insecticide, Herbicide and Fungicide, significant associations were found with Insecticide, OR= 2.4, 95% CI: 1.3, 4.3, and Fungicide, OR= 2.5, 95% CI: 1.0, 6.2).

*        There were no significant associations found between Leukemia and Garden Pesticide Use During Pregnancy but the number of cases and controls in that group were small.

*        Significant associations were also found between childhood leukemia and the use of Insecticidal Shampoo to treat Pediculosis, OR=1.9, 95% CI: 1.1, 3.2. When the insecticidal shampoo was subdivided into pyrethroid based, organochlorine based and organophosphorous based, there were significant associations with pyrethroid based, OR=2.0, 95% CI: 1.1, 3.4, but insignificant associations for the other two (again the number of cases and controls were too small).

Adipose Tissue Concentrations of Persistent Organic Pollutants and the Risk of Prostate Cancer.

Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine. 48(7):700-707, July 2006. Hardell, Lennart MD, PhD; Andersson, Swen-Olof MD, PhD; Carlberg, Michael MSc; Bohr, Louise MD; van Bavel, Bert PhD; Lindstrom, Gunilla PhD; Bjornfoth, Helen MSc; Ginman, Claes MD

Abstract:

Objective: We sought to study the concentrations of certain persistent organic pollutants with endocrine-disrupting properties in cases with prostate cancer and controls with benign prostate hyperplasia.

Methods: Adipose tissue was obtained from 58 cases and 20 controls.

Results: The median concentration among controls was used as cut-off in the statistical analysis. In the total material, a greater-than median concentration of PCB congener 153 yielded an odds ratio (OR) of 3.15 and 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.04-9.54 and one chlordane type, trans-chlordane, yielded OR 3.49 (95% CI = 1.08- 11.2). In the group of case subjects with PSA levels greater than the median level of 16.5 ng/mL, PCB 153 was OR 30.3 (95% CI = 3.24-284), hexachlorobenzene OR = 9.84 (95% CI = 1.99-48.5), trans-chlordane OR = 11.0 (95% CI = 1.87-64.9), and the chlordane-type MC6 OR = 7.58 (95% CI = 1.65-34.9). The grouping of PCBs according to structural and biological activity was found to produce significantly increased risks for enzyme and phenobarbital-inducing PCBs and lower chlorinated PCBs in the case group with PSA levels greater than 16.5 ng/mL.

Conclusions: These chemicals might be of etiologic significance but need to be further investigated. The biological relevance of the arbitrary cut-off point of PSA is unclear.

(C)2006The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Research Finds Exposure To Low Levels Of Pesticides Increases Risk Of Cancer

(Beyond Pesticides, March 20, 2006)New research at the University of Liverpool suggests that environmental contaminants, such as pesticides, are more influential in causing cancer than previously thought. Previous studies in cancer causation have often concluded that exposure to carcinogenic or endocrine-disrupting chemicals, for example, organochlorines (OC) - found in pesticides and plastics - occurs at concentrations that are too low to be considered a major factor in cancerous disease. Now new research at the University of Liverpool, published in the Journal of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine, has found that exposure even to small amounts of these chemicals may result in an increased risk of developing cancer - particularly for infants and young adults.

The research consists of systematic reviewing of recent studies and literature concerning the environment and cancer, and is supported by the Cancer Prevention and Education Society. Professor Vyvyan Howard and John Newby, from the University's Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, also found that genetic variations, which can predispose some people to cancer, may interact with environmental contaminants and produce an enhanced effect.

Professor Howard said: "Organochlorines are persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which disperse over long distances and bioaccumulate in the food chain. For humans the main source of OC exposure is from diet, primarily through meat and dairy products. Children are exposed to dioxin, a by-product of OCs, through food; dioxin and other POPs can also cross the placenta and endanger babies in the womb. Breastfed infants can be exposed to OCs with endocrine disrupting properties that have accumulated in breast milk. Our research looks at involuntary exposure to these chemicals in the air, food and water.

"Environmental contaminants - in particular synthetic pesticides and organochlorines with hormone-disrupting properties - could be a major factor in causing hormone-dependent malignancies such as breast, testicular and prostate cancers. Preventative measures for these types of cancer have focused on educating the public about the danger of tobacco smoke, improving diet and promoting physical activity. We should now, however, be focusing on trying to reduce exposure to problematic chemicals."

The research team has also looked at anecdotal evidence, from practicing physicians in pre-industrial societies, which suggests that cancerous disease was rare amongst particular communities, such as the Canadian Inuits and Brazilian Indians. This suggests that cancer is a disease of industrialisation.

Professor Howard added: "The World Health Organisation estimates that between one and five percent of malignant disease in developed countries is attributed to environmental factors; but our research suggests this figure may have been underestimated."

Jamie Page, Chairman of Cancer Prevention and Education said: "This research is very important and suggests that there are links between chemicals and cancer. It is our opinion that if progress is to be made in the fight against cancer, far more attention and effort must be made to reduce human exposure to harmful chemicals."

Professor Howard's finding will be published in the Taylor & Francis Journal of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine.

Pesticide Exposure and Stunting as Independent Predictors of Neurobehavioral Deficits in Ecuadorian School Children

Philippe Grandjean, MD, DMSca,b, Raul Harari, MDc, Dana B. Barr, PhDd and Frodi Debes, PsyDa

PEDIATRICS Vol. 117 No. 3 March 2006, pp. e546-e556 (doi:10.1542/peds.2005-1781)

^a Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark

^b Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts

^c Corporación para el Desarrollo de la Producción y el Medio Ambiente Laboral, Quito, Ecuador

^d National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES. To examine possible effects on blood pressure, neurological function, and neurobehavioral tests in school-aged children with and without prenatal pesticide exposure in an area where stunting is common.

METHODS. In a community of Northern Ecuador with intensive floriculture and a high female employment rate, we invited 79 children attending the 2 lowest grades of a public school for clinical examinations. In addition to a thorough physical examination, we administered simple reaction time, Santa Ana dexterity test, Stanford-Binet copying, and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised Digit Spans forward. Maternal interview included detailed assessment of occupational history to determine pesticide exposure during pregnancy. Recent and current pesticide exposure was assessed by erythrocyte acetylcholine esterase activity and urinary excretion of organophosphate metabolites.

RESULTS. All eligible children participated in the study, but 7 children were excluded from data analysis due to other disease or age >9 years. A total of 31 of the remaining 72 children were classified as stunted based on their height for age. Maternal occupational history revealed that 37 children had been exposed to pesticides during development. After confounder adjustment, prenatal pesticide exposure was associated with a higher systolic blood pressure than in the controls. On neurological examination, 1