title: Prenatal organophosphate metabolite and organochlorine levels and performance on the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale in a multiethnic pregnancy cohort.
abstract: Prenatal exposures to organophosphate pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls have been associated with abnormal neonatal behavior and/or primitive reflexes. In 1998-2002, the Mount Sinai Children's Environmental Health Center (New York City) investigated the effects of indoor pesticide use and exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls on pregnancy outcome and child neurodevelopment in an inner-city multiethnic cohort. The Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale was administered before hospital discharge (n = 311). Maternal urine samples were analyzed for six dialkylphosphate metabolites and malathion dicarboxylic acid. A random subset of maternal peripheral blood samples from the entire cohort (n = 194) was analyzed for polychlorinated biphenyls and 1,1'-dichloro-2,2'-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethylene. Malathion dicarboxylic acid levels above the limit of detection were associated with a 2.24-fold increase in the number of abnormal reflexes (95% confidence interval: 1.55, 3.24). Likewise, higher levels of total diethylphosphates and total dialkylphosphates were associated with an increase in abnormal reflexes, as was total dimethylphosphates after paraoxonase expression was considered. No adverse associations were found with polychlorinated biphenyl or 1,1'-dichloro-2,2'-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethylene levels and any behavior. The authors uncovered additional evidence that prenatal levels of organophosphate pesticide metabolites are associated with anomalies in primitive reflexes, which are a critical marker of neurologic integrity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA. Stephanie.Engel@mssm.edu
authors.forename: Stephanie M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Engel
authors.forename: Gertrud S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Berkowitz
authors.forename: Dana B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Barr
authors.forename: Susan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Teitelbaum
authors.forename: Jodi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Siskind
authors.forename: Stefanie J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Meisel
authors.forename: James G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Wetmur
authors.forename: Mary S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Wolff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D010575:Pesticides / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012021:Reflex, Abnormal / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010575:Pesticides; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls