title: Hypospadias and residential proximity to pesticide applications.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Experimental evidence suggests pesticides may be associated with hypospadias.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Examine the association of hypospadias with residential proximity to commercial agricultural pesticide applications.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population included male infants born from 1991 to 2004 to mothers residing in 8 California counties. Cases (n = 690) were ascertained by the California Birth Defects Monitoring Program; controls were selected randomly from the birth population (n = 2195). We determined early pregnancy exposure to pesticide applications within a 500-m radius of mother's residential address, using detailed data on applications and land use. Associations with exposures to physicochemical groups of pesticides and specific chemicals were assessed using logistic regression adjusted for maternal race or ethnicity and age and infant birth year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-one percent of cases and controls were classified as exposed to 57 chemical groups and 292 chemicals. Despite >500 statistical comparisons, there were few elevated odds ratios with confidence intervals that excluded 1 for chemical groups or specific chemicals. Those that did were for monochlorophenoxy acid or ester herbicides; the insecticides aldicarb, dimethoate, phorate, and petroleum oils; and adjuvant polyoxyethylene sorbitol among all cases; 2,6-dinitroaniline herbicides, the herbicide oxyfluorfen, and the fungicide copper sulfate among mild cases; and chloroacetanilide herbicides, polyalkyloxy compounds used as adjuvants, the insecticides aldicarb and acephate, and the adjuvant nonyl-phenoxy-poly(ethylene oxy)ethanol among moderate and severe cases. Odds ratios ranged from 1.9 to 2.9.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most pesticides were not associated with elevated hypospadias risk. For the few that were associated, results should be interpreted with caution until replicated in other study populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Stanford University, 1265 Welch Road, Room X111, Stanford, CA 94305-5415. scarmichael@stanford.edu.
authors.forename: Suzan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Carmichael
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Eric M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Kegley
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wolff
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Edward J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Lammer
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: English
authors.forename: Gary M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Shaw
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007021:Hypospadias / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010575:Pesticides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012111:Residence Characteristics
chemical_list: D010575:Pesticides
keywords: birth defects; endocrine disruptors; environment; hypospadias; pesticides