title: An Observational Study to Evaluate Associations Between Low-Level Gestational Exposure to Organophosphate Pesticides and Cognition During Early Childhood.
abstract: Prenatal exposure to organophosphate pesticides, which is ubiquitous, may be detrimental to neurological development. We examined 327 mother/infant pairs in Cincinnati, Ohio, between 2003 and 2006 to determine associations between prenatal exposure to organophosphate pesticides and neurodevelopment. Twice during pregnancy urinary concentrations of 6 common dialkylphosphates, nonspecific metabolites of organophosphate pesticides, were measured. Aggregate concentrations of diethylphosphates, dimethylphosphates, and total dialkylphosphates were calculated. Bayley Scales of Infant Development, Second Edition-Mental and Psychomotor Developmental indices were administered at ages 1, 2, and 3 years, the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals-Preschool, Second Edition, at age 4, and the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, Third Edition, at age 5. Mothers with higher urinary total dialkylphosphate concentrations reported higher levels of socioeconomic status and increased fresh fruit and vegetable intake. We found no associations between prenatal exposure to organophosphate pesticides and cognition at 1-5 years of age. In our cohort, exposure to organophosphate pesticides during pregnancy was not associated with cognition during early childhood. It is possible that a higher socioeconomic status and healthier diet may protect the fetus from potential adverse associations with gestational organophosphate pesticide exposure, or that dietary exposure to the metabolites is innocuous and not an ideal measure of exposure to the parent compound.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Donauer
authors.forename: Mekibib
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Altaye
authors.forename: Yingying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sucharew
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Succop
authors.forename: Antonia M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Calafat
authors.forename: Jane C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Khoury
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lanphear
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yolton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D009420:Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D009820:Ohio / Q000453:epidemiology; D010755:Organophosphates / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000652:urine; D010575:Pesticides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000652:urine; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000652:urine; D039401:Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D012923:Social Class
chemical_list: D010755:Organophosphates; D010575:Pesticides
keywords: cognition; gestation; organophosphate pesticides; pregnancy; prenatal exposures