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Postnatal pesticide exposure and behavioural outcomes in children and adolescents : findings from South Africa

Viglietti, Paola Gabriela ; Jäggi, Lena ; Wey, Hannah ; Petitpierre, Anouk ; Lindh, Christian LU orcid ; Rousseau, Kim Louise ; Donnell, Jade Mac ; Röösli, Martin ; Malcolm-Smith, Susan and Dalvie, Mohamed Aqiel , et al. (2025) In Science of the Total Environment 1004. p.1-12
Abstract

Introduction: Postnatal pesticide exposure and its association with child and adolescent behavioural outcomes remain underexplored in rural agricultural settings, particularly in Africa. This study examined behavioural outcomes in relation to urinary pesticide biomarkers and contextual exposure proxies in participants from the Child health Agricultural Pesticide (CapSA) cohort, South Africa. Methods: Data from 434 children (mean age at endline: 13.10, SD: 1.36; 55.53 % male) were analysed. Behavioural functioning was assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), focusing on total difficulties, internalising, and externalising scores. Thirteen urinary pesticide biomarkers—including insecticides (organophosphates,... (More)

Introduction: Postnatal pesticide exposure and its association with child and adolescent behavioural outcomes remain underexplored in rural agricultural settings, particularly in Africa. This study examined behavioural outcomes in relation to urinary pesticide biomarkers and contextual exposure proxies in participants from the Child health Agricultural Pesticide (CapSA) cohort, South Africa. Methods: Data from 434 children (mean age at endline: 13.10, SD: 1.36; 55.53 % male) were analysed. Behavioural functioning was assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), focusing on total difficulties, internalising, and externalising scores. Thirteen urinary pesticide biomarkers—including insecticides (organophosphates, pyrethroids), herbicides, and fungicides—were quantified from spot urine samples collected in 2017 and 2019. Biomarkers were averaged across waves, adjusted for specific gravity, and log₁₀-transformed. Multiple linear regression models assessed associations between SDQ outcomes and two predictor sets: urinary biomarker levels and contextual exposure proxies (agricultural area and farm residence). Models were adjusted for child, maternal, and household factors. Results: Most biomarkers were detected in >50 % of samples; TCPy, OH-TEB, ETU, and 2,4-D were nearly ubiquitous. No significant associations were observed between urinary biomarkers and SDQ outcomes. In contrast, contextual exposure proxies were significant predictors: children living in Hex River and non-farm residents showed lower SDQ difficulties scores. Behavioural difficulties were higher among participants whose mothers had less education and who were exposed to alcohol or pesticides during gestation. Conclusions: While urinary pesticide biomarkers were not associated with SDQ outcomes, farm residence, agricultural area, and socio-demographic factors were. Findings underscore the need for longitudinal, context-sensitive research integrating social and environmental exposures.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Behaviour, Biomarkers, Child and adolescent health, Exposome, Pesticides, SDQ, South Africa
in
Science of the Total Environment
volume
1004
article number
180782
pages
1 - 12
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:105020672611
  • pmid:41172666
ISSN
0048-9697
DOI
10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.180782
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Authors
id
03596174-c205-4c31-b220-1941ab12126b
date added to LUP
2025-11-28 11:25:16
date last changed
2025-12-12 13:00:38
@article{03596174-c205-4c31-b220-1941ab12126b,
  abstract     = {{<p>Introduction: Postnatal pesticide exposure and its association with child and adolescent behavioural outcomes remain underexplored in rural agricultural settings, particularly in Africa. This study examined behavioural outcomes in relation to urinary pesticide biomarkers and contextual exposure proxies in participants from the Child health Agricultural Pesticide (CapSA) cohort, South Africa. Methods: Data from 434 children (mean age at endline: 13.10, SD: 1.36; 55.53 % male) were analysed. Behavioural functioning was assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), focusing on total difficulties, internalising, and externalising scores. Thirteen urinary pesticide biomarkers—including insecticides (organophosphates, pyrethroids), herbicides, and fungicides—were quantified from spot urine samples collected in 2017 and 2019. Biomarkers were averaged across waves, adjusted for specific gravity, and log₁₀-transformed. Multiple linear regression models assessed associations between SDQ outcomes and two predictor sets: urinary biomarker levels and contextual exposure proxies (agricultural area and farm residence). Models were adjusted for child, maternal, and household factors. Results: Most biomarkers were detected in &gt;50 % of samples; TCPy, OH-TEB, ETU, and 2,4-D were nearly ubiquitous. No significant associations were observed between urinary biomarkers and SDQ outcomes. In contrast, contextual exposure proxies were significant predictors: children living in Hex River and non-farm residents showed lower SDQ difficulties scores. Behavioural difficulties were higher among participants whose mothers had less education and who were exposed to alcohol or pesticides during gestation. Conclusions: While urinary pesticide biomarkers were not associated with SDQ outcomes, farm residence, agricultural area, and socio-demographic factors were. Findings underscore the need for longitudinal, context-sensitive research integrating social and environmental exposures.</p>}},
  author       = {{Viglietti, Paola Gabriela and Jäggi, Lena and Wey, Hannah and Petitpierre, Anouk and Lindh, Christian and Rousseau, Kim Louise and Donnell, Jade Mac and Röösli, Martin and Malcolm-Smith, Susan and Dalvie, Mohamed Aqiel and Fuhrimann, Samuel}},
  issn         = {{0048-9697}},
  keywords     = {{Behaviour; Biomarkers; Child and adolescent health; Exposome; Pesticides; SDQ; South Africa}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{11}},
  pages        = {{1--12}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Science of the Total Environment}},
  title        = {{Postnatal pesticide exposure and behavioural outcomes in children and adolescents : findings from South Africa}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.180782}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.180782}},
  volume       = {{1004}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}