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Pesticide exposure and neurodevelopment in children aged 6–9 years from Talamanca, Costa Rica

van Wendel de Joode, Berna ; Mora, Ana M. ; Lindh, Christian H. LU orcid ; Hernández-Bonilla, David ; Córdoba, Leonel ; Wesseling, Catharina ; Hoppin, Jane A. and Mergler, Donna (2016) In Cortex 85. p.137-150
Abstract

Certain pesticides may affect children's neurodevelopment. We assessed whether pesticide exposure was associated with impaired neurobehavioral outcomes in children aged 6–9 years. We conducted a cross-sectional study in 140 children living near banana plantations and plantain farms in the Talamanca County, Costa Rica and assessed their neurobehavioral performance. Exposure was determined by analyzing urinary metabolites of chlorpyrifos (3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol, TCPy), mancozeb (ethylenethiourea, ETU), and pyrethroids (3-phenoxybenzoic acid, 3-PBA). Repeated urine samples were obtained for 36 children. We estimated associations of pesticide concentrations with neurobehavioral outcomes using multivariable linear and logistic... (More)

Certain pesticides may affect children's neurodevelopment. We assessed whether pesticide exposure was associated with impaired neurobehavioral outcomes in children aged 6–9 years. We conducted a cross-sectional study in 140 children living near banana plantations and plantain farms in the Talamanca County, Costa Rica and assessed their neurobehavioral performance. Exposure was determined by analyzing urinary metabolites of chlorpyrifos (3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol, TCPy), mancozeb (ethylenethiourea, ETU), and pyrethroids (3-phenoxybenzoic acid, 3-PBA). Repeated urine samples were obtained for 36 children. We estimated associations of pesticide concentrations with neurobehavioral outcomes using multivariable linear and logistic regression models. Median (25th–75th percentiles) TCPy, ETU, and 3-PBA concentrations were 1.4 (.7–3.1), 1.2 (.7–3.0), and. 8 (.5–1.5) μg/L, respectively. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) ranged between. 32 and. 67. After adjustment for potential confounders, higher urinary TCPy concentrations were associated with poorer working memory in boys (n = 59) (β per 10-fold increase in TCPy concentrations = −7.5, 95% CI: −14.4, −.7); poorer visual motor coordination (β = −1.4, 95% CI: −2.7, −.1); increased prevalence of parent-reported cognitive problems/inattention (adjusted OR per 10-fold increase in urinary concentrations = 5.8, 95% CI: 1.6, 22.9), oppositional disorders (aOR = 3.9, 95% CI: 1.0, 16.0), and ADHD (aOR = 6.8, 95% CI: 1.8, 28.6), and; decreased ability to discriminate colors (aOR = 6.6, 95% CI: 1.6, 30.3; the higher the score the worse). Higher ETU concentrations were associated with poorer verbal learning outcomes (β = −7.0, 95% CI: −12.7, −1.3). Higher 3-PBA concentrations were associated with poorer processing speed scores, particularly in girls (β = −8.8, 95% CI: −16.1, −1.4). Our findings indicate that children living near banana and plantain plantations are exposed to pesticides that may affect their neurodevelopment, which for certain domains may differ between boys and girls. We recommend the implementation of measures to reduce pesticide exposure in children living nearby banana plantations.

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; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Biomarkers, Children, Environmental exposure, Neurobehavioral effects, Pesticides
in
Cortex
volume
85
pages
14 pages
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:27773359
  • wos:000390510700015
  • scopus:84998679072
ISSN
0010-9452
DOI
10.1016/j.cortex.2016.09.003
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
a96056c8-417b-4d35-b8d2-3873905d9602
date added to LUP
2016-12-19 07:10:43
date last changed
2024-04-05 13:00:50
@article{a96056c8-417b-4d35-b8d2-3873905d9602,
  abstract     = {{<p>Certain pesticides may affect children's neurodevelopment. We assessed whether pesticide exposure was associated with impaired neurobehavioral outcomes in children aged 6–9 years. We conducted a cross-sectional study in 140 children living near banana plantations and plantain farms in the Talamanca County, Costa Rica and assessed their neurobehavioral performance. Exposure was determined by analyzing urinary metabolites of chlorpyrifos (3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol, TCPy), mancozeb (ethylenethiourea, ETU), and pyrethroids (3-phenoxybenzoic acid, 3-PBA). Repeated urine samples were obtained for 36 children. We estimated associations of pesticide concentrations with neurobehavioral outcomes using multivariable linear and logistic regression models. Median (25th–75th percentiles) TCPy, ETU, and 3-PBA concentrations were 1.4 (.7–3.1), 1.2 (.7–3.0), and. 8 (.5–1.5) μg/L, respectively. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) ranged between. 32 and. 67. After adjustment for potential confounders, higher urinary TCPy concentrations were associated with poorer working memory in boys (n = 59) (β per 10-fold increase in TCPy concentrations = −7.5, 95% CI: −14.4, −.7); poorer visual motor coordination (β = −1.4, 95% CI: −2.7, −.1); increased prevalence of parent-reported cognitive problems/inattention (adjusted OR per 10-fold increase in urinary concentrations = 5.8, 95% CI: 1.6, 22.9), oppositional disorders (aOR = 3.9, 95% CI: 1.0, 16.0), and ADHD (aOR = 6.8, 95% CI: 1.8, 28.6), and; decreased ability to discriminate colors (aOR = 6.6, 95% CI: 1.6, 30.3; the higher the score the worse). Higher ETU concentrations were associated with poorer verbal learning outcomes (β = −7.0, 95% CI: −12.7, −1.3). Higher 3-PBA concentrations were associated with poorer processing speed scores, particularly in girls (β = −8.8, 95% CI: −16.1, −1.4). Our findings indicate that children living near banana and plantain plantations are exposed to pesticides that may affect their neurodevelopment, which for certain domains may differ between boys and girls. We recommend the implementation of measures to reduce pesticide exposure in children living nearby banana plantations.</p>}},
  author       = {{van Wendel de Joode, Berna and Mora, Ana M. and Lindh, Christian H. and Hernández-Bonilla, David and Córdoba, Leonel and Wesseling, Catharina and Hoppin, Jane A. and Mergler, Donna}},
  issn         = {{0010-9452}},
  keywords     = {{Biomarkers; Children; Environmental exposure; Neurobehavioral effects; Pesticides}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{12}},
  pages        = {{137--150}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Cortex}},
  title        = {{Pesticide exposure and neurodevelopment in children aged 6–9 years from Talamanca, Costa Rica}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2016.09.003}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.cortex.2016.09.003}},
  volume       = {{85}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}