Organophosphate Pesticide Exposure and Neurodevelopment in Young Shanghai Children

Abstract

A large amount of organophosphate pesticides (OPs) is used throughout China. Animal studies have suggested that even moderate doses are toxic to neurodevelopment, but there are a few studies in humans. We investigated both the urinary levels of OP metabolites in children and their relationship with child neurodevelopment. Participating 301 young children (23-25 months of age) were recruited from two community hospitals in Shanghai between February and October 2008. We measured five nonspecific dialkyl phosphate (DAP) metabolite levels of OPs in the children's urine and examined their association with the children's developmental quotients (DQs) based on the Gesell Developmental Schedules (GDS). The creatinine-adjusted geometric means (GMs) of OP metabolites in urine samples were 11.27 μg/g for DMP; 6.99 μg/g for DMTP; 7.96 μg/g for DEP; 14.19 μg/g for DETP; and 4.55 μg/g for DEDTP. The children had relatively higher levels of OP urinary metabolites compared with those reported in developed countries, no association was found between child urinary levels of OP metabolites and any of the DQ scores. However, our results should be interpreted with caution, and more studies of children living in China are warranted given the relatively high levels of child OP urinary metabolites in Shanghai.

Neurodevelopmental effects in children associated with exposure to organophosphate pesticides: A systematic review

“…All studies except one cross-sectional study in China (Guodong et al, 2012) provided some evidence that exposure to OP pesticides was a risk factor for poor neurodevelopment, with the strongest effects stemming from prenatal exposures. Eleven studies (all longitudinal) were rated High, 14 studies were rated Intermediate, and two studies were rated Low.…”

“…The majority of studies ( N = 16) were conducted in the United States (Bouchard et al, 2010, 2011; Dahlgren et al, 2004; Engel et al, 2007, 2011; Eskenazi et al, 2007, 2010; Lizardi et al, 2008; Marks et al, 2010; Rauh et al, 2006, 2011, 2012; Rohlman et al, 2005, 2007; Ruckart et al, 2004; Young et al, 2005), but studies were also conducted in Ecuador ( N = 5) (Grandjean et al, 2006; Handal et al, 2007a, 2007b, 2008; Harari et al, 2010), Chile ( N = 1) (Muñoz et al, 2011), Egypt ( N = 1) (Abdel Rasoul et al, 2008), Israel ( N = 1) (Kofman et al, 2006), Argentina ( N = 1) (Martos Mula et al, 2005), Brazil ( N = 1) (Eckerman et al, 2007) and China ( N = 1) (Guodong et al, 2012). Exposure scenarios included occupational ( N = 3), residential ( N = 3), poisonings ( N = 1), para-occupational ( N = 11) and background environmental ( N = 9).…”

“…Assessment of motor skills was conducted in fourteen studies administering a battery containing specific subtests for motor abilities among others that assessed other neurodevelopmental areas as well (Eckerman et al, 2007; Engel et al, 2007, 2011; Eskenazi et al, 2007, 2010; Guodong et al, 2012; Handal et al, 2007a, 2007b, 2008; Rauh et al, 2006; Rohlman et al, 2005, 2007; Ruckart et al, 2004; Young et al, 2005). In five studies the motor skills were assessed by specific instruments for that area (Abdel Rasoul et al, 2008; Grandjean et al, 2006; Handal et al, 2007b; Harari et al, 2010; Lizardi et al, 2008).…”

Developmental neurotoxicity of succeeding generations of insecticides

“…In China, increasing DAP levels failed to increase the risk of poor motor and mental development at 2 years of age (Guodong and others 2012). Distinctively, in the CHAMACOS study, child DAPs levels at this same age were associated with increased risk of pervasive developmental disorder (consistent with Autistism Spectrum Disorders), but also with impaired congitive performance (Eskenazi and others 2007).…”

Magnetic core–shell nanoparticles coated with a molecularly imprinted organogel for organophosphate hydrolysis

“…Organophosphates are a class of highly toxic organic pollutants (HTOPs) that are widespread in the environment and especially in the groundwaters [1,2]. The chemical stability of these compounds in neutral or near-physiological conditions is so high that the half-life of some of them can reach up to several years.…”