Parenteral exposure to pesticides and occurence of congenital malformations: hospital-based case–control study

Abstract

BackgroundMost fetal defects are associated with genetic and environmental causes, among them, exposure of pregnant women to intensive pesticide use. Agribusiness is the economic basis of the state of Mato Grosso, the largest consumer of pesticides of all Brazilian states. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between past parental exposure to pesticides and the occurrence of congenital malformations in children in Mato Grosso, Brazil.MethodsThis hospital-based case–control study was conducted in Cuiabá, the capital of Mato Grosso, from March to October 2011. Data was collected in all public, private, and health plan referral hospitals that provide care for pregnant women in the state of Mato Grosso and were situated in Cuiabá. Cases were children under 5 years of age with congenital malformations classified in Chapter XVIII of the International Classification of Diseases-10 and controls were children within the same age range, without congenital malformations, treated at the same hospitals. Malformation-related data was obtained from the patients’ medical records. Socioeconomic data and information about parental exposure to pesticides were obtained in an interview with the mother using a standardized questionnaire. We conducted multivariate logistic regression to assess the relation between parent report of past pesticide use and congenital malformations. We also assessed effect modification to verify whether low maternal education level modified the association between exposure and our outcome.ResultsWe observed positive effect modification of the association of paternal past exposure to pesticide and congenital malformation in the offspring by maternal education for mothers with low educational level (OR = 8.40, 95 % CI 2.17–32.52), father’s work related to farming (OR = 4.65, 95 % CI 1.03–20.98) and paternal past exposure to pesticides (OR = 4.15, 95 % CI 1.24–13.66).ConclusionThese findings provide further evidence that paternal exposure to pesticides, especially when associated with a low maternal education level, may be related to higher rates of fetal malformation in Mato Grosso, Brazil.

Sub-Saharan Africa total diet study in Benin, Cameroon, Mali and Nigeria: Pesticides occurrence in foods

“…In this study, we aimed to generate mean contamination data, adequately reflecting the chronic exposure to pesticides from a typical diet, in specific areas. Consequences of chronic exposure to pesticides may include metabolic disorders, such as diabetes (Montgomery et al, 2008, Starling et al, 2014), reproductive disruption (Merviel et al, 2017, Ueker et al, 2016), genotoxicity (Eastmond & Balakrishnan, 2010) carcinogenesis (Engel et al, 2017, Uyemura et al, 2017), neurological (Muñoz-Quezada et al, 2016, Schmidt et al, 2017, Shelton et al, 2014, Wagner-Schuman et al, 2015) and sensory disorders (Sturza et al, 2016).…”

Major birth defects in the Brazilian side of the triple border: a population-based cross-sectional study

“…We also hypothesized the high incidence of some major birth defects may be related to the indiscriminated use of pesticides in the region with mutagenic and endocrine disruption properties [38]. The exposure of pregnancies to pesticides is associated with a higher chance of CLP, neural tube defects, congenital heart disease [39]. Foz do Iguassu is predominantly urban but surrounded by agricultural regions in both Brazil and Paraguay sides.…”

Distribuição espacial do uso de agrotóxicos no Brasil: uma ferramenta para a Vigilância em Saúde

“…Fetal malformation data were acquired from the Live Birth Information System (SINASC), referring to the evidence of congenital anomalies by mother's place of residence. Scientific evidence shows a higher occurrence of malformation in mothers living in rural areas, where mother exposure and mother/father occupational exposure 13,14 to pesticides is found.…”

“…Literature indicates that mothers' environmental exposure to pesticides was associated with a higher occurrence of fetal malformation in municipalities with high pesticide use, in all quarters of pregnancy in Mato Grosso 13 . Studies associate father or mother occupational exposure to pesticides with the occurrence of fetal malformation 14,31 . Exposure to chemical substances (pesticides) in regions of medium and high agricultural production has been identified as potential causal factors for cancers, since the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC/WHO) has classified pesticides frequently used in crops as potentially carcinogenic, for example, glyphosate 32 .…”