Impact of Chlorpyrifos on Insects and Larger Animals
The insecticide chlorpyrifos has long been a significant method for managing a variety of pests, ranking as one of the most popular pesticides in the second half of the 20th century. However, similar to many pesticides, chlorpyrifos is imprecise and poses risks to non-target insects, such as bees, and it has also been associated with health issues in larger organisms, including humans.
Risks During Pregnancy
A recent study in the US indicates that the dangers linked to chlorpyrifos may start during prenatal development. Exposure to this insecticide in the womb is connected to structural brain abnormalities and diminished motor skills in children and teens.
Findings on Brain Development
The study revealed that higher prenatal exposure to chlorpyrifos correlates with greater deviations in brain structure, function, and metabolism among children and adolescents. The research found notable impairments in motor speed and programming in affected individuals.
Methodology and Data Collection
The team analyzed data from families in New York City gathered between 1998 and 2015. This data was part of a long-term pregnancy study initiated by Columbia University’s Center for Children’s Environmental Health. The study involved African-American and Dominican mothers aged 18 to 35, who filled out prenatal questionnaires and provided blood samples for measuring chlorpyrifos levels at birth.
Significant Links to Brain Abnormalities
Years later, MRI scans and behavioral assessments from the children, aged 6 to 14, indicated a significant link between prenatal chlorpyrifos exposure and brain abnormalities. The researchers noted that “prenatal exposure may induce lasting disturbances in brain structure, function, and metabolism proportionate to exposure levels.”
Current Usage and Recommendations
Many subjects in the study were likely exposed to chlorpyrifos at home, as they were born before or shortly after the pesticide’s residential use was banned in the US in 2001. While several countries have implemented similar bans, chlorpyrifos is still utilized in agricultural practices globally. Experts emphasize the necessity of monitoring exposure levels in vulnerable groups, particularly pregnant women in agricultural settings.
Study Limitations and Future Research
While this observational study demonstrates significant associations, it does not establish causation and did not account for postnatal exposure or other pesticides. The lack of demographic diversity in the sample may also impact the generalizability of the findings. Nonetheless, the widespread presence of chlorpyrifos highlights the urgency for further research on these potent pesticides, as similar organophosphate pesticides could yield comparable effects, necessitating caution in reducing exposure during critical developmental periods.
The findings were published in JAMA Neurology.
