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Attention Problems Caused by Prenatal Exposure to Pesticides
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, found that prenatal levels of the pesticides were related to attention problems at age 5, with the effects apparently stronger among boys.
"We were especially interested in prenatal exposure because that is the period when a baby's nervous system is developing the most," said Brenda Eskenazi.
Organophosphate pesticides act by disrupting neurotransmitters, particularly those which are important in sustaining attention and short-term memory.
The study followed more than 300 Mexican-Americans children and their mothers. Living in an agricultural community, their exposure to pesticides is likely higher and more chronic, on average, than that of the general U.S. population.
"It's known that food is a significant source of pesticide exposure among the general population," said Eskenazi.
"I would recommend thoroughly washing fruits and vegetables before eating them, especially if you're pregnant."
The team also found that children with lower levels of paraoxonase 1 (PON1), an enzyme that breaks down the toxic metabolites of organophosphate pesticides, had more neurodevelopmental delays than those with higher levels of the enzyme.
The researchers then evaluated the children at age 3.5 and 5 years for symptoms of attention disorders and ADHD using maternal reports of child behaviour, performance on standardized computer tests, and behaviour ratings from examiners.
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