Sex-specific associations of prenatal multiple pesticides exposure and early childhood neurodevelopment: Evidence from SMBCS in China.

BACKGROUND

Prenatal exposure to pesticides may affect neurodevelopment, while limited studies explored the combined effects of multiple exposure to pesticides on the long-term process of neurodevelopment.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the individual and combined effects of prenatal multiple exposure to pesticides on neurodevelopment trajectory.

METHODS

A total of 675 mother-child pairs from SMBCS were included. Five groups [organophosphate (OPP), organochlorine (OCP), pyrethroid (PYR), neonicotinoid (NNI) and carbamate], including 25 pesticides and their metabolites were measured in urine samples of pregnant women. Development quotient (DQ) z-scores were utilized in latent class trajectory modeling (LCTM) to identify neurodevelopment trajectories. Logistic regression model and hierarchical probit Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) were conducted to explore the associations between single and multiple exposure to pesticides and the risks of being allotted to different trajectories. Sex-stratified analyses were conducted to explore the sex-specific effects.

RESULTS

OPP, OCP, PYR and carbamate metabolites were detected in > 90 % of urine samples, except for NNI. LCTM identified low-score trajectory group (n = 43, 6.37 %) and high-score trajectory group (n = 632, 93.63 %) of neurodevelopment trajectory. Increase in urinary cis-DCCA and trans-DCCA concentration was associated with higher odds for low-score trajectory group (cis-DCCA: OR = 2.20, 95 %CI:1.17-4.15; trans-DCCA: OR = 2.09, 95 %CI:1.12-3.89). Multiple exposure to pesticides showed significant combined effect on trend of low-score trajectory group, with PYR group (groupPIP = 0.964) as the predominant group and trans-DCCA (condPIP = 0.532) as the primary factor. These mentioned adverse effects were more pronounced in boys.

CONCLUSION

Prenatal multiple exposure to pesticides, may impair early-life neurodevelopment, with boys showing greater susceptibility.