Lower birth weight and increased body fat at school age in children prenatally exposed to modern pesticides: a prospective study.
Environ Health
; 10: 79, 2011 Sep 20.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21933378
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Endocrine disrupting chemicals have been hypothesized to play a role in the obesity epidemic. Long-term effects of prenatal exposure to non-persistent pesticides on body composition have so far not been investigated. The purpose of this study was to assess possible effects of prenatal exposure to currently used pesticides on children's growth, endocrine and reproductive function.METHODS:
In a prospective study of 247 children born by women working in greenhouses in early pregnancy, 168 were categorized as prenatally exposed to pesticides. At three months (n = 203) and at 6 to 11 years of age (n = 177) the children underwent a clinical examination and blood sampling for analysis of IGF-I, IGFBP3 and thyroid hormones. Body fat percentage at age 6 to 11 years was calculated from skin fold measurements. Pesticide related associations were tested by linear multiple regression analysis, adjusting for relevant confounders.RESULTS:
Compared to unexposed children birth weight and weight for gestational age were lower in the highly exposed children -173 g (-322; -23), -4.8% (-9.0; -0.7) and medium exposed children -139 g (-272; -6), -3.6% (-7.2; -0.0). Exposed (medium and highly together) children had significantly larger increase in BMI Z-score (0.55 SD (95% CI 0.1; 1.0) from birth to school age) and highly exposed children had 15.8% (0.2; 34.6) larger skin folds and higher body fat percentage compared to unexposed. If prenatally exposed to both pesticides and maternal smoking (any amount), the sum of four skin folds was 46.9% (95% CI 8.1; 99.5) and body fat percentage 29.1% (95% CI 3.0; 61.4) higher. There were subtle associations between exposure and TSH Z-score -0.66(-1.287; -0.022) and IGF-I Z-score (girls -0.62(-1.0; -0.22), boys 0.38(-0.03; 0.79)), but not IGFBP3.CONCLUSIONS:
Occupational exposure to currently used pesticides may have adverse effects in spite of the added protection offered to pregnant women. Maternal exposure to combinations of modern, non-persistent pesticides during early pregnancy was associated with affected growth, both prenatally and postnatally. We found a biphasic association with lower weight at birth followed by increased body fat accumulation from birth to school age. We cannot rule out some residual confounding due to differences in social class, although this was adjusted for. Associations were stronger in highly exposed than in medium exposed children, and effects on body fat content at school age was potentiated by maternal smoking in pregnancy.
Texto completo:
1
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Plaguicidas
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Efectos Tardíos de la Exposición Prenatal
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Recién Nacido de Bajo Peso
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Índice de Masa Corporal
Tipo de estudio:
Etiology_studies
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Incidence_studies
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Observational_studies
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Prognostic_studies
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Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Adult
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Child
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Female
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Humans
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Infant
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Male
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Newborn
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Pregnancy
País/Región como asunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Environ Health
Asunto de la revista:
SAUDE AMBIENTAL
Año:
2011
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Dinamarca