Residential proximity to pesticide applications in Argentine Patagonia: impact on pregnancy and newborn parameters.

Among residents living close to agricultural fields who are potentially exposed to pesticides, pregnant women and their fetuses are of particular concern for their vulnerability to environmental chemicals. In this collaborative multicenter study, we covered a wide distribution of participants in the most important fruit production zone of north Patagonia (Argentina) to investigate whether maternal residential proximity to fruit croplands with intense pesticide applications (rural group -RG-) is associated with pregnancy complications and alterations in their newborn parameters compared to the urban population (urban group -UG-). A total of 776 pregnant women met the inclusion criteria. The percentage of threatened miscarriage was significantly higher in the RG than in the UG. The percentage of miscarriage, threat of premature labor, intrauterine fetal death, preterm premature rupture of membranes, and intrauterine growth retardation were similar in both groups. Newborn anthropometric parameters were corrected by sex and gestational age prior to statistical analysis. Length at birth and head circumference were lower in the RG than in the UG. Birth weight was similar in both groups. The percentage of head circumference less than the 5th percentile and the ponderal index were greater in the RG than in the UG. Our results suggest that proximity to pesticide applications may increase the risk of pregnancy complications and altered newborn parameters.

Exposición ambiental a plaguicidas: impacto en parámetros moleculares, bioquímicos y morfométricos de la tríada madre-placenta-feto / Environmental exposure to pesticides: impact on molecular, biochemical and morphometric parameters of the mother-placenta-fetus triad

INTRODUCCION:La salud prenatal representa un problema relevante de salud públic, y uno de los temas prioritarios es la exposición ambiental a los plaguicidas.OBJETIVO:Identificar modificaciones en biomarcadores de efecto en la tríada madre-placenta-feto, mecanismos involucrados y asociaciones con el desarrollo "in utero".METODOS:Se realizó un estudio prospectivo con 776 embarazadas del Alto Valle del Río Negro, donde se aplican organofosforados (OF) intensivamente. Se utilizaron criterios de inclusión/exclusión, determinándose parámetros bioquímicos, moleculares y morfométricos en población de comunidades rurales (PoR) en período de pulverizaciones (PP) y de receso (PR) y en grupo control (PoC). Se registraron las alteraciones del embarazo.RESULTADOS:En PP, la Por presentó exposición a OF, y se vieron afectados los niveles de progesterona, cortisol y sulfato de dehidroepiandrosterona séricos durante el embarazo. En sangre de cordón aumentó la actividad de catalasa eritrocitaria. En la placenta se modificaron biomarcadores de estrés oxidativo, de funcionalidad mitocondrial, la expresión de TNFò e IL-13 y el contenido de la proteína Bcl-2. En concordancia, en células JEG-3 expuestas a OF se observó estrés oxidativo, apoptosis y aumento en la expresión de dichas citoquinas. La talla y el perímetro cefálico ajustados por sexo y edad gestacional del neonato fueron menores en PoR que en PoC (p<0,010 y p<0,05, respectivamente), mientras que el porcentaje de neonatos con perímetro cefálico menor al percentilo 5 fue mayor. En PoR se registró un mayor porcentaje de amenaza de aborto. Los niveles maternos de cortisol de primer y segundo trimestre de embarazo de PoR se asociaron negativamente con el peso y el perímetro cefálico.CONCLUSIONES:En PoR se afectaron parámetros de la tríada y del desarrollo intrauterino. El aumento en el nivel de cortisol materno sobreexpondría al feto a esta hormona, afectando la programación del eje hipotalámico-adrenal y la capacidad cognitiva.

INTRODUCTION: Prenatal health represents a relevant problem in public health. Special attention should be given to pesticide environmental exposure.OBJECTIVE: To identify changes in biomarkers of effect in the triad mother-placenta-fetus, mechanisms involved and their association with the in utero development.METHODS: Prospective study of 776 pregnante woman living in the High Valley of Río Negro, where organophosphate pesticides (OP) are intensively applied. The study used inclusion/exclusion criteria. Biochemical, molecular and morphometric parameters were determined in rural residents (RR) in pulverization (PP) and recess periods (RP) and in a control group (CG). Pregnancy alterations were registered.RESULTS: In PP, RR were exposed to OP, while serum progesterone, cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels were affected during pregnancy. In cord blood, erythrocyte catalase activity was increased. In the placenta, there was a change in stress oxidative biomarkers, mitochondrial function biomarkers, the expression of TNFò and IL-13 and the protein Bcl-2 content. In line with the above, JEG-3 cells exposed to OP showed oxidative stress, apoptosis and increase in these cytokines expression. In RR, the newborn length and heah circumference adjusted by sex and gestational age were lower (p<0.010 and p<0.05, respectively) than in CG. Meanwhile, the percentage of newborns with head circumference lower than percentile 5 was higher. In RR, a higher percentage of threatened abortion was registered. Cortisol blood levels at first and second trimester of pregnancy were negatively associated with newborn weight and head circumference.CONCLUSIONS: Parameters of the triad and intrauterine development were affected in RR. The increase in the level of maternal cortisol would overexpose the fetus to this hormone, affecting the programming of hypothalamic-adrenal axis and the cognitive ability.

Exposición ambiental a plaguicidas: impacto en parámetros moleculares, bioquímicos y morfométricos de la tríada madre-placenta-feto / Environmental exposure to pesticides: impact on molecular, biochemical and morphometric parameters of the mother-placenta-fetus triad

INTRODUCCION:La salud prenatal representa un problema relevante de salud públic, y uno de los temas prioritarios es la exposición ambiental a los plaguicidas.OBJETIVO:Identificar modificaciones en biomarcadores de efecto en la tríada madre-placenta-feto, mecanismos involucrados y asociaciones con el desarrollo "in utero".METODOS:Se realizó un estudio prospectivo con 776 embarazadas del Alto Valle del Río Negro, donde se aplican organofosforados (OF) intensivamente. Se utilizaron criterios de inclusión/exclusión, determinándose parámetros bioquímicos, moleculares y morfométricos en población de comunidades rurales (PoR) en período de pulverizaciones (PP) y de receso (PR) y en grupo control (PoC). Se registraron las alteraciones del embarazo.RESULTADOS:En PP, la Por presentó exposición a OF, y se vieron afectados los niveles de progesterona, cortisol y sulfato de dehidroepiandrosterona séricos durante el embarazo. En sangre de cordón aumentó la actividad de catalasa eritrocitaria. En la placenta se modificaron biomarcadores de estrés oxidativo, de funcionalidad mitocondrial, la expresión de TNFò e IL-13 y el contenido de la proteína Bcl-2. En concordancia, en células JEG-3 expuestas a OF se observó estrés oxidativo, apoptosis y aumento en la expresión de dichas citoquinas. La talla y el perímetro cefálico ajustados por sexo y edad gestacional del neonato fueron menores en PoR que en PoC (p<0,010 y p<0,05, respectivamente), mientras que el porcentaje de neonatos con perímetro cefálico menor al percentilo 5 fue mayor. En PoR se registró un mayor porcentaje de amenaza de aborto. Los niveles maternos de cortisol de primer y segundo trimestre de embarazo de PoR se asociaron negativamente con el peso y el perímetro cefálico.CONCLUSIONES:En PoR se afectaron parámetros de la tríada y del desarrollo intrauterino. El aumento en el nivel de cortisol materno sobreexpondría al feto a esta hormona, afectando la programación del eje hipotalámico-adrenal y la capacidad cognitiva.

INTRODUCTION: Prenatal health represents a relevant problem in public health. Special attention should be given to pesticide environmental exposure.OBJECTIVE: To identify changes in biomarkers of effect in the triad mother-placenta-fetus, mechanisms involved and their association with the in utero development.METHODS: Prospective study of 776 pregnante woman living in the High Valley of Río Negro, where organophosphate pesticides (OP) are intensively applied. The study used inclusion/exclusion criteria. Biochemical, molecular and morphometric parameters were determined in rural residents (RR) in pulverization (PP) and recess periods (RP) and in a control group (CG). Pregnancy alterations were registered.RESULTS: In PP, RR were exposed to OP, while serum progesterone, cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels were affected during pregnancy. In cord blood, erythrocyte catalase activity was increased. In the placenta, there was a change in stress oxidative biomarkers, mitochondrial function biomarkers, the expression of TNFò and IL-13 and the protein Bcl-2 content. In line with the above, JEG-3 cells exposed to OP showed oxidative stress, apoptosis and increase in these cytokines expression. In RR, the newborn length and heah circumference adjusted by sex and gestational age were lower (p<0.010 and p<0.05, respectively) than in CG. Meanwhile, the percentage of newborns with head circumference lower than percentile 5 was higher. In RR, a higher percentage of threatened abortion was registered. Cortisol blood levels at first and second trimester of pregnancy were negatively associated with newborn weight and head circumference.CONCLUSIONS: Parameters of the triad and intrauterine development were affected in RR. The increase in the level of maternal cortisol would overexpose the fetus to this hormone, affecting the programming of hypothalamic-adrenal axis and the cognitive ability.