Journal Article

Organophosphate Pesticide Exposure and Attention in Young Mexican-American Children: The CHAMACOS Study

Eskenazi, Brenda, Bradman, Asa, Kogut, Katherine, Barr, Dana Boyd, Calderon, Norma, Marks, Amy R., Johnson, Caroline, Harley, Kim

2010

Overview

Background: Exposure to organophosphate (OP) pesticides, well-known neurotoxicants, has been associated with neurobehavioral deficits in children. Objectives: We investigated whether OP exposure, as measured by urinary dialkyl phosphate (DAP) metabolites in pregnant women and their children, was associated with attention-related outcomes among Mexican-American children living in an agricultural region of California. Methods: Children were assessed at ages 3.5 years (n = 331) and 5 years (n = 323). Mothers completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). We administered the NEPSY-II visual attention sub-test to children at 3.5 years and Conners' Kiddie Continuous Performance Test (K-CPT) at 5 years. The K-CPT yielded a standardized attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Confidence Index score. Psychometricians scored behavior of the 5-year-olds during testing using the Hillside Behavior Rating Scale. Results: Prenatal DAPs (nanomoles per liter) were nonsignificantly associated with maternal report of attention problems and ADHD at age 3.5 years but were significantly related at age 5 years [CBCL attention problems: β = 0.7 points; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.2-1.2; ADHD: β = 1.3; 95% CI, 0.4-2.1]. Prenatal DAPs were associated with scores on the K-CPT ADHD Confidence Index > 70th percentile [odds ratio (OR) = 5.1; 95% CI, 1.7-15.7] and with a composite ADHD indicator of the various measures (OR = 3.5; 95% CI, 1.1-10.7). Some outcomes exhibited evidence of effect modification by sex, with associations found only among boys. There was also limited evidence of associations between child DAPs and attention. Conclusions: In utero DAPs and, to a lesser extent, postnatal DAPs were associated adversely with attention as assessed by maternal report, psychometrician observation, and direct assessment. These associations were somewhat stronger at 5 years than at 3.5 years and were stronger in boys.

• Publisher: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences,US Department of Health and Human Services
• Subject: Adolescent / Adult / Age / Assessments / Attention - drug effects / Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - ethnology / Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder / Barrons Confidence Index / Biological and medical sciences / California - ethnology / Chemical hazards / Child care / Child psychopathology / Child, Preschool / Children / Children's Health / Cohort Studies / Confidence / Depressive disorders / Development and progression / Environment. Living conditions / Environmental Exposure - analysis / Environmental Exposure - statistics & numerical data / Environmental health / Environmental Pollutants - toxicity / Environmental Pollutants - urine / Female / Health aspects / Humans / Longitudinal Studies / Male / Medical sciences / Metabolites / Mexican American children / Mexican Americans - ethnology / Models, Statistical / Mothers / Nanostructure / Organophosphates / Organophosphorus Compounds - toxicity / Organophosphorus Compounds - urine / Organophosphorus pesticides / Pesticides / Pesticides - toxicity / Pesticides - urine / Pesticides, fertilizers and other agrochemicals toxicology / Phosphates / Phosphoric acid esters / Pregnancy / Psychometrics / Public health. Hygiene / Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine / Ratings / Risk factors / Toxicology / Young Adult