Environmental exposure to pesticides and respiratory health

A systematic review of pesticide exposure, associated risks, and long-term human health impacts

Pesticides are widely used to control pests, but their widespread use raises concerns regarding potential health risks for humans. There are several routes through which pesticides can be ingested, inhaled, and absorbed, resulting in acute and long-term health consequences. This systematic review synthesizes the available evidence regarding the health risks and long-term effects of pesticide exposure, with a particular focus on epidemiological and toxicological studies. A systematic review was conducted by searching scientific databases i.e. Scopus, and Web of Science for peer-reviewed articles published between 2000 and 2024. Studies were selected based on their focus on pesticide exposure, health risks, and long-term effects. Meta-analysis was conducted where sufficient homogeneity of outcomes allowed. This review identified consistent associations between chronic pesticide exposure and non-communicable diseases, including cancer, neurological disorders, and endocrine disruptions. An increased incidence of respiratory issues and neurodegenerative diseases was often associated with occupational exposure to pesticides. People exposed for a prolonged or high intensity time period, particularly agricultural workers, were more likely to experience long-term health effects. There are a number of factors that influences the ability to draw definitive conclusions, including variations in pesticide types, exposure levels, and health outcomes. Chronic exposure to pesticides presents significant health risks, particularly for individuals in high-exposure environments like agriculture. While evidence indicates strong associations with several long-term health conditions, additional research is necessary to elucidate dose-response relationships and mechanisms of action. This review underscores the necessity for enhanced regulatory measures and improved safety protocols to mitigate pesticide-related health risks.

Dietary exposure to mixtures of chemicals in the first year of life and allergic and respiratory diseases up to 8 years in the French EDEN mother-child cohort

Exposure to environmental chemicals has been associated with higher risk of childhood allergies. This study aimed to examine the association between infant's dietary exposure to mixtures of chemicals and allergic and respiratory multimorbidity in childhood. Dietary exposures were assessed at 8 and 12 months in 724 and 745 children of the EDEN cohort. Allergic and respiratory multimorbidity clusters were identified using latent class analyses. Associations between dietary exposure to mixtures of chemicals and allergic clusters were assessed by adjusted multinomial logistic regressions. At 8 months, higher exposure to a mixture of furans, trace elements, dioxins and PAHs was positively associated with the "asthma only" cluster, while moderate exposure to a mixture of PAHs, pesticides, PCBs and acrylamide was negatively associated with this cluster. A mixture of PCBs and BFRs was positively associated with the "multi-morbidity" cluster. Exposure to a mixture of pesticides and trace elements was positively associated with the "allergy without asthma" cluster. At 12-months, higher exposure to a mixture of trace elements and pesticides was positively associated with "multi-morbidity" cluster. The differences in findings between the two ages suggest the need for further studies to explore this critical window of chemical exposure and its impact on children's health.

The association between children's exposure to pesticides and asthma, wheezing, and lower respiratory tract infections. A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Exposure to pesticides is a global public health problem, especially for children. Its association with chronic respiratory disease among children has attracted considerable attention, but the existing evidence remains inconclusive and cannot be certain. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aim to determine the global pooled effect size of association with pesticide exposure and asthma, wheezing, and respiratory tract infections among children.

Methods

A comprehensive search was conducted for relevant literature from electronic databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, Hinari, Semantic Scholar, and Science Direct. Studies that provided effect size on the association between pesticide exposure and childhood asthma, wheezing, and respiratory tract infections in children were included. The articles were screened, data was extracted, and the quality of each study was assessed with four independent reviewers. Random effects models for significant heterogeneity and fixed effect models for homogeneous studies were conducted to estimate pooled effect sizes with 95% confidence intervals using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis version 3.3.070 and MetaXL version 2. Funnel plot and Higgins I 2 statistics were used to determine the heterogeneity of the included studies. Subgroup analyses were computed based on the types of pesticide exposure, study design, sample size category, and outcome assessment technique.

Result

A total of 38 articles with 118,303 children less than 18 years of age were included in this meta-analysis. Pesticide exposure among children increased the risk of asthma by 24%; (OR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.14-1.35) with extreme heterogeneity (I 2 = 81%, p < 0.001). Exposure to pesticides increased the odds of developing wheezing among children by 34% (OR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.14-1.57), with high heterogeneity (I 2 = 79%, p < 0.001) and also increased the risk of developing lower respiratory tract infection by 79% (OR = 1.79, 95% CI: 1.45-2.21) with nonsignificant low heterogeneity (I 2 = 30%, p-value = 0.18).

Conclusion

This meta-analysis provided valuable evidence supporting the association between childhood asthma, wheezing, and lower respiratory tract infection with pesticide exposure. The findings would contribute to a better understanding of the estimate of the effect of pesticide exposure on respiratory health in children and inform evidence-based preventive strategies and public health interventions.

[Pesticide exposure and chronic respiratory diseases]

INTRODUCTION

Pesticides are used worldwide, mainly in agriculture as a means of controlling pests and protecting crops. That said, the entire world population is ultimately subject to pesticide exposure (consumption of fruits and vegetables, living near treated fields…), with varying degrees of toxicity involved.

STATE OF THE ART

In recent decades, epidemiological studies have contributed to the identification of chemical pesticide families with detrimental effects on human health: cognitive disorders, Parkinson's disease, prostate cancer… and impairment in respiratory functioning. Current scientific evidence points to the implication of the active substances in insecticides, herbicides and fungicides in chronic respiratory diseases, two examples being chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in exposed workers, and asthmatic wheezing in children during prenatal or postnatal exposure.

PERSPECTIVES

The safety of individuals exposed to pesticides is of key importance in public health. Further epidemiological investigations are needed to identify the chemical families affecting certain populations.

CONCLUSIONS

The scientific literature suggests strong links between pesticide exposure and respiratory health. Whether it be environmental or occupational, pesticide exposure can lead to respiratory disorders and symptoms of varying severity.

Pesticide exposure and asthma morbidity in children residing in urban, multi-family housing

BACKGROUND

Children are potentially more susceptible to the adverse effects of pesticides due to more sensitive organ systems and lower capacity to metabolize and eliminate chemicals compared to adults. The health risks are particularly concerning children with asthma, living in low-income neighborhoods in multi-family housing because of their impaired respiratory health, and factors associated with low-income, multi-family environments.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the association between pesticide exposure and asthma morbidity among children 7-12 years residing in low-income, multi-family housing.

METHODS

The concentrations of seven urinary pesticide biomarkers: 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPy), 2-isopropyl-4-methyl-6-hydroxypyrimidine, para-nitrophenol (PNP), 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA), 4-fluoro-3-phenoxybenzoic acid, trans-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethyl-cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid, and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) were measured. Children (n = 162) were followed for one year with three measures of pesticides biomarkers. Associations between individual biomarkers and asthma attack, asthma related health care utilization, and fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), adjusting for demographic and household factors were examined with Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE). Weighted Quantile Sum (WQS) regression was used to examine the effect of pesticide mixture on asthma attacks and asthma-related health care utilization (HCU).

RESULTS

In adjusted GEE models, positive non-significant associations were found between PNP and HCU (adjusted Odds Ratio(aOR):2.05 95% CI:0.76-5.52) and null associations for 3-PBA and HCU (aOR:1.07 95% CI: 0.88-1.29). Higher concentrations of PNP and 2,4-D were associated with significantly lower FeNO levels (PNP: -17.4%; 2,4-D:-19.74%). The mixture was positively associated with HCU in unadjusted (OR: 1.56 97.5% CI: 1.08-2.27) but not significant in adjusted models (aOR: 1.40 97.5% CI: .86-2.29). The non-specific pyrethroid biomarker 3-PBA at baseline contributed the greatest weight to the index (45%).

SIGNIFICANCE

There were non-significant associations between pesticide biomarkers and respiratory outcomes in children with asthma. There was a suggestive association between urinary pesticide biomarkers and HCU. Further studies with larger sample sizes could help to confirm these findings.

IMPACT STATEMENT

Pesticide exposure among children in the urban environment is ubiquitous and there is a dearth of information on the impact of low-level chronic exposure in vulnerable populations. This study suggested that pesticide exposure at concentrations below the national average may not affect asthma morbidity in children. However, different biomarkers of pesticides showed different effects, but the mixture suggested increasing pesticide exposure results in asthma related HCU. The results may show that children with asthma may be at risk for negative health outcomes due to pesticides and the need to further examine this relationship.

Maternal exposure of mice to glyphosate induces depression- and anxiety-like behavior in the offspring via alterations of the gut-brain axis

The past decade has been characterized by increased awareness and de-stigmatization of mental health issues, in particular the most common neuropsychiatric disorders depression and anxiety. Further, with growing understanding of neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder, the number of diagnosed patients has increased. The pathogenesis of these behavioral disorders is multifactorial and early-life exposure to environmental chemicals has been proposed to be a relevant risk factor that might mediate these effects by disturbances on the gut-brain-axis. However, for glyphosate, the most widely used pesticide worldwide, there are only limited and inconsistent findings that link chronic low-dose exposure in particular during early life to neurobehavioral disorders. Here, we explored the impact of maternal oral glyphosate exposure (0.5 and 50 mg/kg body weight/day) during pregnancy and the lactational period on offspring's behavior, brain gene expression and gut microbiota using a cross-generational mouse model. Behavioral analyses revealed a depression- and anxiety-like behavior as well as social deficits most notably in adult female offspring of glyphosate-exposed dams. Furthermore, the expression of tryptophan hydroxylase 2, an enzyme discussed to be linked to behavioral problems, was reduced in the hippocampus of female offspring and correlated to a glyphosate-induced DNA hypermethylation of the gene. Moreover, maternal glyphosate exposure significantly altered the gut microbiota in the female offspring including a decreased abundance of Akkermansia and increased abundance of Alistipes and Blautia, bacteria involved in tryptophan metabolism and associated with depression- and anxiety-like disorders. Our results suggest that glyphosate might influence the gut-brain axis crosstalk following in-utero and lactational exposure. This study underlines the importance of understanding the impact of exposure to pesticides on the gut-brain axis and further emphasizes the need for microbiome analyses to be compulsorily included in health risk assessments of pesticides.

Airborne occupational exposures associated with pulmonary sarcoidosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The aetiology and pathophysiology of sarcoidosis is ill defined-current hypotheses centre on complex genetic-immune-environmental interactions in an individual, triggering a granulomatous process. The aim of this systematic review is to define and describe which airborne occupational exposures (aOE) are associated with and precede a diagnosis of pulmonary sarcoidosis. The methodology adopted for the purpose was systematic review and meta-analyses of ORs for specified aOE associated with pulmonary sarcoidosis (DerSimonian Laird random effects model (pooled log estimate of OR)). Standard search terms and dual review at each stage occurred. A compendium of aOE associated with pulmonary sarcoidosis was assembled, including mineralogical studies of sarcoidosis granulomas. N=81 aOE were associated with pulmonary sarcoidosis across all study designs. Occupational silica, pesticide and mould or mildew exposures were associated with increased odds of pulmonary sarcoidosis. Occupational nickel and aluminium exposure were associated with a non-statistically significant increase in the odds of pulmonary sarcoidosis. Silica exposure associated with pulmonary sarcoidosis was reported most frequently in the compendium (n=33 studies) and was the most common mineral identified in granulomas. It was concluded that aOE to silica, pesticides and mould or mildew are associated with increased odds of pulmonary sarcoidosis. Equipoise remains concerning the association and relationship of metal dusts with pulmonary sarcoidosis.

Prenatal dietary exposure to chemicals and allergy or respiratory diseases in children in the EDEN mother-child cohort

INTRODUCTION

Maternal exposure to food chemicals may increase the risk of allergy and respiratory disorders in offspring. We aimed to assess the association of prenatal dietary exposure to single chemicals and chemical mixtures with allergy or respiratory events reported before age 8 y in children.

METHODS

We included 1428 mother-child pairs enrolled in the EDEN mother-child cohort. Maternal dietary exposure to 209 chemicals and eight associated mixtures was investigated. Allergic and respiratory diseases (wheezing, asthma, allergic rhinitis, eczema and food allergy) were reported by parents between birth and age 8 y. Associations with the studied outcomes were evaluated with three approaches based on adjusted logistic regression, estimating odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). First, food chemicals were considered individually, with correction for multiple testing. Second, chemicals selected by elastic net regression were considered simultaneously in a multiple exposure model. Third, predefined mixtures were introduced in the same adjusted logistic regression. Results are expressed as odds ratio (OR[95 % CI]).

RESULTS

Prenatal single exposure to 74 food chemicals was associated with higher risk of allergic rhinitis. Prenatal single exposure to 11 chemicals was associated with higher risk of wheezing. In the multi-exposure approach, risk of wheezing was associated with the pesticides diazinon and triadimenol, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon 5-methylchrysene. Phytoestrogen resveratrol was negatively associated with lower risk of both wheezing and allergic rhinitis, and mycotoxin monoacetoxyscirpenol was negatively associated with risk of eczema. Finally, a chemical mixture composed mainly of trace elements, furans and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, was associated with higher risk of allergic rhinitis (1.33 [1.02;1.73]).

CONCLUSION

Prenatal dietary exposure to chemicals was associated with risk of allergic rhinitis or wheezing up to age 8 y. A few chemicals were associated with other allergic and respiratory diseases. Larger prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Incorporating Bioaccessibility into Inhalation Exposure Assessment of Emamectin Benzoate from Field Spraying

The inhalation exposure of pesticide applicators and residents who live close to pesticide-treated fields is a worldwide concern in public health. Quantitative assessment of exposure to pesticide inhalation health risk highlights the need to accurately assess the bioaccessibility rather than the total content in ambient air. Herein, we developed an in vitro method to estimate the inhalation bioaccessibility of emamectin benzoate and validated its applicability using a rat plasma pharmacokinetic bioassay. Emamectin benzoate was extracted using the Gamble solution, with an optimized solid-to-liquid ratio (1/250), extraction time (24 h), and agitation (200 rpm), which obtained in vitro inhalation bioaccessibility consistent with its inhalation bioavailability in vivo (32.33%). The margin of exposure (MOE) was used to assess inhalation exposure risk. The inhalation unit exposures to emamectin benzoate of applicators and residents were 11.05-28.04 and 0.02-0.04 ng/m³, respectively, varying markedly according to the methods of application, e.g., formulations and nozzles. The inhalation risk assessment using present application methods appeared to be acceptable; however, the MOE of emamectin benzoate might be overestimated by 32% without considering inhalation bioaccessibility. Collectively, our findings contribute insights into the assessment of pesticide inhalation exposure based on bioaccessibility and provide guidance for the safe application of pesticides.

Inhalation bioaccessibility of inhaled triazole fungicides and health risk assessment during spraying

BACKGROUND

Ambient air pollution caused by pesticide drift has received great attention. To accurately evaluate the health risk of inhaled pesticides, bioaccessibility should be considered. However, methods to reliably assess pesticide residues remain limited, hindering the precise estimation of exposure assessment. We aimed to optimize an in vitro method for the inhalation bioaccessibility (IBA) measurement of triazole fungicides and to incorporate this into inhalation exposure assessment during pesticide spraying.

RESULTS

The IBA of triazole fungicides increased logarithmically with extraction duration, plateauing after 6 h. The frequency of agitation displayed a similar pattern, whereas the ratio of solid to liquid between 1/1500 and 1/250 was considerably negatively associated. The predicted values (35.9-53.5%) for IBA based on optimized methodological parameters determined using a response surface methodology showed an acceptable deviation from experimental values (30.7-50.8%), suggesting feasibility for in vitro IBA measurement. Incorporating IBA into calculations of inhalation exposure amount (IE) yielded a value of 8.5 × 10^-7 -2.1 × 10^-5  mg kg^-1  day^-1 , a 50-68% reduction compared to IE based on total amount. Additionally, the safety exposure threshold was determined for triazole fungicides using benchmark dose modelling of data from lung A549 cell proliferation toxicity assays, and in this context, margin of exposure (MOE) values were calculated to be within an acceptable level.

CONCLUSION

This in vitro method supplements bioaccessibility evaluation based on pesticide inhalation exposure, along with the risk to human health. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Systematic Review: Association of Pesticide Exposure and Child Wheeze and Asthma

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of wheeze and asthma has risen over recent decades for all age groups, especially children. These disorders can lead to decreased quality of life, missed school, urgent care and emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and increased health care costs. Environmental exposures, including pesticide exposure, are likely a contributing factor to this increased prevalence.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association of pesticide exposure with childhood wheeze and asthma.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review evaluating studies of pesticide exposure (measured objectively) and child respiratory outcomes. We searched PubMed, Embase (Elsevier), CINAHL (EBSCO), Scopus (Elsevier), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (Wiley), and ClinicalTrials. gov from 1988 - 2021. Main search keywords included "pesticides", "insecticides", "herbicides", "respiratory", "asthma" and "wheeze".

RESULTS

Out of 5767 studies, 25 met the inclusion criteria; eight evaluated prenatal pesticide exposure (n=8407), twelve evaluated postnatal exposures (n= 50,488), and five evaluated pre-and postnatal exposures (n=20,919). Main pesticides investigated were dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) (14 studies) followed by organophosphates (7 studies). Primary methods of outcome assessment were questionnaire-based (84%), followed by spirometry (16%), registry data, and blood measures. Studies varied in the strength of evidence relating to study design and measures. Most studies (84%) reported a positive association of exposure with adverse child respiratory health.

CONCLUSION

The studies suggest an association of pesticide exposure and childhood wheeze and asthma. The varying results and methods reinforce the need for more research and standardized approaches to these studies to confirm the suggested association of pesticide exposure and childhood wheeze and asthma.

Glyphosate differentially affects the allergic immune response across generations in mice

Exposure to environmental pollutants via food, particularly during the prenatal and early postnatal periods, has been linked to adverse effects on the immune system. Among these pollutants, the widely used pesticide glyphosate has been associated with endocrine disruption, autism, and cancer. Occupational high exposure to glyphosate has also been shown to influence immune function and exacerbate allergic asthma. However, there are no studies investigating the effect of a common low-dose glyphosate exposure on the allergic immune response - neither directly nor across generations. We therefore explored the impact of oral low-dose glyphosate exposure (0.5 and 50 mg/kg body weight/day) on airway inflammation in dams (F0) and the offspring (F1 and F2 generations) using a murine multi-generational asthma model. While exposure to 50 mg/kg glyphosate induced a mild eosinophilic infiltration in the bronchoalveolar lavage and T_H2 cytokine production in the dams, the F1 offspring developed a reduced immune response after maternal exposure to 0.5 mg/kg glyphosate. In particular, decreased lung inflammation, HDM-specific IgE levels, and asthma-relevant cytokine production were primarily observed in the female F1 offspring. However, not only the T_H2 cytokines IL-13 and IL-5 but also the T_H17 cytokine IL-17 and T_H1 cytokine IFN-γ were reduced indicating a more general immunosuppressive function. Notably, the dampened immune response was no longer observed in the female F2 generation. Furthermore, female F1 offspring showed an increased abundance of bacteria in the gut, which have been associated with probiotic-mediated reduced allergic immune responses. Our results suggest a potential immunosuppressive effect of low-dose maternal glyphosate exposure in the F1 offspring that might be mediated by an altered microbiota composition. Further studies are needed to explore if this type of immune response modulation might also be associated with impairments in immune defense upon infectious diseases or even cancer pathology.

Effect of Gestational Pesticide Exposure on the Child's Respiratory System: A Narrative Review

BACKGROUND

In recent years, concern has arisen worldwide about the potential adverse effects that could result from early-life exposure to pesticides. Asthma, bronchitis, and persistent cough in children have been linked to gestational exposure to pesticides. The respiratory effects of gestational exposure to pesticides are controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between pesticide exposure in pregnant women and its effect on the respiratory system of their children.

METHODS

A narrative review was carried out by means of a search in the main databases.

RESULTS

Findings of studies confirmed the effects of pesticides on the child's health. These substances cross the placenta and become transmitters of exposure to the individual at the most sensitive stage of her development.

CONCLUSIONS

Chronic exposure to pesticides in fetuses is associated with chronic respiratory symptoms and disease.

Domestic Exposure to Chemicals in Household Products, Building Materials, Decoration, and Pesticides: Guidelines for Interventions During the Perinatal Period from the French National College of Midwives

INTRODUCTION

We are exposed to numerous pollutants inside our homes. The perinatal period represents a particular window of vulnerability during which these exposures can have negative health effects over a more or less long term. The objective of this article is to formulate guidelines for health care professionals and intended for parents to reduce exposure to chemical pollutants at home, based on the scientific literature and already existing guidelines.

METHODS

We have followed the methodological procedures set forth by the French authority for health (HAS) to establish guidelines to limit exposure to pollutants in homes. This narrative review of the scientific literature was conducted with two principal objectives: (1) to identify priority substances emitted within homes and that have a reprotoxic potential and (2) to identify measures to limit exposure to these residential pollutants. The guidelines were developed from the data in the literature and from advice already made available by diverse institutions about environmental health during the perinatal period.

RESULTS

Domestic pollutants are numerous and come from both common (that is, shared, eg, painting, cleaning, and maintenance work) and specific (use of household pesticides) sources. Numerous pollutants are suspected or known to produce developmental toxicity, that is, to be toxic to children during developmental stages. Removing some products from the home, protecting the vulnerable (ie, pregnant women and young children) from exposure, and airing the home are among the preventive measures proposed to limit exposure to these chemical substances.

CONCLUSION

Health care professionals can provide advice to parents during the perinatal period to diminish exposure to household pollutants. The lack of interventional studies nonetheless limits the level of evidence for most of these recommendations.

A large scale multi-laboratory suspect screening of pesticide metabolites in human biomonitoring: From tentative annotations to verified occurrences

Within the Human Biomonitoring for Europe initiative (HBM4EU), a study to determine new biomarkers of exposure to pesticides and to assess exposure patterns was conducted. Human urine samples (N = 2,088) were collected from five European regions in two different seasons. The objective of the study was to identify pesticides and their metabolites in collected urine samples with a harmonized suspect screening approach based on liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) applied in five laboratories. A combined data processing workflow included comprehensive data reduction, correction of mass error and retention time (RT) drifts, isotopic pattern analysis, adduct and elemental composition annotation, finalized by a mining of the elemental compositions for possible annotations of pesticide metabolites. The obtained tentative annotations (n = 498) were used for acquiring representative data-dependent tandem mass spectra (MS2) and verified by spectral comparison to reference spectra generated from commercially available reference standards or produced through human liver S9 in vitro incubation experiments. 14 parent pesticides and 71 metabolites (including 16 glucuronide and 11 sulfate conjugates) were detected. Collectively these related to 46 unique pesticides. For the remaining tentative annotations either (i) no data-dependent MS2 spectra could be acquired, (ii) the spectral purity was too low for sufficient matching, or (iii) RTs indicated a wrong annotation, leaving potential for more pesticides and/or their metabolites being confirmed in further studies. Thus, the reported results are reflecting only a part of the possible pesticide exposure.

Prenatal pyrethroid exposure and lung function among school-aged children

BACKGROUND

Previous epidemiological evidence mainly focused on the adverse effects of prenatal exposure to pyrethroid insecticides (PYRs) on respiratory health during childhood. It remains unclear whether the PYR exposures can also impact on children's lung function.

OBJECTIVES

To explore the potential effects of prenatal PYR exposures on lung function in a population of Chinese children.

METHODS

This study included 233 mother-child dyads from the Laizhou Wan Birth Cohort (LWBC), Shandong province, northern China, between September 2010 and December 2013. Three metabolites of PYRs [3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA), and cis- and trans-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (cis-DCCA and trans-DCCA)] were measured using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in maternal urine samples collected at recruitment. Lung function was assessed with spirometry in children aged 6-8 years. Multivariable linear regression and generalized linear models (GLMs) assessed the associations of prenatal PYR exposures with lung function in children.

RESULTS

Among the PYR metabolites, 3-PBA (81.5%) were most frequently detected, followed by trans-DCCA (55.4%) and cis-DCCA (21.9%). The 3-PBA concentration was associated with a 1% decrease in FEV₁/FVC in the highest quartiles of exposure compared to the lowest quartile, with a potential dose response association (p-trend = 0.085). Our findings provide a suggestive effect modification by sex, with girls being more susceptible than the boys (p-trend = 0.011). However, there were no associations between the trans-DCCA concentration and lung function parameters.

CONCLUSION

Prenatal 3-PBA concentrations were associated with a modest decrease in FEV₁/FVC among school-aged children, and the association was slightly more pronounced for the girls than for the boys.

Respiratory, hepatic, renal, and hematological disorders among adolescent females environmentally exposed to pesticides, Menoufia governorate, Egypt

Adolescent females are often environmentally exposed to pesticides by living near agricultural fields, by using pesticides at home, or by having contact with contaminated clothes and pesticide application work tools. This study assessed respiratory, hepatic, renal, and hematological health disorders that might arise due to environmental exposure to pesticides among adolescent females. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 100 adolescent females environmentally exposed to pesticides that had one or more of their family members working as seasonal pesticide applicators and 50 nonexposed (control) adolescent females from Menoufia governorate, Egypt. The studied period of pesticide application season of the cotton crop was from May 1 to September 1, 2017. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire about pesticide exposure and respiratory, hepatic, renal, and hematological disorders. In addition, serum acetylcholinesterase (AChE), spirometry, complete blood count, and liver and kidney function tests were measured pre and post-pesticide application season. The control adolescent females had a higher AChE activity, a lower prevalence of respiratory symptoms, and higher means of spirometric measurements than the exposed group. During the pre- and postseason, the exposed group presented a prevalence of (6%, 24%) for cough, (4%, 11%) for rhinitis, and (6%, 26%) for dyspnea during the pre and postseason, respectively. In addition, there was a decrease in means of spirometric measurements (FEV₁%, FEV₁/FVC%, FEF _25-75%, and PEF%) in the postseason compared to preseason among the exposed group. Also, there were significant associations between (AChE) activity and both the prevalence of respiratory manifestations and spirometric measurements among the exposed females. On the other hand, there was a statistically significant increase in red blood corpuscle (RBC) and lymphocyte counts, and a statistically significantly lower mean hemoglobin level among the exposed group (postseason) than each of their pre-season values and the control group (P < 0.05). AChE level, total protein, albumin, and albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio levels were statistically significantly lower, while SGPT, SGOT and globulin, blood urea, and serum creatinine mean levels were statistically significantly higher among the exposed group (postseason) than either of their preseason or the control group (P < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between the AChE level and all studied CBC parameters for the exposed group reaching a statistically significant level with basophils (P < 0.05). Also, there was a negative correlation between the AChE level and each of SGPT, SGOT, ALP, globulin, blood urea, and serum creatinine for the exposed group reaching a statistically significant level with each of SGPT and SGOT (P < 0.05). At the same time, a nonsignificant positive correlation was found between AChE level and each of total protein, albumin, and A/G ratio (P > 0.05). So, environmental exposure to organophosphorus pesticides has a detrimental impact on respiratory, hepatic, renal, and hematological systems of adolescent females living in rural districts at the Menoufia governorate. Educational and training intervention programs on pesticide handling and safety precautions are recommended for protecting both pesticide workers and their family members who might be exposed.

Maternal pesticides exposure in pregnancy and the risk of wheezing in infancy: A prospective cohort study

INTRODUCTION

Pesticide exposure in pregnancy may have health effects in the offspring. We studied whether maternal pesticides exposure during pregnancy is associated with infant wheezing.

METHODS

The study involved 5997 children from the Italian NINFEA birth cohort, whose mothers were recruited during pregnancy between 2005 and 2016. We used questionnaires completed during pregnancy and 6 months after delivery to derive the following indirect measures of exposure: i) Self-reported pesticide use during the first and the third trimester of pregnancy; (ii) Agricultural activities during the same trimesters. We also evaluated the exposure to agricultural pesticides applied near home using the Corine Land Cover inventory to derive the proportion of a 200-metre buffer area around maternal home address covered by agricultural crops and specific crop types (arable land, fruit trees, heterogeneous cultivations). Questionnaires completed when the child turned 18 months reported information on wheezing between 6 and 18 months of age. We estimated the odds ratios of wheezing adjusting for the following maternal characteristics: age, education, parity, asthma, atopy, smoking in pregnancy, region and area of residence, pet ownership during pregnancy. Crops proximity analyses were restricted to residents in rural areas (N = 1674).

RESULTS

Agricultural activities during pregnancy were not associated with infant wheezing. Compared to no pesticide use, there was a weak positive association for self-reported use in the third trimester (POR: 1.30; 95 %CI 0.95-1.78) and a stronger association for use in both trimesters (POR: 1.72; 95 %CI 1.11-2.65). The relationship between the proportion of crops around the home address and the risk of infant wheezing, was J-shaped, in particular for fruit trees with the lowest risk for mid values and elevated risk for higher values.

CONCLUSION

We found some evidence of association for maternal pesticide use in pregnancy and residential proximity to fruit trees cultivations with infant wheezing.

Maternal Exposure to Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Asthma, Allergic Rhinitis and Atopic Dermatitis in the Offspring: The Environmental Health Fund Birth Cohort

Background: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent organic pollutants banned for use worldwide. Due to their biodegradation resistance, they accumulate along the food chain and in the environment. Maternal exposure to PCBs may affect the fetus and the infant. PCBs are immunotoxic and may damage the developing immune system. PCBs are associated with elevated IgE antibodies in cord blood and are considered to be predictive of atopic reactions. Several studies on the association between prenatal exposure to PCBs and atopic reactions were previously published, albeit with conflicting results. Objectives: To examine the association between maternal PCBs levels and atopic reactions in their offspring. Methods: During the years 2013-2015, a prospective birth cohort was recruited at the delivery rooms of Shamir Medical Center (Assaf Harofeh) and "Dana Dwek" Children's Hospital. Four PCBs congeners were investigated: PCBs 118, 138, 153, and 180. In 2019, when children reached the age of 4-6 years, mothers were interviewed using the ISAAC questionnaire to assess symptoms of atopic reactions, including asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis. Results: One hundred and fifty mother-child dyads were analyzed. No significant differences were found in the median serum PCBs concentrations of each studied congener or total PCBs for asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis diagnosis, or parent-reported symptoms. No association was found between exposure to total PCBs and the risk for asthma symptoms or diagnosis, adjusted to maternal age and family member with atopic condition: aOR = 0.94, 95%CI: (0.88; 0.99). No association was observed between each studied PCB congener and asthma symptoms or diagnosis. The same results were found also for other studied outcomes-allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis. Conclusion: Our study joins a series of previous studies that attempt to shed light on environmental exposures in utero as influencing factors for atopic conditions in children. Our results reflect the complexity of the pathophysiology of these phenomena. No relationship between maternal serum PCBs levels was demonstrated for asthma, allergic rhinitis, or atopic dermatitis. However, additional multi-participant studies, with longer, spanning into later pediatric age follow up are needed.

Time-Specific Factors Influencing the Development of Asthma in Children

Susceptibility to asthma is complex and heterogeneous, as it involves both genetic and environmental insults (pre- and post-birth) acting in a critical window of development in early life. According to the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, several factors, both harmful and protective, such as nutrition, diseases, drugs, microbiome, and stressors, interact with genotypic variation to change the capacity of the organism to successfully adapt and grow in later life. In this review, we aim to provide the latest evidence about predictive risk and protective factors for developing asthma in different stages of life, from the fetal period to adolescence, in order to develop strategic preventive and therapeutic interventions to predict and improve health later in life. Our study shows that for some risk factors, such as exposure to cigarette smoke, environmental pollutants, and family history of asthma, the evidence in favor of a strong association of those factors with the development of asthma is solid and widely shared. Similarly, the clear benefits of some protective factors were shown, providing new insights into primary prevention. On the contrary, further longitudinal studies are required, as some points in the literature remain controversial and a source of debate.

Current use pesticides in soil and air from two agricultural sites in South Africa: Implications for environmental fate and human exposure

Concerns about the possible negative impacts of current use pesticides (CUPs) for both the environment and human health have increased worldwide. However, the knowledge on the occurrence of CUPs in soil and air and the related human exposure in Africa is limited. This study investigated the presence of 30 CUPs in soil and air at two distinct agricultural sites in South Africa and estimated the human exposure and related risks to rural residents via soil ingestion and inhalation (using hazard quotients, hazard index and relative potency factors). We collected 12 soil and 14 air samples over seven days during the main pesticide application season in 2018. All samples were extracted, purified and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. In soils, nine CUPs were found, with chlorpyrifos, carbaryl and tebuconazole having the highest concentrations (up to 63.6, 1.10 and 0.212 ng g^-1, respectively). In air, 16 CUPs were found, with carbaryl, tebuconazole and terbuthylazine having the highest levels (up to 25.0, 22.2 and 1.94 pg m^-3, respectively). Spatial differences were observed between the two sites for seven CUPs in air and two in soils. A large dominance towards the particulate phase was found for almost all CUPs, which could be related to mass transport kinetics limitations (non-equilibrium) following pesticide application. The estimated daily intake via soil ingestion and inhalation of individual pesticides ranged from 0.126 fg kg^-1 day^-1 (isoproturon) to 14.7 ng kg^-1 day^-1 (chlorpyrifos). Except for chlorpyrifos, soil ingestion generally represented a minor exposure pathway compared to inhalation (i.e. <5%). The pesticide environmental exposure largely differed between the residents of the two distinct agricultural sites in terms of levels and composition. The estimated human health risks due to soil ingestion and inhalation of pesticides were negligible although future studies should explore other relevant pathways.

Effect of Pesticide Residue in Muscle and Fat Tissue of Pigs Treated with Propiconazole

This study estimated the effect of exposure to propiconazole through implementation and residues in finishing pigs. We analyzed the expression of fibrosis-related genes and performed histological analysis of the blood, liver, kidney, muscle, ileum, and fat tissues. The animals were exposed for 28 d to different concentrations of propiconazole (0.09, 0.44, 0.88, 4.41, and 8.82 mg/kg bw/d). Quantitative, gene expression, and histological analyses in tissues were performed using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, real-time PCR, and Masson’s trichrome staining, respectively. Final body weight did not differ among groups. However, genes involved in fibrosis were significantly differentially regulated in response to propiconazole concentrations. Glucose, alanine aminotransferase, and total bilirubin levels were significantly increased compared with those in the control group, while alkaline phosphatase level was decreased (p<0.05) after exposure to propiconazole. The residue limits of propiconazole were increased in the finishing phase at 4.41 and 8.82 mg/kg bw/d. The liver, kidney, and ileum showed blue staining after propiconazole treatment, confirmed by Masson's trichrome staining. In conclusion, these findings suggest that propiconazole exposure disturbs the expression of fibrosis-related genes. This study on dietary propiconazole in pigs can provide a basis for determining maximum residue limits and a better understanding of metabolism in pigs and meat products.

Relationship between Respiratory Morbidity and Environmental Exposure to Organochlorine Pesticides in Armenia

BACKGROUND

Many studies have investigated the effects of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) on adverse health outcomes. However, studies addressing the link between respiratory health and OCPs are limited. Organochlorine pesticides are stable compounds and belong to the class of endocrine disrupting chemicals that represent a threat to global health.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the present study was to examine the association between respiratory morbidity and environmental exposure to OCPs in selected regions in Armenia.

METHODS

The study was carried out in Lori and Gegharkunik provinces/marzes. The prevalence rate (per 100 000 population) and the average chronological indicators (ACh) for all respiratory diseases and asthma were calculated. Concentrations of OCPs (γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (γ-HCH), dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane [DDT], dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) and dichloro-diphenyl-dichloroethane (DDD)) were determined in soil and plant product samples and the average annual total concentration (AATC) of OCPs (γ-HCH + 4,4'-DDT + 4,4'-DDE+4,4'-DDD) was calculated.

RESULTS

The ACI for all respiratory diseases showed a growth tendency in areas of Gegharkunik province ranging from 14.2 to 20.9% and an increase in asthma ranging from 9.4% to 174.6%. The highest levels of AATC of OCPs were found in soil sampled in Gegharkunik province: 9.48 ± 1.11 μg/kg and 8.10 ± 1.05 μg/kg and these levels differed significantly from those in Lori (p=0.01-0.0007). The AATC of OCPs in plant products from Gegharkunik was also statistically higher: 1.83±0.13 μg/kg, in comparison with that of Lori province 1.31±0.09 μg/kg (p = 0.001 - 0.0000).

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that the increased tendency of respiratory diseases and asthma could be related to OCP residues found in soil and plant products in Gegharkunik province. However, the role of OCPs should not be ignored. Further research is needed to study OCP contamination dynamics and clarify the role of OCPs in respiratory morbidity.

COMPETING INTERESTS

The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Environmental exposures and sleep outcomes: A review of evidence, potential mechanisms, and implications

Environmental exposures and poor sleep outcomes are known to have consequential effects on human health. This integrative review first seeks to present and synthesize existing literature investigating the relationship between exposure to various environmental factors and sleep health. We then present potential mechanisms of action as well as implications for policy and future research for each environmental exposure. Broadly, although studies are still emerging, empirical evidence has begun to show a positive association between adverse effects of heavy metal, noise pollution, light pollution, second-hand smoke, and air pollution exposures and various sleep problems. Specifically, these negative sleep outcomes range from subjective sleep manifestations, such as general sleep quality, sleep duration, daytime dysfunction, and daytime sleepiness, as well as objective sleep measures, including difficulties with sleep onset and maintenance, sleep stage or circadian rhythm interference, sleep arousal, REM activity, and sleep disordered breathing. However, the association between light exposure and sleep is less clear. Potential toxicological mechanisms are thought to include the direct effect of various environmental toxicants on the nervous, respiratory, and cardiovascular systems, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Nevertheless, future research is required to tease out the exact pathways of action to explain the associations between each environmental factor and sleep, to inform possible therapies to negate the detrimental effects, and to increase efforts in decreasing exposure to these harmful environmental factors to improve health.

Pyrethroid exposure among children residing in green versus non-green multi-family, low-income housing

BACKGROUND

There is growing concern about children's chronic low-level pesticide exposure and its impact on health. Green building practices (e.g., reducing leakage of the thermal and pressure barrier that surrounds the structure, integrated pest management, improved ventilation) have the potential to reduce pesticide exposure. However, the potential impact of living in green housing on children's pesticide exposure is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To address this question, a longitudinal study of pyrethroid metabolites (3-phenoxybenzoic acid [3-PBA], 4-fluoro-3-phenoxybenzoic acid [4-F-3-PBA], trans-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxylic acid [trans-DCCA]) in first morning void urine, collected from 68 children from New Orleans, Louisiana residing in green and non-green housing was conducted.

METHODS

Children were followed for 1 year with three repeated measures of pesticide exposure. Generalized estimating equations examined associations between housing type (green vs. non-green) and urinary pyrethroid metabolite concentrations adjusting for demographic and household factors over the year.

RESULTS

Ninety-five percent of samples had detectable concentrations of 3-PBA (limit of detection [LOD]: 0.1 μg/L); 8% of 4-F-3-PBA (LOD: 0.1 μg/L), and 12% of trans-DCCA (LOD: 0.6 μg/L). In adjusted models, green housing was not associated with statistically significant differences in children's 3-PBA urinary concentrations compared to non-green housing.

Effects of Chlorpyrifos on Serine Hydrolase Activities, Lipid Mediators, and Immune Responses in Lungs of Neonatal and Adult Mice

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is an organophosphate (OP) pesticide that causes acute toxicity by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in the nervous system. However, endocannabinoid (eCB) metabolizing enzymes in brain of neonatal rats are more sensitive than AChE to inhibition by CPF, leading to increased levels of eCBs. Because eCBs are immunomodulatory molecules, we investigated the association between eCB metabolism, lipid mediators, and immune function in adult and neonatal mice exposed to CPF. We focused on lung effects because epidemiologic studies have linked pesticide exposures to respiratory diseases. CPF was hypothesized to disrupt lung eCB metabolism and alter lung immune responses to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and these effects would be more pronounced in neonatal mice due to an immature immune system. We first assessed the biochemical effects of CPF in adult mice (≥8 weeks old) and neonatal mice after administering CPF (2.5 mg/kg, oral) or vehicle for 7 days. Tissues were harvested 4 h after the last CPF treatment and lung microsomes from both age groups demonstrated CPF-dependent inhibition of carboxylesterases (Ces), a family of xenobiotic and lipid metabolizing enzymes, whereas AChE activity was inhibited in adult lungs only. Activity-based protein profiling (ABPP)-mass spectrometry of lung microsomes identified 31 and 32 individual serine hydrolases in neonatal lung and adult lung, respectively. Of these, Ces1c/Ces1d/Ces1b isoforms were partially inactivated by CPF in neonatal lung, whereas Ces1c/Ces1b and Ces1c/BChE were partially inactivated in adult female and male lungs, respectively, suggesting age- and sex-related differences in their sensitivity to CPF. Monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) and fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) activities in lung were unaffected by CPF. When LPS (1.25 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered following the 7-day CPF dosing period, little to no differences in lung immune responses (cytokines and immunophenotyping) were noted between the CPF and vehicle groups. However, a CPF-dependent increase in the amounts of dendritic cells and certain lipid mediators in female lung following LPS challenge was observed. Experiments in neonatal and adult Ces1d^-/- mice yielded similar results as wild type mice (WT) following CPF treatment, except that CPF augmented LPS-induced Tnfa mRNA in adult Ces1d^-/- mouse lungs. This effect was associated with decreased expression of Ces1c mRNA in Ces1d^-/- mice versus WT mice in the setting of LPS exposure. We conclude that CPF exposure inactivates several Ces isoforms in mouse lung and, during an inflammatory response, increases certain lipid mediators in a female-dependent manner. However, it did not cause widespread altered lung immune effects in response to an LPS challenge.

Prenatal and Perinatal Environmental Influences Shaping the Neonatal Immune System: A Focus on Asthma and Allergy Origins

It is suggested that programming of the immune system starts before birth and is shaped by environmental influences acting during critical windows of susceptibility for human development. Prenatal and perinatal exposure to physiological, biological, physical, or chemical factors can trigger permanent, irreversible changes to the developing immune system, which may be reflected in cord blood of neonates. The aim of this narrative review is to summarize the evidence on the role of the prenatal and perinatal environment, including season of birth, mode of delivery, exposure to common allergens, a farming environment, pet ownership, and exposure to tobacco smoking and pollutants, in shaping the immune cell populations and cytokines at birth in humans. We also discuss how reported disruptions in the immune system at birth might contribute to the development of asthma and related allergic manifestations later in life.

Insecticide Filtration Efficiency of Respiratory Protective Equipment Commonly Worn by Farmers in Thailand

Farmers are at a high risk of inhalation exposure when handling pesticides. Thai farmers usually protect themselves against pesticide exposure by wearing commercial respiratory protective equipment (RPE) available from rural community markets. However, scientific data regarding the pesticide filtration efficiency of RPE commonly worn by farmers is limited. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the efficiency of insecticide filtration of various RPE commonly worn by farmers in Thailand. The half facepiece respirator was used as a control to compare the results with other RPE. Ten types of RPE were selected for testing. The filtration efficiency of each RPE against insecticides was tested in a laboratory. The remarkable findings were that a surgical mask demonstrated the least filtration efficiency of all tested insecticides, with a range of 25.7-61.5%. The RPE available in rural markets of Thailand had a filtration efficiency within a range of 64.9-95.4%, whereas a half facepiece respirator was the most efficient in filtering insecticides, with a range of 96.5-98.9%. Therefore, our results suggest that the RPE most frequently worn by farmers may not provide adequate protection when compared with the respirator. However, considerations around RPE use in low-and middle-income countries and tropical climate conditions should be based on pesticide toxicity and practical use, ensuring balance between the risks from pesticide exposure and acceptance of PPE use.

Ivermectin confers its cytotoxic effects by inducing AMPK/mTOR-mediated autophagy and DNA damage

Ivermectin (IVM), a broad-spectrum antiparasitic drug, is widely used in agriculture and animal husbandry. Due to widespread use and little metabolism in animals, the toxicity of IVM has received increasing attention. The accumulation of IVM in animal tissues and the excretion of urine and feces in the environment is the major source of potential toxicity. Human consumption of meat or milk contaminated with livestock can result in exposure to high levels of IVM exposure. The aim of this study was to reveal the cytotoxic mechanism of IVM in model cell HeLa in vitro, in order to provide a theoretical basis for the safe and rational use of IVM. Here we observed the γH2AX and 8-oxodG foci to detect the DNA damage in HeLa cells. As expected, we found that IVM can induce oxidative double-stranded damage in HeLa cells, indicating that IVM has potential genotoxicity to human health. In addition, we observed the formation of LC3-B in HeLa cells, the accumulation of Beclin1, the degradation of p62 and the activation of the AMPK/mTOR signal transduction pathway. This suggests that IVM confers cytotoxicity through autophagy mediated by the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway. We conclude that IVM produces genotoxicity and cytotoxicity by inducing DNA damage and AMPK/mTOR-mediated autophagy, thereby posing a potential risk to human health.

Assessment of chromosomal aberrations among agricultural workers exposed to pesticides in Punjab, India

Chromosomal aberrations (CAs) are an important tool for assessment of exposure to pesticides. Genotoxic potential of pesticides is a principal risk factor for long-term health effects. The present study was aimed toward the assessment of CAs among agricultural workers exposed to pesticides and comparison with nonagricultural workers not exposed to pesticides. A total of 296 subjects were enrolled in the study: exposed (n = 148) and nonexposed subjects (n = 148) from Punjab. A significantly high frequency of aberrations was seen in peripheral blood lymphocytes of exposed subjects as compared with nonexposed ones. Most CAs were present as loss (aneuploidy) and were observed significantly in subjects having a history of alcohol consumption. It can be, thus, concluded that agricultural workers exposed to a mixture of pesticides, in addition to being alcoholic, are at a greater risk of genotoxic damage. It is highly recommended that the agricultural workers are educated regarding the potential hazards of occupational exposure to pesticides.

Global trends in pesticides: A looming threat and viable alternatives

Pesticides are widely used chemical compounds in agriculture to destroy insects, pests and weeds. In modern era, they form an indispensable part of agricultural and health practices. Globally, nearly 3 billion kg of pesticides are used every year with a budget of ~40 billion USD. This extensive usage has increased the crop yield as well as led to significant reduction in harvest losses and thereby, enhanced food availability. On the other hand, indiscriminate usage of these chemicals has led to several environmental implications and caused adverse effects on human health. Epidemiological evidences have revealed the harmful effects of pesticides exposure on various organs including liver, brain, lungs and colon. Recent investigations have shown that pesticides can also lead to fatal consequences such as cancer among individuals. These chemicals enter ecosystem, thus hampering the sensitive environmental equilibrium through bio-accumulation. Due to their non-biodegradable nature, they can persist in nature for years and are regarded as potent biohazard. Worldwide, very few surveillance methods have been considered, which can bring awareness among the individuals, therefore the present review is an attempt to delineate consequences induced by various types of pesticide exposure on the environment. Further, the prospective of biopesticides use could facilitate the increase of crop production without compromising human health.

Association between cholinesterase's inhibition and cognitive impairment: A basis for prevention policies of environmental pollution by organophosphate and carbamate pesticides in Chile

BACKGROUND

In Chile organophosphate pesticides are widely used in the production of fruits. Pesticides use is regulated for professional practice but there is no regulation regarding exposure to the general population.

OBJECTIVE

To relate exposure to cholinesterase's inhibitor pesticides during the spray season with neuropsychological impairment in occupationally exposed (OE) and environmentally exposed (EE) groups of people.

METHODS

Exposure was assessed through inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activity and neuropsychological outcomes were evaluated through a large battery of tests covering general mental status, language, memory, attention, executive function, praxis and psychomotricity. Evaluations were carried out firstly in a period of no/low organophosphate pesticide use and subsequently during the spray season. All parameters were calculated as the relative change from baseline to spray season.

RESULTS

For this study in total 156 participants were recruited divided equally over participants with environmental exposures (EE) and participants with occupational exposure (OE). In the EE, BChE's enzyme activity inhibition ≥30% showed significant association with 10% or more decreased performance in several tests evaluating six of the eight cognitive areas (excepting psychomotricity and mood status); besides, for AChE inhibition in EE, the association was significant in three tests evaluating attention and one of executive function. Whereas, in OE, the inhibition of the BChE ≥30% was associated with a low performance of one attention test and for AChE the exceedance of the standard was associated with diminished performance in one test of memory and attention, respectively. The association between biomarkers of biological effect and cognitive impairment persisted among the EE group after removing confounders. No association was found between biomarkers of biological acute effect and decreased cognitive performance in the OE group.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased exposure to pesticides was confirmed by increased inhibition of cholinesterase's in both exposure groups; which was associated with a diminished neuropsychological performance, mainly in the environmentally exposed study group. [310 words].

Acute respiratory symptoms and its associated factors among mothers who have under five-years-old children in northwest, Ethiopia

Background

Poor air quality of the household is likely to be the largest public health concern in resource-constrained countries. Exposure to household air pollution, poor working environment, and fuel type used at household level have been associated with respiratory symptoms. This study aimed to assess acute respiratory symptoms and its associated factors among mothers who have under five-years-old children in Gondar city, northwest Ethiopia.

Method

A cross-sectional study was carried out from February 15, 2019 to June 20, 2019. Study participants were selected using simple random sampling, and data were collected via face-to-face interviews. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to test the association of explanatory and outcome variables. Variables with p < 0.05 were considered as significantly associated with the outcome variable.

Results

The prevalence of respiratory symptoms among mothers of under-five years-old children in this study was 46.1%. Education (vocational training compared to cannot read and write) (adjusted odd ratio (AOR) = 0.26 at 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.08–0.82), working in dusty environment (AOR = 2.90 at 95% CI: 1.39–6.08), wood fire use (AOR = 0.37 at 95% CI: 0.16–0.85), living in mud- and wood-walled houses (AOR = 0.53 at CI: 0.32–0.89), recent house painting (AOR = 1.95 at 95% CI: 1.03–3.69), new carpet (AOR = 2.02 at 95% CI: 1.08–3.77), pesticide use (AOR = 1.71 at 95% CI: 1.03–2.84), damp stain (AOR = 2.45 at 95% CI: 1.04–5.75), spending longer time in house for 6 to 11 h (AOR = 2.59 at 95% CI: 1.53–4.37) and 11 to 15 h (AOR = 3.47 at 95% CI: 1.87–6.43), and living less than 100 m from unpaved roads/streets (AOR = 4.35 at 95% CI: 2.64–7.18) were significantly associated with respiratory symptoms among mothers of under-five years-old children.

Conclusion

Respiratory symptoms were common among mothers who have under five-years-old children. Air quality improvement, fuel selection, and residential planning will help to reduce respiratory symptoms.

Respiratory and Allergic Effects in Children Exposed to Pesticides-A Systematic Review

Pesticide exposure may affect children’s respiratory and allergic health, although results from epidemiological studies have not reached consensus. This review aims to analyze the scientific evidence on respiratory and allergic effects of exposure to agricultural pesticides in children aged up to 12 years old. The databases PubMed, Web of Science, Scielo, and Lilacs were screened to select articles published in English, Spanish, or Portuguese, and 21 articles were included in this review. Most investigations were conducted in North America (mostly in the United States), while no studies conducted in Latin America or Africa were found, despite their intensive use of pesticides. Children are exposed to pesticides through multiple pathways from the prenatal period throughout later developmental stages and may experience several respiratory effects. Most studies (79%) found positive associations with pesticide exposure and children’s respiratory and allergic effects such as asthma, wheezing, coughs, acute respiratory infections, hay fever, rhinitis, eczema, chronic phlegm, and lung function impairments. Contrastingly, 21% of the studies found no associations between pesticide exposure and children’s respiratory health. The vast differences among the characteristics of the studies hamper any comparison of the results. Exposure to pesticides may have several impacts on childhood respiratory health. More studies must be conducted, especially in low- and middle-income countries, preferably with comparable research protocols adapted to local realities. Efforts should be made to develop comprehensive risk mitigation strategies and behavioral interventions to reduce children’s exposure to pesticides used in agriculture and respiratory health effects, and to ensure healthy childhood growth.

Evaluation of Pesticides Found in Oregon Cannabis from 2016 to 2017

Pesticide use and worker exposures to pesticides in the US cannabis industry have not been studied due to cannabis being illegal at the federal level. Without knowing the types of pesticides being used in this industry, it is difficult to assess whether workers are being exposed to potentially dangerous pesticides. When recreational cannabis became legal in the state of Oregon in 2014, the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) published a list of recommended pesticides for use in the cannabis industry and developed the state's pesticide testing regulations for all cannabis products, medicinal and recreational. Using the state's pesticide testing data, the aim of this study was to investigate the types of pesticides being used in the Oregon cannabis industry and if they present a hazard to cannabis workers. Both recreational and medicinal cannabis samples contained high levels of residual pesticides and pesticides not legally allowed to be used on cannabis products. Medicinal cannabis products were found to have mean levels of residual pesticides that were 3–12 times higher than recreational products. Nine of the 50 pesticides identified were classified highly or extremely hazardous by the World Health Organization.

The Organophosphorus Pesticide Chlorpyrifos Induces Sex-Specific Airway Hyperreactivity in Adult Rats

Occupational and environmental exposures to organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) are associated with increased incidence of asthma and other pulmonary diseases. Although the canonical mechanism of OP neurotoxicity is inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), it was previously reported that the OP chlorpyrifos (CPF) causes airway hyperreactivity (AHR) in guinea pigs at levels that do not inhibit lung or brain AChE. The guinea pig is considered to have inherently hyperresponsive airways, thus, cross-species validation is needed to confirm relevance to humans. Additionally, sex differences in asthma incidence have been demonstrated in the human population, but whether OP-induced AHR is sex-dependent has not been systematically studied in a preclinical model. In this study, 8-week old male and female Sprague Dawley rats were administered CPF at doses causing comparable AChE inhibition in whole lung homogenate (30 mg/kg in males, 7 mg/kg in females, sc) prior to assessing pulmonary mechanics in response to electrical stimulation of the vagus nerves at 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, 7 d or 14 d post-exposure in males, and 24 h or 7 d post-exposure in females. CPF significantly potentiated vagally induced airway resistance and tissue elastance at 7 d post-exposure in males, and at 24 h and 7 d post-exposure in females. These effects occurred independent of significant AChE inhibition in cerebellum, blood, trachealis, or isolated airway, suggesting that AChE independent OP-induced airway hyperreactivity is a cross-species phenomenon. These findings have significant implications for assessing the risk posed by CPF, and potentially other OPs, to human health and safety.

Neurobehavioral and Menstrual Disorders among Adolescent Females Environmentally Exposed to Pesticides, Menoufia Governorate, Egypt

Background

Adolescent females living in agricultural areas where crops are routinely sprayed by pesticides are expected to be environmentally exposed to pesticides' health hazards partially as those occupationally exposed.

Objective

to assess menstrual and neurobehavioral disorders among adolescent females environmentally exposed to pesticides.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study conducted on 100 pesticide exposed adolescent females who had one or more of family members are pesticides' seasonal applicators and 50 non- exposed adolescent females matched for age and education, served as controls at Menoufia governorate, Egypt during the period of pesticide application season of cotton crop from the first days of May to the end of September 2017. A self-administered and a series of neurobehavioral tests were administered and serum Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was assessed.

Results

A significant lower AChE activity levels were found in the exposed group than controls (Mean±SD=238.49± 23.83 vs 303.35±78.54 IU/L; respectively). There were significant higher mean scores of trail making test (parts 1 and 2) and significant lower mean scores of (similarities test, Benton visual retention test, block design test, Santa Ana dexterity test (dominant and non-dominant hands) and Beery visuo-motor imitation test in the exposed group than the controls (P<0.05). Also, the exposed group reported more prevalent irregular menstrual cycle (26.8%) and intermenstrual bleeding (28.2%) compared to the control participants (8.1% and 8.1%; respectively).

Conclusion

Adolescent females living in agricultural areas and from families whose one or more members are pesticides' applicators have significantly lower neurobehavioral performance, report more prevalent menstrual irregularities and have lower levels of serum AChE compared to a control group. The neurobehavioral deficits demonstrated a dose-response relationship AChE levels in the exposed participants. This necessitates the need for implementation of health education programs to prevent or reduce health effects associated with pesticide exposure to adolescent females.

Pesticides Exposure by Air in Vineyard Rural Area and Respiratory Health in Children: A pilot study

RATIONALE

Asthma, frequently associated with rhinitis, is the most common chronic disease in children, and a significant role is played by a range of environmental exposures. Among them, air pollution is of foremost concern. However, little is known about the impact of airborne pesticide exposure on children's respiratory health in rural areas. The objective of this study was to analyze the association between airborne pesticide exposure and asthma and rhinitis in children.

METHODS

In a French vineyard rural area, children (3-10 years old) from 4 selected schools were invited to participate in this study over two periods: winter, with no or low air pesticide levels, and summer when fields are frequently treated with pesticides. Two health outcomes were considered: asthma and rhinitis symptoms (ISAAC questionnaire), and peak expiratory flow (PEF). A quantitative score of symptoms was built. Exposure to pesticides was evaluated 1) by measuring 56 pesticides in the ambient outdoor air around schools in the two periods and building a cumulative exposure index, and 2) by measuring ethylenethiourea (ETU) concentrations in urine in a subsample of children (n = 96), ETU being a urine biomarker of exposure to dithiocarbamates fungicides. Next, the association between pesticide exposure and respiratory health was studied using a logistic regression model, adjusted for confounders and respiratory status at baseline.

RESULTS

281 children participated in the study (47% girls, mean age: 7.5 yrs). 25% of the children were living on a farm. 22% had experienced wheezing at least once. 15.8% had asthma diagnosed by a doctor, 12% had current asthma and 35% had allergic rhinitis. The main pesticides detected in the ambient outdoor air around schools were fungicides (89,3%; mainly folpet and dithiocarbamates) and insecticides (10.6%). No association was found between the symptom score and pesticides in the outdoor air around schools during summer, when pesticides were applied to vineyards. However, an association was found between ETU urinary concentration (>0.974 μg/g creatinine) and asthma and rhinitis symptoms (OR=3.56; IC 95% 1.04-12.12). This result could be explained by extracurricular exposure, which was not considered in our air measurements in the schools. No association was found between peak expiratory flow and exposure to pesticides in the air.

CONCLUSIONS

Children living in vineyard rural areas are at a higher risk of airborne dithiocarbamates exposure during the summer period. Despite the limited size of our sample, our results suggest possible links between some pesticide measurements and respiratory and allergic symptoms such as rhinitis.

The Aftermath of Bronchoconstriction

Asthma is characterized by chronic airway inflammation, airway remodeling, and excessive constriction of the airway. Detailed investigation exploring inflammation and the role of immune cells has revealed a variety of possible mechanisms by which chronic inflammation drives asthma development. However, the underlying mechanisms of asthma pathogenesis still remain poorly understood. New evidence now suggests that mechanical stimuli that arise during bronchoconstriction may play a critical role in asthma development. In this article, we review the mechanical effect of bronchoconstriction and how these mechanical stresses contribute to airway remodeling independent of inflammation.

Associations of residential exposure to agricultural pesticides with asthma prevalence in adolescence: The PIAMA birth cohort

BACKGROUND

It has been suggested that children who are exposed to agricultural pesticides have an increased risk of asthma, but evidence for associations betweeen residential pesticide exposure and childhood asthma is inconsistent.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the associations of residential pesticide exposure with the prevalence of asthma and related symptoms within a Dutch birth cohort study.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional analysis, we included participants of the PIAMA birth cohort study with data on residential pesticide exposure and asthma from parent-completed questionnaires at age 14, collected in 2012 (N = 1473). We used spatial data on the presence of individual crops (cereals, open field vegetables, commercial crops, open field floriculture/bulbs, corn and potatoes) and pesticide application on these crops to estimate residential exposure to pesticides with known irritant properties for the respiratory system within distances of 100, 500, and 1000 m of the participants' homes. Logistic regression was used to estimate associations between exposure and outcomes, adjusting for potential confounders.

RESULTS

No associations were found between living within 100, 500 and 1000 m of agricultural fields likely treated with pesticides and symptoms of asthma. For instance, for participants living within 100 m of fields with any crops likely treated with pesticides, the adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for the prevalence of asthma, shortness of breath and dry night cough at age 14 were 0.31 (0.07, 1.32), 0.61 (0.23, 1.57) and 1.26 (0.56, 2.80), respectively. No associations were found between estimated exposure to pesticides with known irritant properties for the respiratory system and asthma or related symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

There was no association between living near agricultural fields likely treated with pesticides and asthma and related respiratory symptoms, among our study participants.

Agriculture Occupational Exposures and Factors Affecting Health Effects

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Agriculture environments contain a variety of inflammatory aerosols that may increase risk for lung inflammation and disease in exposed individuals. In addition, epidemiological studies have also identified protective effects of rural environments and farming exposures.

RECENT FINDINGS

In this review, we will discuss recent literature published since 2016 that investigates the impact of differing agricultural exposures on respiratory health. Discussions include the impact of farming modernization, education, and personal protective equipment usage among workers, timing and duration in mediating lung health outcomes, and population studies investigating the association between exposure and risk for numerous lung diseases.

Mechanisms of organophosphorus pesticide toxicity in the context of airway hyperreactivity and asthma

Numerous epidemiologic studies have identified an association between occupational exposures to organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) and asthma or asthmatic symptoms in adults. Emerging epidemiologic data suggest that environmentally relevant levels of OPs may also be linked to respiratory dysfunction in the general population and that in utero and/or early life exposures to environmental OPs may increase risk for childhood asthma. In support of a causal link between OPs and asthma, experimental evidence demonstrates that occupationally and environmentally relevant OP exposures induce bronchospasm and airway hyperreactivity in preclinical models. Mechanistic studies have identified blockade of autoinhibitory M2 muscarinic receptors on parasympathetic nerves that innervate airway smooth muscle as one mechanism by which OPs induce airway hyperreactivity, but significant questions remain regarding the mechanism(s) by which OPs cause neuronal M2 receptor dysfunction and, more generally, how OPs cause persistent asthma, especially after developmental exposures. The goals of this review are to 1) summarize current understanding of OPs in asthma; 2) discuss mechanisms of OP neurotoxicity and immunotoxicity that warrant consideration in the context of OP-induced airway hyperreactivity and asthma, specifically, inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, neural plasticity, and neurogenic inflammation; and 3) identify critical data gaps that need to be addressed in order to better protect adults and children against the harmful respiratory effects of low-level OP exposures.

Hazardous effects of chemical pesticides on human health-Cancer and other associated disorders

Poisoning from pesticides is a global public health problem and accounts for nearly 300,000 deaths worldwide every year. Exposure to pesticides is inevitable; there are different modes through which humans get exposed to pesticides. The mode of exposure is an important factor as it also signifies the concentration of pesticides exposure. Pesticides are used extensively in agricultural and domestic settings. These chemicals are believed to cause many disorders in humans and wildlife. Research from past few decades has tried to answer the associated mechanism of action of pesticides in conjunction with their harmful effects. This perspective considers the past and present research in the field of pesticides and associated disorders. We have reviewed the most common diseases including cancer which are associated with pesticides. Pesticides have shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases as well as various disorders of the respiratory and reproductive tracts. Oxidative stress caused by pesticides is an important mechanism through which many of the pesticides exert their harmful effects. Oxidative stress is known to cause DNA damage which in turn may cause malignancies and other disorders. Many pesticides have shown to modulate the gene expression at the level of non-coding RNAs, histone deacetylases, DNA methylation patterns suggesting their role in epigenetics.

A network biology-based approach to evaluating the effect of environmental contaminants on human interactome and diseases

Environmental contaminant exposure can pose significant risks to human health. Therefore, evaluating the impact of this exposure is of great importance; however, it is often difficult because both the molecular mechanism of disease and the mode of action of the contaminants are complex. We used network biology techniques to quantitatively assess the impact of environmental contaminants on the human interactome and diseases with a particular focus on seven major contaminant categories: persistent organic pollutants (POPs), dioxins, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pesticides, perfluorochemicals (PFCs), metals, and pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs). We integrated publicly available data on toxicogenomics, the diseasome, protein-protein interactions (PPIs), and gene essentiality and found that a few contaminants were targeted to many genes, and a few genes were targeted by many contaminants. The contaminant targets were hub proteins in the human PPI network, whereas the target proteins in most categories did not contain abundant essential proteins. Generally, contaminant targets and disease-associated proteins were closely associated with the PPI network, and the closeness of the associations depended on the disease type and chemical category. Network biology techniques were used to identify environmental contaminants with broad effects on the human interactome and contaminant-sensitive biomarkers. Moreover, this method enabled us to quantify the relationship between environmental contaminants and human diseases, which was supported by epidemiological and experimental evidence. These methods and findings have facilitated the elucidation of the complex relationship between environmental exposure and adverse health outcomes.

Residential proximity to agricultural fumigant use and respiratory health in 7-year old children

OBJECTIVES

To examine the relationship between residential proximity to agricultural fumigant use and respiratory symptoms and lung function in 7-year old children.

METHODS

Participants were 294 children living in the agricultural Salinas Valley, California and enrolled in the Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children Of Salinas (CHAMACOS) study. We obtained information on respiratory symptoms and asthma medication use from maternal questionnaires and children performed spirometry to determine the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁), forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory flow 25-75% (FEF_25-75) at 7-years of age. We estimated agricultural fumigant use within 3, 5 and 8 km of residences during pregnancy and from birth to age 7 using California's Pesticide Use Report data. We evaluated the association between prenatal and postnatal residential proximity to agricultural use of methyl bromide, chloropicrin, metam sodium and 1,3-dichloropropene with respiratory symptoms and use of asthma medication with logistic regression models and continuous lung function measurements with linear regression models adjusted for confounders.

RESULTS

There were no significant associations between residential proximity to use of fumigants and respiratory symptoms or use of asthma medication. We did not observe any adverse relationships between residential proximity to fumigant use and lung function measurements. Unexpectedly, we observed suggestive evidence of improved FEV₁ and FEF_25-75 with higher use of methyl bromide and chloropicrin during the prenatal period. For example, for each 10-fold increase in methyl bromide use during the prenatal development period we observed higher FEV₁ (β = 0.06 L/s; 95% CI: 0.00, 0.12) and higher FEF_25-75 (β = 0.15 L/s; 95% CI: 0.03, 0.27). Maternal report of child allergies (runny nose without a cold during the previous year) modified the relationship between FEV₁ and prenatal proximity to methyl bromide use (p = .07) and we only observed higher FEV₁ among children without allergies (β = 0.08 L/s; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.14 for a 10-fold increase in methyl bromide use during the prenatal period).

CONCLUSIONS

Residential proximity to agricultural fumigant use during pregnancy and childhood did not adversely affect respiratory health in the children through 7 years of age. These findings should be explored in larger studies.

Mechanism underlying the effect of long-term exposure to low dose of pesticides on DNA integrity

Pesticides, including herbicides, insecticides and fungicides, are widely used in intensive agriculture. Recently, the long-term effects of pesticide exposure were found to be associated with many diseases. In this study, we evaluated the long-term effect of low-level exposure to a mixture of pesticides on DNA damage response (DDR) in relation to individual detoxifying variability. A residential population chronically exposed to pesticides was enrolled, biological/environmental pesticide levels; paroxonase 1 (PON-1) activity and 192 Q/R polymorphism and DDR were evaluated at three different periods of pesticide exposure. OGG1-dependent DNA repair activity was decreased in relation to pesticide exposure. The increase of DNA lesions and pesticide levels in the intensive pesticide-spraying period was independent on PON-1 activity. Next, human bronchial epithelial and neuronal cells were used as a model for in vitro evaluation of the mechanistic effect of pesticides. Pesticides induced mitochondrial dysfunction leading to ROS formation. ROS from mitochondria induced DNA damage, which in turn induced OGG1-dependent DNA repair activity through 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase 1 (OGG1) expression and activation. Even though OGG1 was overexpressed, an inhibition of its activity, associated with DNA lesion accumulation, was found at prolonged pesticide-exposure. A post-translational regulation of OGG1 by pesticide may be postulated. Taken together, long-term exposure to low-levels of pesticides affects DDR resulting in accumulation of DNA lesions that eventually may lead to cancer or neurological disorders.

Silicone Wristband Passive Samplers Yield Highly Individualized Pesticide Residue Exposure Profiles

Monitoring human exposure to pesticides and pesticide residues (PRs) remains crucial for informing public health policies, despite strict regulation of plant protection product and biocide use. We used 72 low-cost silicone wristbands as noninvasive passive samplers to assess cumulative 5-day exposure of 30 individuals to polar PRs. Ethyl acetate extraction and LC-MS/MS analysis were used for the identification of PRs. Thirty-one PRs were detected of which 15 PRs (48%) were detected only in worn wristbands, not in environmental controls. The PRs included 16 fungicides (52%), 8 insecticides (26%), 2 herbicides (6%), 3 pesticide derivatives (10%), 1 insect repellent (3%), and 1 pesticide synergist (3%). Five detected pesticides were not approved for plant protection use in the EU. Smoking and dietary habits that favor vegetable consumption were associated with higher numbers and higher cumulative concentrations of PRs in wristbands. Wristbands featured unique PR combinations. Our results suggest both environment and diet contributed to PR exposure in our study group. Silicone wristbands could serve as sensitive passive samplers to screen population-wide cumulative dietary and environmental exposure to authorized, unauthorized and banned pesticides.