Prenatal exposure to the organophosphate pesticide chlorpyrifos and childhood tremor

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Virginia A. Rauh, Columbia University; Wanda E. Garcia, Columbia University; Robin M. Whyatt, Columbia University; Megan K. Horton, Mount Sinai School of Medicine; Dana Barr, Emory University; Elan D. Louis, Yale University
• Language: English
• Date: 2015-12-01
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2015 Published by Elsevier Inc.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuro.2015.09.004
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: NeuroToxicology
• ISSN: 0161-813X
• Volume: 51
• Start Page: 80
• End Page: 86
• Grant/Funding Information: Dr. Rauh has also received support for this work from the National Institutes of Environmental Health and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) Children's Environmental Health Center grant (co-investigator) NIEHS/EPA #P01 ES09600/#R82702701, NIEHS/EPA #P01 ES09600/#RD83214101, and NIEHS/EPA #P01 ES09600/# RD83450901.; Dr. Louis has received research support from the National Institutes of Health: NINDS #R01 NS042859 (principal investigator), NINDS #R01 NS39422 (principal investigator), NINDS #R01 NS086736 (principal investigator), NINDS #R01 NS073872 (principal investigator), NINDS #R01 NS085136 (principal investigator) and NINDS #R01 NS088257 (principal investigator).; Dr. Rauh has received research support for this work from the National Institutes of Health: NIEHS #R01 ES015579 (principal investigator), NIDA #R01 DA027100 (principal investigator), and #R01 ES015282 (co-investigator).
• Keywords: Brain; Neurosciences; Neurodevelopment; MEXICAN-AMERICAN CHILDREN; Neurosciences & Neurology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Science & Technology; Toxicology; INSECTICIDE EXPOSURES; PREGNANCY; Tremor; COHORT; NEURODEVELOPMENT; ASSOCIATION; Chlorpyrifos; ADULTHOOD; Children; ADOLESCENCE; Pharmacology & Pharmacy; COMMUNITY; NEW-YORK-CITY
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Epidemiology; Biology, Neuroscience

Abstract

Background: The organophosphate insecticide chlorpyrifos (CPF), widely used for agricultural purposes, has been linked to neurodevelopmental deficits. Possible motor effects at low to moderate levels of exposure have not been evaluated. Methods: Prenatal exposure to CPF was measured in umbilical cord blood in a sample of 263 inner-city minority children, who were followed prospectively. At approximately 11 years of age (mean age 10.9. ±. 0.85 years, range = 9.0-13.9), during a neuropsychological assessment, children were asked to draw Archimedes spirals. These were rated by a senior neurologist specializing in movement disorders who was blind to CPF exposure level. Results: Compared to all other children, those with prenatal CPF exposure in the upper quartile range (n= 43) were more likely to exhibit mild or mild to moderate tremor (≥1) in either arm (p= 0.03), both arms (p= 0.02), the dominant arm (p= 0.01), and the non-dominant arm (p= 0.055). Logistic regression analyses showed significant CPF effects on tremor in both arms, either arm, the dominant arm (p-values <0.05), and the non-dominant arm (p= 0.06), after adjustment for sex, age at testing, ethnicity, and medication. Conclusion: Prenatal CPF exposure is associated with tremor in middle childhood, which may be a sign of the insecticide's effects on nervous system function.