In utero pyrethroid pesticide exposure in relation to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental outcomes at 3 years in the MARBLES longitudinal cohort

• Authors: Jacqueline M Barkoski, University of California Davis; Claire Philippat, University Grenoble Alpes; Daniel Tancredi, University of California Davis; Rebecca J Schmidt, University of California Davis; Sally Ozonoff, University of California Davis; Dana Barr, Emory University; William Elms, University of California Davis; Deborah H Bennett, University of California Davis; Irva Hertz-Picciotto, University of California Davis
• Journal Title: ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
• Volume: Volume 194
• Publisher: ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE | 2021-01-12, Pages 110495-110495
• Type of Work: Article | Post-print: After Peer Review
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.110495
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Public Health
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Environmental Sciences; Public, Environmental & Occupational Health; Environmental Sciences & Ecology; Pyrethroid; Autism; MARBLES; Pesticide; Neurodevelopment; Pregnancy; FOLIC-ACID; DEVELOPMENTAL-DISABILITIES; METABOLITE CONCENTRATIONS; INSECTICIDE EXPOSURE; PRENATAL EXPOSURE; MATERNAL USE; RISK; CHILDREN; ASSOCIATION; PREGNANCY

Abstract

Background: We assessed the relationships between prenatal pyrethroid pesticide exposure and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) or non-typical development (non-TD) at 3 years. Methods: Participants were mother-child pairs (n = 201) in the MARBLES (Markers of Autism Risk in Babies-Learning Early Signs) cohort. Because familial recurrence risk is high, MARBLES enrolls pregnant women with a family history of ASD. Children from these pregnancies were clinically assessed at 3 years of age and classified into 3 outcome categories: ASD, typically developing (TD), or non-TD (neither TD or ASD). Repeated maternal second and third trimester urine samples were analyzed for pyrethroid metabolite 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA). Multinomial logistic regression was used to obtain relative risk ratios (RRR) linking 3-PBA concentrations averaged across each trimester and over pregnancy with child's outcome: ASD or non-TD vs. TD. Models were adjusted for specific gravity, maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, prenatal vitamin use, birth year, home-ownership, and pregnancy concentrations of TCPy (3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol, a metabolite of chlorpyrifos). Results: The median specific gravity corrected 3-PBA concentration of all samples was 1.46 ng/mL. Greater second trimester 3-PBA concentrations were associated with a relative risk ratio (RRR) for ASD of (RRR: 1.50 (95% CI 0.89 to 2.51), p = 0.12). There were no differences between non-TD and TD. Conclusions: This study found no evidence for differences in 3-PBA comparing non-TD with TD. A modestly elevated RRR was found comparing second trimester urinary 3-PBA concentrations for ASD versus TD; however, the confidence interval was wide and hence, these findings cannot be considered definitive.