Abstract
Organophosphate (OP) pesticides may accumulate in pregnant agricultural workers, resulting in adverse effects on the growth and development of the fetus and neonates. This study aims to evaluate a possible association between prenatal urinary OP metabolite levels among pregnant agricultural workers and birth outcomes of infants. This study also investigated the factors associated with urinary OP metabolites among pregnant agricultural workers. The spot urine samples were collected and analyzed for six OP metabolite levels. Birth outcomes data were abstracted from medical records. Multiple regression analysis found that gestational age at childbirth was negatively associated with diethylphosphate (DEP) levels (β = −0.073; 95% CI, −0.121, −0.024). Apgar score at 1 and 5 min after birth were negatively associated with diethyldithiophosphate (DEDTP) levels (β = −0.036; 95% CI, −0.069, −0.003; and β = −0.034, 95% CI, −0.057, −0.011, respectively). In addition, DEDTP levels were negatively associated with maternal age (β = −0.181; 95% CI, −0.339, −0.023), and dimethylphosphate (DMP) levels were positively associated with frequency of agricultural work during pregnancy (β = 31.554; 95% CI, 0.194, 62.914). Our results indicate that prenatal OP exposure can cause adverse birth outcomes in babies. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an effective strategy for reducing prenatal exposure to OP pesticides.
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Abbreviations
- AChE:
-
Acetylcholiesterase enzyme
- Β :
-
Beta
- 95%CI:
-
95% confidence interval
- DAP:
-
Dialkylphosphate
- DEDTP:
-
Diethyldithiophosphate
- DEP:
-
Diethylphosphate
- DETP:
-
Diethylthiophosphate
- DMDTP:
-
Dimethyldithiophosphate
- DMP:
-
Dimethylphosphate
- DMTP:
-
Dimethylthiophosphate
- GM:
-
Geometric mean
- LOD:
-
Limit of detection
- LOQ:
-
Limit of quantification
- Max:
-
Maximum
- Min:
-
Minimum
- OP:
-
Organophosphate
- PPE:
-
Personal protective equipment
- SD:
-
Standard deviation
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Acknowledgements
This study was supported by the Faculty of Medicine Research Fund, Chiang Mai University, Thailand (Grant No. 029/2563). We would like to thank all pregnant farmworkers and their infants who volunteered to participate in this study. We also express our thanks to the Research Administration Section, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, for their assistance with the English language editing.
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This study was supported by the Faculty of Medicine Research Fund, Chiang Mai University, Thailand (Grant No. 029/2563).
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Conceptualization: Boonsita Suwannakul, Ratana Sapbamrer, Natrujee Wiwattanadittakul, and Surat Hongsibsong. Methodology: Boonsita Suwannakul, Ratana Sapbamrer, Natrujee Wiwattanadittakul, and Surat Hongsibsong. Formal analysis and investigation: Boonsita Suwannakul and Ratana Sapbamrer. Writing—original draft preparation: Boonsita Suwannakul. Writing—review and editing: Ratana Sapbamrer. Funding acquisition: Ratana Sapbamrer, Boonsita Suwannakul. Resources: Ratana Sapbamrer, Natrujee Wiwattanadittakul, and Surat Hongsibsong. Supervision: Ratana Sapbamrer.
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The study was reviewed and approved by the Human Ethical Committee at the Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University (No. 221/2562), before we began data collection.
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Suwannakul, B., Sapbamrer, R., Wiwattanadittakul, N. et al. Prenatal organophosphate exposure can cause adverse birth outcomes to humans. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 45064–45074 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-13974-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-13974-8