Slight Neurobehavioral Performance Deficits Seen in Children from Agricultural Communities

Linda McCauley, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania
Joan Rothlein, Ph.D., Oregon Health and Science University
R01ES08707 and P42ES10338

Background: Research has shown that children can be chronically exposed to low doses of pesticides that do not cause symptoms evident in routine examinations. These exposures can result from hand-to-mouth behavior and more time spent on the floors of their homes and in contact with soils. Also, the developing organ systems of children can be especially sensitive to pesticide exposures. Exposures can occur through food, drinking water, and indoor and outdoor use of pesticides, especially if the child’s parents are engaged in agriculture. In general, children of agricultural workers are at greater risk of pesticide exposure because their homes are usually close to fields where application may occur and from take-home exposure on clothing.

Advance: NIEHS supported researchers used a battery of behavioral tests on children from both agricultural and non-agricultural communities in Oregon and North Carolina to measure differences in cognitive and neurobehavioral function. The agricultural children performed slightly worse on two tests; finger tapping which measures response speed and a test for visual memory. The results show modest differences in the children from agricultural communities that are consistent with effects seen in previous research on adults with documented low-level exposures to organophosphate pesticides.

Implications: This study points out the need for additional larger studies aimed at determining whether low-level organophosphate pesticide exposures produces deficits in standardized test performance in children of agricultural workers. It also illustrates the importance of proper pesticide application and improved hygiene in pesticide applicators to prevent exposures in their children.

Citation: Rohlman DS, Arcury TA, Quandt SA, Lasarev M, Rothlein J, Travers R, Tamulinas A, Scherer J, Early J, Marin A, Phillips J, McCauley L. Neurobehavioral performance in preschool children from agricultural and non-agricultural communities in Oregon and North Carolina. Neurotoxicology. 2005 Aug;26(4):589-98.