Organophosphate pesticide exposure prenatally influence on pregnancy outcomes

Abstract

Background

Organophosphorus (OP) pesticides are widely used worldwide. The effect of OP exposure during pregnancy on the offspring is inconsistent in the current literature. Moreover, similar studies in the Middle East are lacking.

Purpose

To examine the effects of OP exposure in utero on the outcome of pregnancies in an agricultural region in Jordan.

Method

A prospective study, employing a questionnaire to collect women demographic data. Hospital records were collected for newborns’ birth data. In addition, urine samples during the third trimester were collected from pregnant women and then analyzed for six OP metabolites to measure exposure.

Results

One of the metabolites, DEDTP, was negatively correlated with gestational age and Apgar scores 1 and 5. There were no other significant associations.

Conclusions

Exposure to OP during pregnancy is not highly associated with any negative anthropometric characteristics of the newborns; it is probably offset by other factors.

Keywords:

• Environment
• off spring
• pollution
• Jordan

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful, first and foremost, to the participants for their time and patience. Also for the hospital personnel for their help and support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by a grant from the deanship of research at Jordan University of Science and Technology.