Pesticide Concentrations in Matrices Collected in the Perinatal Period in a Population of Pregnant Women and Newborns in New Jersey, USA

ABSTRACT

Gestational exposure to pesticides may adversely affect fetal development and birth outcomes. However, data on fetal exposure and associated health effects in newborns remain sparse. We measured a variety of pesticides and metabolites in maternal urine, maternal serum, cord serum, amniotic fluid, and meconium samples collected at the time of cesarean delivery from 150 women in central New Jersey, USA. Women who used pesticides at home had higher concentrations of pesticides or metabolites in cord serum [e.g., dacthal (p = .007), diethyltoluamide (p = .043), and phthalimide (p = .030)] than those who did not use pesticides, suggesting that residential use of pesticides may contribute to overall exposure as assessed by biomonitoring. Except for orthophenylphenol, the concentrations of most pesticides in biological matrices of this study population were either comparable to or lower than the levels reported in previous studies and in the U.S. general population. The daily exposure estimates of two representative organophosphorus insecticides (chlorpyrifos and diazinon) were lower than most regulatory protection limits (USEPA oral benchmark dose₁₀/100, USEPA reference oral dose, or ATSDR minimal risk levels); however, they were near or at the USEPA's population-adjusted doses for children and women. No abnormal birth outcomes or other clinical endpoints were noted in those newborns who had higher concentrations of orthophenylphenol during the perinatal period.

Key Words:

• pesticides
• urine
• blood
• amniotic fluid
• exposure assessment
• pregnant women
• children

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank members of the Pesticide Laboratory in the National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta, Georgia) for their guidance and help in the analytical pesticide analyses. We also thank Dr. Kenneth R. Reuhl in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Rutgers University/UMDNJ (Piscataway, NJ) for his assistance. This work was supported by grants from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP SR04-058, SR05-042) and the NIEHS Center P30ES05022.

The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

Notes

*Metabolites not measured.

*Chlorpyrifus and diazinon are in units of pg/ml whereas others are in ng/ml

*Geometric mean not calculated because detection frequency < 60%.

*Geometric mean not calculated because detection frequency < 60%.

*Geometric mean not calculated because detection frequency < 60%.

*Geometric mean not calculated because detection frequency < 60%.