Cited by 407Pesticide Exposure and ToxicityAgricultural safety and regulationsPesticide Residue Analysis and Safety

Potential developmental neurotoxicity of pesticides used in Europe

Open access
Bjørling-Poulsen, Marina, Andersen, Helle Raun, Grandjean, Philippe·2008·Environmental Health

Abstract

Pesticides used in agriculture are designed to protect crops against unwanted species, such as weeds, insects, and fungus. Many compounds target the nervous system of insect pests. Because of the similarity in brain biochemistry, such pesticides may also be neurotoxic to humans. Concerns have been raised that the developing brain may be particularly vulnerable to adverse effects of neurotoxic pesticides. Current requirements for safety testing do not include developmental neurotoxicity. We therefore undertook a systematic evaluation of published evidence on neurotoxicity of pesticides in current use, with specific emphasis on risks during early development. Epidemiologic studies show associations with neurodevelopmental deficits, but mainly deal with mixed exposures to pesticides. Laboratory experimental studies using model compounds suggest that many pesticides currently used in Europe--including organophosphates, carbamates, pyrethroids, ethylenebisdithiocarbamates, and chlorophenoxy herbicides--can cause neurodevelopmental toxicity. Adverse effects on brain development can be severe and irreversible. Prevention should therefore be a public health priority. The occurrence of residues in food and other types of human exposures should be prevented with regard to the pesticide groups that are known to be neurotoxic. For other substances, given their widespread use and the unique vulnerability of the developing brain, the general lack of data on developmental neurotoxicity calls for investment in targeted research. While awaiting more definite evidence, existing uncertainties should be considered in light of the need for precautionary action to protect brain development.

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Crossref · 10.1186/1476-069x-7-50

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  • Organophosphate pesticides can have endocrine disrupting properties, particularly at environmentally relevant doses below those causing systemic toxicity.

    “Although their primary mechanism of action is inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, they can also have endocrine disrupting properties, particularly at dose levels which are more environmentally relevant and well below those which cause systemic toxicity (16, 22, 105).”

    From Endocrine Disruption of Vasopressin Systems and Related Behaviors (2017) · cites this paper as [105]

    The Organophosphate insecticides section identifies acetylcholinesterase inhibition as the primary action of organophosphates. Public health implications says organophosphates are thought to interfere with thyroid function, which supports a possible endocrine-disrupting property. But the paper’s discussion of effects at low doses concerns developmental neurotoxicity, not endocrine disruption at environmentally relevant doses below those causing systemic toxicity. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Garry VF Lyubimov AV Krieger RI Phosphine Handbook of Pesticide Toxicology 2001 2 2 San Diego: Academic Press 1861 1866

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Authors
Bjørling-Poulsen, M., Andersen, H. R., & Grandjean, P.
Affiliations
  • University of Southern Denmark (DK)
  • Harvard University (US)
Corresponding author
Bjørling-Poulsen, Marina
Venue
Environmental Health
Published
2008-10-22
Volume
7
Issue
1
Pages
50-50
ISSN
1476-069X (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2154789444
Cited by
407
References
201
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 32 · 2021: 34 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 33 · 2018: 26 · 2017: 23 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 25 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 24 · 2012: 27
FWCI
1.62
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Environmental Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • University of Southern Denmark Research Portal (University of Southern Denmark) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard (DASH) (Harvard University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • European Commission
  • U.S. National Library of Medicine
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Pesticide Exposure and Toxicity
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Agricultural safety and regulations
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Pesticide Residue Analysis and Safety
Keywords
developmental neurotoxicity, pesticides, neurodevelopmental deficits, organophosphates, carbamates, pyrethroid insecticides, ethylenebisdithiocarbamates, chlorophenoxy herbicides, pesticide residues in food, precautionary action, human exposure
MeSH terms
Animals, Environmental Monitoring, Europe, Female, Herbicides, Humans, Male, Pesticide Residues, Pesticides, Predictive Value of Tests, Rabbits, Incidence, Risk Assessment, Neurotoxicity Syndromes, Mice, Epidemiological Monitoring

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