From Medscape Medical News--
The June issue of Pediatrics includes a research study done with a representative sample of US children where they looked for pesticide metabolites (breakdown products) in the group's urine. Each 10-fold increase in the concentration of these metabolites was associated with a 55-72% increase in the odds of that child having ADHD. What was especially distressing is that these were not just children living in agriculture communities where pesticide exposure would be higher. The findings are based on cross-sectional data on 1139 children, aged 8 to 15 years, from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2000-2004). This indicates that the exposure found in these children is what would be commonly found in our general population.
Several biological mechanisms are thought to be involved in the relationship between organophosphate pesticides and ADHD. Organophosphates are known to disrupt brain neurochemical activity.
"Approximately 40 organophosphate pesticides are registered with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the investigators note in their report. In 2001, 73 million pounds of organophosphates were used in both agricultural and residential settings. Diet is a major source of pesticide exposure for children. According to a 2008 US report, detectable concentrations of the organophosphate malathion were found in 28% of frozen blueberry samples, 25% of strawberry samples, and 19% of celery samples." |
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