Toxic Chemicals Spread to Multiple Fetal Organs When Moms Are Exposed to Pesticides During Pregnancy

Pesticide exposure not only poses a risk to mothers and their offspring but also future generations. Studies find that although glyphosate (herbicide) exposure has a negligible impact on pregnant rats’ health, incidents of prostate, ovarian and kidney cancer increase in the two subsequent generations.

However, chemical exposure encompasses more than just current-use, toxic pesticides like glyphosate. The metabolites (or breakdown products) of many long-banned pesticides still impart adverse effects on human health.

Researchers at Drexel University report that higher levels of some organochlorine compounds, like DDT, during pregnancy are associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID).

Since many organochlorine compounds have long been banned in the U.S., the ongoing poisoning and contamination underscores how pervasive and persistent these chemicals are and their continued adverse impact on human health.

Not only are these compounds readily present in soil and water samples, but they are also in arctic ice. Therefore, the accompanying glacial melt from the climate crisis will only increase chemical bioavailability in the environment.

The increasing ubiquity of pesticides is concerning to public health advocates because they say that current measures safeguarding against pesticide use do not adequately detect and assess total environmental chemical contaminants.

This study is one of the first to demonstrate differences in chemical contamination between fetus and mother. The results indicate that current pesticide detection methods for fetal exposure fail to capture the full scope of chemical detection.

Numerous studies indicate chemical exposure mainly stems from dietary exposure, like food and drinking water, and researchers caution that there are hundreds to thousands of chemicals humans are likely to encounter that the study did not assess.

The scientific literature demonstrates pesticides’ long history of severe adverse effects on human health (i.e., endocrine disruption, cancer, reproductive/birth problems, neurotoxicity, loss of biodiversity, etc.) and wildlife and biodiversity.

There is a growing consensus that exposure to environmental toxicants before pregnancy can impair fertility, pregnancy and fetal development.

These adverse effects can continue into childhood and adulthood and may have multigenerational consequences. Therefore, researchers stress that future studies must evaluate chemical exposure within the fetus and not only rely on maternal or placental exposure.

The study notes sex-specific differences in birth outcomes between boys and girls. Compared to females, male fetuses have higher concentrations of POPs, resulting in a decrease in birth weight.

Differences in placental function between male and female fetuses may play a role in chemical concentration distribution.

Pregnancies with male fetuses have lower vascular resistance allowing greater blood flow and higher transfer of chemical concentrations. However, female fetuses display higher rates of learning and developmental disabilities, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) upon PFAS exposure.

Thus, the scientists suggest sex-specific distribution of chemicals may play a role in sexually dimorphic birth outcomes.

This study is not the first to demonstrate sex-specific effect of pesticide exposure. In 2017, scientists presented a study at the 99th meeting of the Endocrine Society demonstrating exposure to commonly used pyrethroid insecticides results in the early onset of puberty in boys.

Furthermore, a 2021 study demonstrates exposure to current-use pesticides like organophosphates pose a greater health risk to women. Women with organophosphate exposure are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease, bronchitis, asthma, and various cancers.

Given recent data on the rise in use of these chemicals for household pest control, both researchers and advocates are concerned about the range of implications these chemicals could be having on young children in the U.S. and abroad.

Previous research finds these chemicals are associated with behavioral problems in children, including externalizing and internalizing disorders, ADHD, and delayed cognitive and motor development.

Proximity to heavy use of these chemicals in agriculture is associated with an 87% increased risk of a child developing autism when applied during the pregnant mother’s third trimester. Considering rates of preterm births, miscarriages/stillbirths and birth malformations are increasing, it is necessary to assess chemical exposure effect on mothers and offspring to safeguard future generations’ health.

Doctors and pediatricians strongly agree that pregnant mothers should avoid pesticide exposure during critical development periods. Exposure concerns about POPs are increasing significantly, especially for adults and children more vulnerable to their toxic effects.

Moreover, many contaminants are subject to regulatory standards that do not fully evaluate disease implications associated with exposure.

Advocates say that addressing the manufacturing and use of pesticides is essential to mitigate risks from chemical exposure to toxic pesticides.

Therefore, advocates urge that policies strengthen pesticide regulations and increase research on the long-term impacts of pesticide exposure.

Beyond Pesticides tracks the most recent studies related to pesticide exposure through the Pesticide Induced Diseases Database (PIDD). This database supports the clear need for strategic action to shift away from pesticide dependency.

For more information on the multiple harms of pesticide exposure, see PIDD pages on Birth/Fetal Effects, Sexual and Reproductive Dysfunction, Body Burdens and other diseases.

To learn more about how the lack of adequate pesticide regulations can adversely affect human and environmental health, see Beyond Pesticides’ Pesticides and You article “Highly Destructive Pesticide Effects Unregulated.”

One way to reduce human and environmental contamination from pesticides is buying, growing and supporting organic. Numerous studies find that levels of pesticide metabolites in urine significantly drop when switching to an all-organic diet.

Furthermore, given the wide availability of non-pesticidal alternative strategies, families and agro-industry workers alike can apply these methods to promote a safe and healthy environment, especially among chemically vulnerable individuals.

For more information on how organic is the right choice for consumers, see Beyond Pesticides webpage, Health Benefits of Organic Agriculture.