Most people never think twice about the chemicals that may linger on fruit, vegetables, or drift through the air near farmland. But scientists are increasingly worried that some of those substances could affect children long before they are even born.
A new American study is now raising concerns about the possible impact of pesticides on brain development during pregnancy.
Growing fears
Researchers from Columbia University, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and the Keck School of Medicine examined the effects of chlorpyrifos, a pesticide once widely used indoors and still common in agriculture, reports Science Daily.
The team followed 270 children in New York and measured pesticide exposure through umbilical cord blood collected at birth. Years later, the children underwent brain scans and motor skill testing.
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According to the findings, children exposed to higher levels of the chemical before birth were more likely to show changes in brain structure and reduced motor function during adolescence.
Hidden exposure
Although chlorpyrifos was banned for indoor residential use in the United States in 2001, it is still used on several crops. Researchers say exposure can continue through food, outdoor air, and dust in agricultural areas.
Scientists involved in the study warned that pregnant women living near farmland may face greater risks, particularly in communities with regular pesticide exposure.
The researchers also believe similar chemicals from the same pesticide group could potentially produce related effects on brain development.
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Why it matters
Experts say pregnancy and early childhood are among the most sensitive stages for brain growth, making exposure to toxic substances especially concerning.
The study, published in JAMA Neurology, adds to growing debate around pesticide safety and long-term health risks for children.
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