Here’s a breakdown of the key details from the text, focusing on the brain structure, motor skills, adn CPF exposure in children and adolescents in New York City:
key Findings:
* Lasting brain Effects: Prenatal exposure to chlorpyrifos (CPF), an insecticide, is linked to lasting molecular, cellular, and metabolic effects on the developing human brain. These effects persist for years after birth.
* Brain Structure & Function Differences: Children with higher prenatal CPF exposure showed more pronounced differences in brain structure and function.
* Reduced Motor Skills: These children also performed worse on tests measuring motor speed and coordination.
* Dose-Response Relationship: The severity of brain disruption and functional impairment appears directly related to the level of CPF exposure before birth.
Study Details:
* participants: 270 children born to Latino and African-American mothers in New York City.
* Exposure Measurement: CPF levels were measured in umbilical cord blood at birth.
* Assessment: Brain imaging and behavioral assessments were conducted when the children were between 6 and 14 years old.
* Source of Exposure: For this study group, indoor pesticide use was the primary source of CPF exposure.
Ongoing Concerns:
* Continued Exposure: Despite being banned for household use in 2001, CPF is still used in agriculture, exposing farm workers and nearby communities through air and dust.
* Vulnerable Populations: Pregnant women and unborn children remain at risk.
* Broader Implications: Other organophosphate pesticides may have similar effects, highlighting the need to minimize exposure during critical brain development stages.