Organophosphate insecticides (OPs) are used for pest management not only in agriculture but also in residential settings and the general population is exposed to OPs mainly through the diet. A number of studies have shown association of OPs with developmental neurotoxicity since prenatal exposures to OPs have been found to be associated with deficits in IQ, attention deficit-hyperactivity and increases in autism spectrum.
A recent study aimed to investigate associations between prenatal exposure to 30 OPs in umbilical cord blood and motor function at 6 weeks and 9 months in a cohort of Chinese infants. It was found that prenatal exposure to naled and chlorpyrifos was associated with decreased 9-month motor function in infants. Delays in early-motor skill acquisition may be detrimental for downstream neurodevelopment and cognitive processes.
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