[Impact of prenatal pyrethroid exposure on neurodevelopment of one-year old infants].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the impact of prenatal exposure to pyrethroid pesticides on neurodevelopment and behavior in a group of one-year old infants. METHODS Three metabolites of pyrethroids (cis-Cl2CA, trans-Cl2CA and 3-PBA) in urine samples of 301 pregnant women enrolled from somewhere of Jiangsu Province were detected, The anthropometrics and the neurodevelopment of their 1-year old infants were assessed using DST scales. The mothers were consent informed before the study. RESULTS Three metabolites of pyrethroid were detected in 95% of urine samples. The infants were divided into high, medium or low exposure group by the level of pyrethroid in their mothers' urine detected during pregnancy. The difference of neurodevelopment index (DQ) among three groups of one-year old children was significant (P < 0.05), and the association of pyrethroid exposure with neurodevelopment was verified by multiple liner regression analysis (beta = - 0.1453, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Prenatal exposure to elevated levels of pyrethroid pesticides was associated with reduced neurodevelopment of infants in this population.