{"id":40727,"date":"2026-01-14T00:01:18","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T05:01:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/?p=40727"},"modified":"2026-04-10T17:25:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T21:25:09","slug":"prenatal-occupational-pesticide-exposure-in-mothers-leads-to-neurodevelopmental-risks-in-children","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2026\/01\/prenatal-occupational-pesticide-exposure-in-mothers-leads-to-neurodevelopmental-risks-in-children\/","title":{"rendered":"Prenatal Occupational Pesticide Exposure in Mothers Leads to Neurodevelopmental Risks in Children"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Beyond Pesticides<\/em>, January 14, 2026) Adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes<\/a> in children 4\u20136 years old occur with reported maternal occupational exposure during pregnancy, as published in a study in PLOS One<\/em><\/a>, according to research from Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences in Tanzania and the Centre for International Health at the University of Bergen in Norway. \u201cOur results show that self-reported maternal exposure to pesticides through direct spraying during pregnancy was associated with lower scores in social-emotional and executive function domains among children,\u201d the authors state. Additionally, the authors note that they found an association between social-emotion scores in children and weeding practices of their mothers during pregnancy, as well as reduced overall neurodevelopmental scores following direct maternal pesticide exposure.<\/p>\n

The study, conducted through self-reported pesticide exposure from the mothers of 432 mother\u2013child pairs in three horticulture-intensive regions in Tanzania and development and learning assessments of their children, reflects the \u201cconcerns about maternal occupational exposure during pregnancy and its potential impact on child neurodevelopment,\u201d the researchers describe. Current risk assessments fail to properly capture the disproportionate risks<\/a> to farmers and farmworkers with various routes of exposure, \u201cparticularly in horticultural settings where women of reproductive age represent a substantial proportion of the workforce.\u201d Common crops grown in Tanzania include maize (corn), rice, bananas, beans, coffee, and sweet potatoes.<\/p>\n

Study Importance <\/strong><\/p>\n

As the authors state, \u201cGlobal pesticide use has risen by about 80% in the last two decades<\/a>, with Africa experiencing a staggering 175% increase, largely due to the growing population that put pressure on the agriculture sector to ensure sufficient yields in crop production.\u201d Many of the agricultural workers<\/a>, especially in low- and middle-income countries, are women. \u201cIn sub-Saharan Africa, they make up approximately 55% of the agricultural workforce, with Tanzania having the highest proportion at 81%,\u201d the researchers point out. This burdens women with disproportionate health risks as a result of pesticide exposure through various activities, including planting, weeding, harvesting, and directly mixing and applying pesticides to crops. (See Catastrophic Harm to Women from Pesticides Drives Call for Their Elimination<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

“Literature shows that pesticides exposure can cause severe acute and chronic health effects in humans, including neurotoxicity<\/a>, carcinogenicity<\/a>, endocrine disruption<\/a>, and respiratory issues<\/a>, with agricultural workers and communities in developing countries facing disproportionate exposure,\u201d the authors state. These health effects, and more, are catalogued in Beyond Pesticides\u2019 Pesticide-Induced Diseases Database<\/a> (PIDD) and extensively covered in Daily News<\/em> articles. (See here<\/a>, here<\/a>, here<\/a>, here<\/a>, and here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

Scientific literature shows that pesticide exposure during critical developmental windows can have long-lasting impacts, many of which are transgenerational<\/a>. As the current study says: \u201cOf particular concern is the potential for several of these pesticides to cross the placental barrier, leading to fetal exposure and adverse pregnancy or developmental outcomes. The fetus is especially vulnerable to pesticide toxicity due to underdeveloped detoxification mechanisms.\u201d (See research here<\/a> and here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

In previous Daily News<\/em><\/a> coverage, Beyond Pesticides reports on a study published in Environmental Research<\/em><\/a> that finds an association between adverse neurodevelopment (brain function and development) among infants and exposure to the herbicide glyphosate during pregnancy that becomes more pronounced at 24 months. The increasing prevalence<\/a> of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) in both the United States and around the world raises concerns about the impact of toxic exposures on child development, prompting researchers to investigate the effects of gestational exposure. The results find a positive association between prenatal metabolite<\/a> concentrations from the mother during pregnancy and impacted child communication at 12 months. At 24 months, researchers find that the glyphosate metabolite is associated with adaptive, personal-social, communication, and cognitive skill impairments.<\/p>\n

Methodology and Results<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the current study, the researchers utilize a cross-sectional design with structured interviews to assess maternal exposure and the International Development and Early Learning Assessment (IDELA) to measure the children\u2019s neurodevelopment. This includes motor skills, literacy, numeracy, social\u2013emotional development, and executive function. “By using IDELA, the study ensures precise and consistent assessments across critical developmental domains, including cognitive, motor and social emotional skills,\u201d the authors note. \u201cPrevious pesticide exposure studies used the Bayley Scales of Infant Development and the Cambridge Automated NeuroPsychological Battery, yielding consistent findings.\u201d<\/p>\n

In total, 432 mother-child pairs, from three regions in Tanzania, participated. \u201cThe study was conducted among children born of women working in small-scale horticulture farms who had been working with pesticides before and during conception,\u201d the researchers state. \u201cMost mothers were aged 31\u201340 years (55.1%) and over half (55.3%) had six to ten years of experience in horticulture, but most (39.8%) have been living in the area for more than 20 years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Statistical analyses within the study show:<\/p>\n