Bjørling-Poulsen Marina, Andersen Helle Raun, Grandjean Philippe
Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Winslowparken 17, 5000 Odense, Denmark.
Environ Health. 2008 Oct 22;7:50. doi: 10.1186/1476-069X-7-50.
Pesticides used in agriculture are designed to protect crops against unwanted species, such as weeds, insects, and fungus. Many compounds target the nervous system of insect pests. Because of the similarity in brain biochemistry, such pesticides may also be neurotoxic to humans. Concerns have been raised that the developing brain may be particularly vulnerable to adverse effects of neurotoxic pesticides. Current requirements for safety testing do not include developmental neurotoxicity. We therefore undertook a systematic evaluation of published evidence on neurotoxicity of pesticides in current use, with specific emphasis on risks during early development. Epidemiologic studies show associations with neurodevelopmental deficits, but mainly deal with mixed exposures to pesticides. Laboratory experimental studies using model compounds suggest that many pesticides currently used in Europe--including organophosphates, carbamates, pyrethroids, ethylenebisdithiocarbamates, and chlorophenoxy herbicides--can cause neurodevelopmental toxicity. Adverse effects on brain development can be severe and irreversible. Prevention should therefore be a public health priority. The occurrence of residues in food and other types of human exposures should be prevented with regard to the pesticide groups that are known to be neurotoxic. For other substances, given their widespread use and the unique vulnerability of the developing brain, the general lack of data on developmental neurotoxicity calls for investment in targeted research. While awaiting more definite evidence, existing uncertainties should be considered in light of the need for precautionary action to protect brain development.
农业中使用的农药旨在保护作物免受杂草、昆虫和真菌等有害物种的侵害。许多化合物作用于害虫的神经系统。由于大脑生物化学的相似性，此类农药对人类也可能具有神经毒性。人们担心发育中的大脑可能特别容易受到神经毒性农药的不利影响。目前的安全测试要求不包括发育神经毒性测试。因此，我们对目前使用的农药神经毒性的已发表证据进行了系统评估，特别关注早期发育期间的风险。流行病学研究表明农药与神经发育缺陷有关，但主要涉及对农药的混合接触。使用模型化合物进行的实验室实验研究表明，欧洲目前使用的许多农药——包括有机磷、氨基甲酸酯、拟除虫菊酯、亚乙基双二硫代氨基甲酸盐和氯苯氧基除草剂——都可能导致神经发育毒性。对大脑发育的不利影响可能是严重且不可逆的。因此，预防应成为公共卫生的优先事项。对于已知具有神经毒性的农药类别，应防止其在食物中残留以及其他类型的人体接触。对于其他物质，鉴于其广泛使用以及发育中大脑的独特易损性，目前普遍缺乏发育神经毒性数据，这就需要投资开展针对性研究。在等待更确切的证据时，应根据采取预防行动保护大脑发育的必要性来考虑现有的不确定性。
