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Living near agricultural pesticide applications and the risk of adverse reproductive outcomes : A review of the literature
Shirangi, Adeleh Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark Vienneau, Danielle Holman, C. D’Arcy J.
Shirangi, Adeleh
Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark
Vienneau, Danielle
Holman, C. D’Arcy J.
Abstract
Shirangi A, Nieuwenhuijsen M, Vienneau D, Holman CDJ. Living near agricultural pesticide applications and the risk of adverse reproductive outcomes: a review of the literature. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2010.
Over the last decade, there has been growing concern about the possible health effects, including a number of adverse reproductive outcomes, from pesticide exposure of people living near agricultural fields. This systematic review evaluates the current epidemiological evidence on the association between living near agricultural pesticide applications and adverse reproductive outcomes, including congenital malformations, stillbirth, intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), low birthweight, preterm birth and miscarriage.
We identified and reviewed 25 studies from a systematic search of the main scientific databases and other sources published in 1950–2007. Study methods and main results were summarised and tabulated according to the year of study, design and type of adverse reproductive outcome. The levels of evidence for reproductive toxicity in humans contributed by each study were assessed and the main limitations associated with these studies discussed.
Residential proximity to agricultural pesticide applications may be an important source of ambient environmental exposure, but because of the underlying methodological difficulties, the strength of evidence for its relationship with adverse reproductive outcomes is generally weak and varied between outcomes. The evidence suggested an association for congenital malformations, but because of methodological limitations, such as poor exposure measurement and potentially inadequate control of confounding, a firm conclusion remains beyond reach. For the other outcomes (stillbirth, IUGR, low birthweight, preterm birth and miscarriage) the evidence for any associations was equivocal at best, but some leads warrant further investigation. Improved exposure assessment methods are needed to obtain a more reliable assessment of any risks.
Keywords
pesticides, congenital malformations, outcome of pregnancy, residential proximity
Date
2010
Type
Journal article
Journal
Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology
Book
Volume
25
Issue
Page Range
172-191
Article Number
ACU Department
Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
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Relation URI
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Open Access Status
License
All rights reserved
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Controlled