Research suggests that organophosphate (OP) pesticide exposure may be associated with poorer birth outcomes and neurodevelopment. Individuals' susceptibility to adverse effects of OP pesticide exposure may differ according to their genetic expression of enzymes that detoxify these pesticides. Single nucleotide polymorphisms along the paraoxonase (PON1) gene affect the expression of PON1 enzymes responsible for OP metabolism and detoxification. We investigated whether PON1 genotype and/or enzyme activity were directly associated with birth outcomes or neurodevelopment at age 2 years and whether the associations of prenatal OP pesticide exposure with these outcomes was modified by PON1 genotype and/or enzyme activity. Fetal PON1 genotype and enzyme activity were associated with poorer birth outcomes in this population living in a California farmworker community, and certain genotypes were associated with altered neurodevelopment at age 2. Young children may be differentially susceptible to the effects of OP pesticides on birth outcomes and development.

PON1 as a predictor of differential susceptibility of children to organophosphate pesticides

239th National Meeting (2010)

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