Effect of prenatal organophosphate exposure on birth outcomes in rural areas in El Minia governorate

Chlorpyrifos [CPF] is a form of organophosphate [OP] insecticide that is widely used in both agricultural and home settings. This study was conducted in Minia University Hospital in collaboration with the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, El-Minia University to evaluate the effects of the prenatal exposure to OP on birth outcomes and the levels of maternal blood OP and umbilical cord blood OP in OP exposed areas in comparison with non exposed areas. Seventy pregnant women were recruited for the study during the period from June 2009 to June 2010. The pregnant women were divided into two groups, group I [study group] were selected from areas where exposure is to organophosphates compounds in the villages of Saft Al labn and AlByrjaiah and group 11 [control group] were selected from areas non exposed to organophosphates compounds, each included 35 pregnant women. They were subjected to history taking, general and obstetric examination, ultrasound evaluation, fetal biophysical profile [BPP] scoring, and doppler flow velocity waveform analysis. Chlorpyrifos [CPF] was determined in maternal and umbilical cord blood collected at parturition, in cases with exposed and non exposed babies to evaluate the fetal growth and different perinatal outcome variables.The difference between the two groups in clinical characteristics was statistically insignificant. There were statistical significant differences between the two groups as regards maternal blood CPF, and umbilical cord blood CPF levels [p<0.00l] suggesting a higher risk of CPF exposure in the study group. There were statistically significant differences in all perinatal outcome variables between the two groups [p<0.00l]. In the study group, There was positive correlation [r = 0.53, p0.0l] between maternal and umbilical cord blood CPF levels confirmed the transfer of CPF from mother to the fetus. There was a week but significant correlation between UC blood CPF levels and neonatal birth weight, head circumference and fetal length [r = - 0.22, p < 0.01], [r = - 0.25, p < 0.01], [r = - 0.14, p < 0.01] respectively. Maternal CPF exposure is associated with increased adverse perinatal outcome. For those interested in environmental health to take all the ways that reduce exposure to Chlorpyrifos and also the need to apply continuous bio-monitoring program to assess the impact of environmental pollutants on the health of women and children