-
Environmental Research Dec 2022In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), pesticides are widely used in agricultural and residential settings. Little is known about how pesticides affect child... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), pesticides are widely used in agricultural and residential settings. Little is known about how pesticides affect child growth.
OBJECTIVES
To systematically review and synthesise the evidence on the associations between pesticide exposure and adverse birth outcomes and/or impaired postnatal growth in children up to 5 years of age in LMICs.
METHODS
We searched 10 databases from inception through November 2021. We included cohort and cross-sectional studies investigating associations between self-reported or measured prenatal or postnatal pesticide exposure and child growth (postnatal child linear/ponderal growth, and/or birth outcomes). Two researchers screened studies, extracted data, and assessed certainty using GRADE. The protocol was preregistered with PROSPERO (CRD42021292919).
RESULTS
Of 939 records retrieved, 31 studies met inclusion criteria (11 cohort, 20 cross-sectional). All studies assessed prenatal exposure. Twenty-four studies reported on birth weight. Four found positive associations with organochlorines (0.01-0.25 standardised mean difference (SMD)) and two found negative associations (-0.009 SMD to -55 g). Negative associations with organophosphates (-170 g, n = 1) and pyrethroids (-97 to -233 g, n = 2) were also documented. Two (out of 15) studies reporting on birth length found positive associations with organochlorines (0.21-0.25 SMD) and one found negative associations (-0.25 to -0.32 SMD). Organophosphate exposure was negatively associated with birth length (-0.37 cm, n = 1). Organophosphate exposure was also associated with higher risk/prevalence of low birth weight (2 out of nine studies) and preterm birth (2 out of six studies). Certainty of the evidence was "very low" for all outcomes.
CONCLUSION
The limited literature from LMICs shows inconclusive associations between prenatal pesticide exposure, child growth, and birth outcomes. Studies with accurate quantitative data on exposure to commonly used pesticides in LMICs using consistent methodologies in comparable populations are needed to better understand how pesticides influence child growth.
Topics: Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Developing Countries; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Organophosphates; Pesticides; Pregnancy; Premature Birth; Pyrethrins
PubMed: 36087771
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114230 -
Ecotoxicology (London, England) Oct 2022Glyphosate herbicide is widely used in worldwide crop production. Consequently, its active ingredient, surfactants, and adjuvants commonly reach the aquatic ecosystem,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Glyphosate herbicide is widely used in worldwide crop production. Consequently, its active ingredient, surfactants, and adjuvants commonly reach the aquatic ecosystem, thereby harming the biota. An investigation into how this herbicide affects aquatic species is important, especially in fish, as they have the ability to absorb and concentrate toxins. We aimed to evaluate the effects of glyphosate on the embryonic, larval and adult stages of zebrafish (Danio rerio), an appreciable organismal model. In this sense, we performed a meta-analysis using published articles from online databases (PubMed and ScienceDirect), which covered studies published until 2022. From a massive compilation of studies evaluating the effects of active substance glyphosate and Glyphosate-Based Herbicides (GBH) on zebrafish, we selected 36 studies used in downstream analyses. Overall, we report that glyphosate affects developmental stages and demonstrates toxicity and damage in zebrafish. We observed that embryos exposed to glyphosate exhibit increased mortality. There was also an increase in the number of morphological abnormalities related to yolk sac oedema, pericardial oedema, spinal curvature and body malformations, and a decrease in body size was observed. Furthermore, there was a decrease in the number of beats. The biochemical results demonstrated an increase in reactive oxygen species and antioxidant capacity against peroxyl radicals in the gills. The literature shows that glyphosate decreased the distance covered and the mean speed of the animals and increased the number of rotations. We concluded that glyphosate causes damage in the embryonic, larval and adult stages of this species. These results are valid for zebrafish and can be applied to other freshwater fish species. Graphical abstract.
Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Ecosystem; Embryo, Nonmammalian; Glycine; Herbicides; Larva; Reactive Oxygen Species; Surface-Active Agents; Zebrafish; Glyphosate
PubMed: 36065034
DOI: 10.1007/s10646-022-02581-z -
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Sep 2022Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) are increasingly and widely used as substitutes for brominated flame retardants in daily life. The chemical structure of OPFRs... (Review)
Review
Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) are increasingly and widely used as substitutes for brominated flame retardants in daily life. The chemical structure of OPFRs is very similar to that of organophosphorus pesticides, leading to concerns about their neurotoxicity. A few epidemiological studies have been published with inconsistent results on this topic, and a systematic scoping review is needed to provide an overview or map of the current evidence on the relationship of OPFRs with neurodevelopmental toxicity. Therefore, MEDLINE (accessed through PubMed), Web of Science, and CNKI (Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure) were systematically searched for articles published in the last two decades. Nine eligible articles were included in the present systematic scoping review for adherence to the predefined PECOS (population, exposure, comparison, outcome, study design) statement. Six studies were conducted in the USA, and the remaining three studies were conducted in Austria, Norway and China. A total of 2 581 children (1 203 females and 1 378 males) were included. Half of the included studies focused on the adverse effects of OPFR exposure on cognition in children, while others primarily focused on the behaviors of children. In summary, the current evidence suggests inverse associations between early-life exposure to OPFRs and the childhood intelligence quotient and internalizing behavior and positive relationships of OPFR exposure with externalizing behavior. However, some differences in the timing of sample collection for exposure measurements, in the individual OPFR metabolites available, in the neurodevelopmental scales for outcome measurement, and in the statistical methods used to analyze the data are noted. In addition, further studies are warranted to evaluate some important issues, such as sex differences in the association, exposure-sensitive periods, and cumulative exposure risk assessment.
Topics: Child; Epidemiologic Studies; Female; Flame Retardants; Humans; Male; Organophosphates; Organophosphorus Compounds; Pesticides
PubMed: 35988382
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113973 -
Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging :... Apr 2023The incidence of liver and pancreatic cancer is rising. Patients benefit from current treatments, but there are limitations in the evaluation of (early) response to...
BACKGROUND
The incidence of liver and pancreatic cancer is rising. Patients benefit from current treatments, but there are limitations in the evaluation of (early) response to treatment. Tumor metabolic alterations can be measured noninvasively with phosphorus ( P) magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS).
PURPOSE
To conduct a quantitative analysis of the available literature on P MRS performed in hepatopancreatobiliary cancer and to provide insight into its current and potential for therapy (non-) response assessment.
POPULATION
Patients with hepatopancreatobiliary cancer. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: P MRS.
ASSESSMENT
The PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane library databases were systematically searched for studies published to 17 March 17, 2022. All P MRS studies in hepatopancreatobiliary cancer reporting P metabolite levels were included.
STATISTICAL TESTS
Relative differences in P metabolite levels/ratios between patients before therapy and healthy controls, and the relative changes in P metabolite levels/ratios in patients before and after therapy were determined.
RESULTS
The search yielded 10 studies, comprising 301 subjects, of whom 132 (44%) healthy volunteers and 169 (56%) patients with liver cancer of various etiology. To date, P MRS has not been applied in pancreatic cancer. In liver cancer, alterations in levels of P metabolites involved in cell proliferation (phosphomonoesters [PMEs] and phosphodiesters [PDEs]) and energy metabolism (ATP and inorganic phosphate [Pi]) were observed. In particular, liver tumors were associated with elevations of PME/PDE and PME/Pi compared to healthy liver tissue, although there was a broad variety among studies (elevations of 2%-267% and 21%-233%, respectively). Changes in PME/PDE in liver tumors upon therapy were substantial, yet very heterogeneous and both decreases and increases were observed, whereas PME/Pi was consistently decreased after therapy in all studies (-13% to -76%).
DATA CONCLUSION
P MRS has great potential for treatment monitoring in oncology. Future studies are needed to correlate the changes in P metabolite levels in hepatopancreatobiliary tumors with treatment response.
EVIDENCE LEVEL
3 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.
Topics: Humans; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Phosphorus; Organophosphates; Liver Neoplasms; Pancreatic Neoplasms
PubMed: 35916278
DOI: 10.1002/jmri.28372 -
Andrology Oct 2022The environment plays a key role in male infertility, changing the incidence in various populations, and pesticides are one of the most studied hazards. The use of the... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The environment plays a key role in male infertility, changing the incidence in various populations, and pesticides are one of the most studied hazards. The use of the latter has never decreased, jeopardizing the safety of workers and the general population.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to summarize the results of studies discussing the association between pesticides and male fertility.
METHODS
A comprehensive literature search was performed through MEDLINE via PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Only human studies were considered. Semen parameters and DNA integrity were considered to evaluate the effect of pesticides on men.
RESULTS
A total of 64 studies that investigated their impact in terms of semen parameters (51 studies) and chromatin and DNA integrity (25 studies) were included. The most frequently affected parameters were total sperm count, sperm motility, and sperm morphology, although a reduction in ejaculate volume and concentration occur in several cases. A tangible worsening of semen quality was associated with organochlorines and organophosphates. Furthermore, pesticide exposure, especially pyrethroids, was related to a higher DNA fragmentation index and chromosome aneuploidy in most articles.
CONCLUSION
The epidemiological evidence supports the association between pesticides and male fertility for workers and the exposed population in terms of semen quality, DNA fragmentation, and chromosome aneuploidy.
Topics: Aneuploidy; Chromatin; DNA; Fertility; Humans; Infertility, Male; Male; Occupational Exposure; Organophosphates; Pesticides; Pyrethrins; Semen; Semen Analysis; Sperm Count; Sperm Motility; Spermatozoa
PubMed: 35793270
DOI: 10.1111/andr.13228 -
Journal of Toxicology and Environmental... May 2022Studies of nervous system effects of glyphosate, a widely used herbicide, have not been critically examined. The aim of this paper was to systematically review...
Studies of nervous system effects of glyphosate, a widely used herbicide, have not been critically examined. The aim of this paper was to systematically review glyphosate-induced neurotoxicity literature to determine its usefulness in regulatory decision-making. The review was restricted to mammalian studies of behavior, neuropathology, and neuropharmacology; and other biochemical studies were considered supplementary information. Glyphosate formulation studies were also considered, despite uncertainties regarding toxicities of the formulated products; no studies used a formulation vehicle as the control. Inclusion criteria were developed to ensure consistent evaluation of studies, and investigations were also ranked using ToxRTool software to determine reliability. There were 27 studies (open literature and available regulatory reports), but 11 studies were considered unreliable (mostly due to critical methodological deficiencies). There were only seven acceptable investigations on glyphosate alone. Studies differed in terms of dosing scenarios, experimental designs, test species, and commercial product. Limitations included using only one dose and/or one test time, small sample sizes, limited data presentation, and/or overtly toxic doses. While motor activity was the most consistently affected endpoint (10 of 12 studies), there were considerable differences in outcomes. In six investigations, there were no marked neuropathological changes in the central or peripheral nervous system. Other neurological effects were less consistent, and some outcomes were less convincing due to influences including high variability and small effect sizes. Taken together, these studies do not demonstrate a consistent impact of glyphosate on the structure or function of the mammalian nervous system.
Topics: Animals; Glycine; Herbicides; Mammals; Reproducibility of Results; Glyphosate
PubMed: 35676826
DOI: 10.1080/10937404.2022.2083739 -
Clinical Therapeutics Jun 2022Heavily treatment-experienced (HTE) people with multidrug-resistant HIV-1 have limited treatment options. Treatment with the first-in-class attachment inhibitor...
PURPOSE
Heavily treatment-experienced (HTE) people with multidrug-resistant HIV-1 have limited treatment options. Treatment with the first-in-class attachment inhibitor fostemsavir in addition to optimized background therapy (OBT) resulted in sustained virologic and immunologic responses in HTE participants throughout 96 weeks in the BRIGHTE trial. In the absence of long-term direct comparative evidence between fostemsavir-based and other antiretroviral regimens, this analysis indirectly compares efficacy and safety across relevant available trials, adjusting for demographic and baseline characteristics.
METHODS
A systematic literature review was conducted to identify trials with designs and populations comparable to BRIGHTE. Using matching-adjusted indirect comparison analyses, individual participant data from BRIGHTE were reweighted to create balanced populations across trials, and efficacy and safety outcomes were compared.
FINDINGS
Three comparator trials were identified, 2 of which reflected an optimized therapy without fostemsavir (OBT alone): TMB-301 (ibalizumab and OBT), BENCHMRK-1/-2 (OBT alone), and VIKING-3 (OBT alone). Compared with ibalizumab and OBT (N = 40), fostemsavir and OBT (unadjusted, N = 347; adjusted, N = 236) were associated with numerically higher nonsignificant odds of virologic suppression (odds ratio [OR] = 1.44; 95% CI, 0.74-2.80; P = 0.284) and a similar increase in CD4 cell count of approximately 65 cells/mm from baseline through week 24 (mean difference = 7.05 cells/mm; 95% CI, -60.88 to 74.98 cells/mm; P = 0.834). Compared with OBT from BENCHMRK-1/-2 (N = 237), fostemsavir and OBT (adjusted, N = 126) were associated with significantly higher odds of virologic suppression (OR = 3.26; 95% CI, 2.08-5.11; P < 0.001) and increased CD4 cell count (135.78 cells/mm; 95% CI, 91.93-179.63 cells/mm; P < 0.001) at week 96. Compared with OBT from VIKING-3 (N = 183), fostemsavir and OBT (adjusted, N = 78) were associated with numerically higher odds of virologic suppression (OR = 1.34; 95% CI, 0.78-2.30; P = 0.297) and a modest CD4 cell count increase (26.86 cells/mm; 95% CI, -10.79 to 64.52; P = 0.162) through week 48; however, differences were not significant. All-cause discontinuations and safety comparisons varied across studies.
IMPLICATIONS
Although matching-adjusted indirect comparison analyses have limitations, these results support the use of fostemsavir and OBT as an important treatment option in HTE people with multidrug-resistant HIV-1.
Topics: Anti-HIV Agents; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Organophosphates; Piperazines; Viral Load
PubMed: 35610081
DOI: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2022.04.007 -
International Archives of Occupational... Jan 2023Human health risk assessments of glyphosate have focused on animal toxicology data for determining neurotoxic potential. Human epidemiological studies have not yet been... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
Human health risk assessments of glyphosate have focused on animal toxicology data for determining neurotoxic potential. Human epidemiological studies have not yet been systematically reviewed for glyphosate neurotoxicity hazard identification. The objective of this systematic literature review was to summarize the available epidemiology of glyphosate exposure and neurological outcomes in humans.
METHODS
As of December 2021, 25 eligible epidemiological studies of glyphosate exposure and neurological endpoints were identified and assessed for five quality dimensions using guidance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Studies that assessed personal use of glyphosate were prioritized, whereas those assessing indirect exposure (other than personal use) were rated as low quality, since biomonitoring data indicate that indirect metrics of glyphosate exposure almost always equate to non-detectable glyphosate doses.
RESULTS
Overall, the scientific evidence on glyphosate and neurotoxicity in humans is sparse and methodologically limited, based on nine included epidemiological studies of neurodegenerative outcomes (two high quality), five studies of neurobehavioral outcomes (two high quality), six studies of neurodevelopmental outcomes (none high quality), and five studies of other and mixed neurological outcomes (one high quality). The five high-quality studies showed no association between glyphosate use and risk of depression, Parkinson disease, or peripheral nerve conduction velocity. Results were mixed among the eight moderate-quality studies, which did not demonstrate consistent associations with any neurological endpoints or categories. Low-quality studies were considered uninformative about possible neurotoxic effects due primarily to questionable assessments of indirect exposure.
CONCLUSIONS
No association has been demonstrated between glyphosate and any neurological outcomes in humans. To move the state of science forward, epidemiological studies should focus on scenarios involving direct and frequent use of glyphosate while collecting information on validated health outcomes, concomitant agricultural exposures, and relevant personal characteristics.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Environmental Exposure; Herbicides; Glycine; Risk Assessment; Neurotoxicity Syndromes; Glyphosate
PubMed: 35604441
DOI: 10.1007/s00420-022-01878-0 -
The Science of the Total Environment Jul 2022
Reply to letter to the editor RE: Hayes K, Megson D., Doyle A, O'Sullivan G. Occupational risk of organophosphates and other chemical and radiative exposure in the aircraft cabin: A systematic review. Sci Total Environ. 2021 Nov 20;796:148742.
Topics: Aircraft; Organophosphates; Radiation Exposure
PubMed: 35589439
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155509 -
International Journal of Molecular... Apr 2022Glyphosate, a non-selective systemic biocide with broad-spectrum activity, is the most widely used herbicide in the world. It can persist in the environment for days or... (Review)
Review
Glyphosate, a non-selective systemic biocide with broad-spectrum activity, is the most widely used herbicide in the world. It can persist in the environment for days or months, and its intensive and large-scale use can constitute a major environmental and health problem. In this systematic review, we investigate the current state of our knowledge related to the effects of this pesticide on the nervous system of various animal species and humans. The information provided indicates that exposure to glyphosate or its commercial formulations induces several neurotoxic effects. It has been shown that exposure to this pesticide during the early stages of life can seriously affect normal cell development by deregulating some of the signaling pathways involved in this process, leading to alterations in differentiation, neuronal growth, and myelination. Glyphosate also seems to exert a significant toxic effect on neurotransmission and to induce oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction, processes that lead to neuronal death due to autophagy, necrosis, or apoptosis, as well as the appearance of behavioral and motor disorders. The doses of glyphosate that produce these neurotoxic effects vary widely but are lower than the limits set by regulatory agencies. Although there are important discrepancies between the analyzed findings, it is unequivocal that exposure to glyphosate produces important alterations in the structure and function of the nervous system of humans, rodents, fish, and invertebrates.
Topics: Animals; Central Nervous System Depressants; Glycine; Herbicides; Neurotoxicity Syndromes; Glyphosate
PubMed: 35562999
DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094605