Children exposed in utero to the pesticide chlorpyrifos show clear signs of altered brain structure and reduced motor function, according to a new study tracking exposure levels similar to what many U.S. families still face today.
Brian Bienkowski reports for The New Lede.
In short:
- A new peer-reviewed study in JAMA Neurology finds that prenatal exposure to chlorpyrifos causes widespread structural and metabolic changes in children’s brains, including cortical thickening and impaired neural connectivity.
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reversed its position on banning the pesticide multiple times since 2017; its current proposal allows continued use on 11 crops, despite mounting evidence of harm and court rulings both for and against restrictions.
- Chlorpyrifos remains present in U.S. food, including baby food, with residue found in produce like pears, tomatoes, and celery, posing ongoing exposure risks to the general public.
Key quote:
“With more exposure we saw more brain effects, but there is no level below which you don’t see impacts.”
— Dr. Bradley Peterson, study lead author and chief of the Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Why this matters:
Chlorpyrifos, an organophosphate insecticide, has long been linked to developmental problems in children, yet it continues to be used on U.S. crops. Despite bans on residential use, the chemical persists in the food supply and remains detectable in produce and even baby food. The developing fetal brain is particularly vulnerable to neurotoxic chemicals, and studies have shown that chlorpyrifos can disrupt brain growth, motor coordination, and cognition. Repeated regulatory rollbacks and industry pushback have stalled stronger protections, even as other countries, including those in the European Union, have banned its use outright.
Read more: Study finds link between glyphosate exposure and pregnancy length
