A newly published study co-authored by researchers at the University of California Los Angeles reports on Mar. 23 that women’s exposure to agricultural pesticides before pregnancy may be linked to poorer health in infants, as measured by lower Apgar scores shortly after birth.
The findings matter because the Apgar score is a common measure used within five minutes of birth and is associated with long-term health outcomes for babies. The research suggests that maternal exposure to certain pesticides could have implications for child development and health.
The peer-reviewed study appeared in the March edition of the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology. It found that preconception exposure to commonly applied pesticides—especially organophosphates, pyrethroids, and carbamates—was associated with lower Apgar scores. “Pesticide exposures disrupt biological functions in humans, raising concerns about potential effects on newborn health and development,” said Dr. Beate Ritz, a co-author and professor at UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. “These findings suggest that interventions aimed at mitigating maternal agricultural pesticide exposures may improve newborn health.”
The multi-institutional team included researchers from Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health and was led by scholars from the University of Arizona, along with UCLA faculty such as Kimberly Paul from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Melissa Furlong, senior author from the University of Arizona’s Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, said: “Pesticides are designed to be toxic — very often, the biological mechanisms that they act on are present not just in insects and weeds, but also in humans. They have demonstrable biological effects on human health.” The research group used Arizona’s comprehensive pesticide use registries—the state is one of only two nationwide with such data—and linked them with all birth certificate records across Arizona.
Although there was a strong correlation between pesticide exposure during preconception or pregnancy and low Apgar scores—which can predict certain neurological outcomes—the authors note this does not definitively prove harm to newborns’ health. The team plans further research using Medicaid records in Arizona to investigate if these associations extend into actual neurodevelopmental disorders through childhood.
To reduce household pesticide load near agricultural areas, recommendations include vacuuming regularly, using doormats, removing shoes indoors, changing air filters monthly during spray seasons, filtering well water when necessary—and most importantly avoiding indoor insecticide use during pregnancy. “Most importantly, try not to use indoor insecticides during pregnancy,” Furlong said.
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