In the May 2010 AAP Pediatrics Journal, Bouchard et al published a study examining the correlation between pesticide exposures to the odds of developing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).  Representative of the US population using cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1139 children age 8-15 were included in this study.   Of these children, 119 children met the diagnostic criteria for ADHD.  Children with elevated urinary dialkyl phosphate concentrations (a marker for particular orgnaophosphate pesticides) were more likely to be afflicted with ADHD.  A 10-fold increase in dimethyl alkylphosphate (DHAP) concentration was associated with a 55-72% increased chance of having ADHD.  Compared to children without detectable levels of a DHAP metabolite, children with higher than median concentration levels had twice the odds of carrying the diagnosis of ADHD.

 Exposure to organophosphate pesticides has long been associated with neurodevelopment dysfunction however studies have been limited to populations with high exposure levels.  This study set out to make the distinction that the general pediatric population exposed to average levels of these pesticides may also be at risk for serious adverse developmental outcomes.

 Over 3 dozen organophosphate pesticides are approved for use in the US.  In 2001, 73 million pounds of them were used.  In 2008, foods such as frozen blueberries strawberries and celery contained detectable amounts of organophosphates in ~20-30% of the samples tested.  Children because of the vulnerability of the developing brain are believed to be at highest risk of toxicity from these pesticides.   Children also have a reduced expression of detoxifying enzymes  and the pesticide exposure dose  per body weight is generally larger for children which further heightens this risk.  This study adds to the growing body of evidence that associates pesticide exposure to adverse developmental outcomes and may contribute to ADHD in our children.