A new study has found worrying evidence that being exposed to a common insecticide before birth could affect a child’s brain development for many years.
The chemical, called chlorpyrifos, or CPF, is widely used to control insects in farms and homes.
Researchers discovered that children who were exposed to this chemical while still in their mothers’ wombs showed long-term changes in their brain structure and movement skills.
The study was carried out by scientists from Columbia University, the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. Their findings were published in the medical journal JAMA Neurology.
This research is one of the first to show lasting changes in how the human brain works at the molecular and cellular level due to prenatal exposure to this pesticide.
The researchers followed 270 children who were part of the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health study in New York City.
All of the children were born to Latino or African-American mothers and had measurable levels of chlorpyrifos in their umbilical cord blood at birth. The children were studied between the ages of six and fourteen, using brain scans and tests that measured their coordination and movement.
The results were clear. Children with higher levels of exposure to chlorpyrifos before birth had noticeable differences in their brain structure. They also scored lower on tests that measured hand-eye coordination, balance, and overall motor speed.
The scientists found that these effects became stronger as the level of exposure increased, showing that even small amounts of this pesticide can affect how the brain grows and functions.
For the families in this study, the main source of exposure came from using insect sprays inside their homes. Although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency banned chlorpyrifos for home use in 2001, it is still used in agriculture on non-organic crops such as fruits, vegetables, and grains.
Because of this, farm workers and nearby communities can still be exposed through contaminated air, water, or dust.
According to the lead researchers, this ongoing exposure remains a serious concern. “Farm workers, pregnant women, and unborn babies are still at risk from this pesticide,” said Dr. Virginia Rauh, one of the senior authors of the study. She emphasized that more monitoring is needed, especially for pregnant women living near agricultural areas where chlorpyrifos is still used.
Dr. Bradley Peterson, another senior author, explained that the brain changes caused by the pesticide were widespread. They affected many regions of the brain involved in movement, thinking, and metabolism.
He also warned that other chemicals in the same pesticide family—called organophosphates—may cause similar effects. Because the brain develops rapidly during pregnancy and early childhood, exposure to these substances can be especially harmful during that time.
The study highlights a broader issue about how long-term exposure to pesticides can affect human health, even at low levels. While chlorpyrifos is no longer used in homes, its continued use in agriculture means that millions of people could still be affected indirectly through the food supply or the environment.
In reviewing these findings, the researchers noted that prenatal exposure to chlorpyrifos could lead to both structural and functional changes in the brain that last into adolescence.
These changes may explain why some children develop slower motor skills or have difficulties with attention and learning. The study adds to growing evidence that even low levels of chemical exposure during pregnancy can have long-lasting consequences on a child’s development.
This research sends a strong message about the importance of protecting pregnant women and young children from harmful chemicals. It also calls for stricter regulation and better monitoring of pesticide use, especially in farming areas.
Understanding how these toxins affect the brain can help governments, doctors, and families make better decisions about reducing exposure and protecting children’s health for the future.
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The study is published in JAMA Neurology.
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