Associations between Neonicotinoid, Pyrethroid, and Organophosphate Insecticide Metabolites and Neurobehavioral Performance in Ecuadorian Adolescents.

Background: Organophosphate and pyrethroid insecticides can affect children's neurodevelopment and increase inflammation. Limited evidence exists among adolescents and on whether inflammation may mediate pesticide-neurobehavior associations. We examined the associations between insecticide metabolite concentrations and neurobehavior among adolescents in Ecuadorian agricultural communities. Methods: We included 520 participants aged 11-17 years. We measured urinary insecticide metabolites (mass spectrometry) and neurobehavior (NEPSY-II). Associations were adjusted for socio-demographic and anthropometric characteristics. The associations of insecticide mixtures with neurobehavior were evaluated using PLS regression, and mediation by inflammatory biomarkers (TNF-α, IL-6, CRP, SAA, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 and sCD-14) was conducted. Results: Among organophosphates, para-nitrophenol (PNP) and 3,5,6-Trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPy) were inversely associated with Social Perception (score difference per 50% increase [β Conclusions: Concurrent organophosphate, pyrethroid, and the mixtures of all metabolites were associated with lower performance in all domains except for Memory/Learning. Neonicotinoids were positively associated with Memory/Learning and Social Perception scores.