A groundbreaking new study published in JAMA Neurology uncovers compelling evidence linking prenatal exposure to chlorpyrifos (CPF), a commonly used organophosphate insecticide, with significant brain structural abnormalities and reduced motor function in children and adolescents residing in New York City. This research, conducted collaboratively by scientists at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and the Keck School of Medicine of USC, presents the first comprehensive analysis demonstrating persistent and extensive molecular, cellular, and metabolic disruptions in the developing human brain correlated with prenatal CPF exposure.
The investigation centered on 270 children and adolescents from a birth cohort consisting of Latino and African-American mothers. The participants were closely monitored for chlorpyrifos exposure via quantifiable levels found in umbilical cord blood at birth, followed by in-depth neuroimaging and behavioral assessments conducted between the ages of six and fourteen. The findings indicate a dose-dependent relationship—higher prenatal CPF exposure was consistently associated with more pronounced deviations in brain architecture, altered metabolic activity, and compromised fine motor skills.
This study’s advanced neuroimaging techniques allowed researchers to detect subtle yet widespread anomalies across several brain regions implicated in motor control and cognitive function. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopic modalities revealed reductions in gray matter density and disruptions in key metabolic pathways that sustain neuronal integrity. Importantly, these structural and functional perturbations persisted years after initial exposure, signifying lasting neurodevelopmental consequences shaped during the prenatal period.
Furthermore, the observable motor deficits linked with CPF exposure were not limited to gross motor abilities but extended to fine motor programming and motor speed tasks, underscoring critical impairments in the complex neural networks responsible for skillful movement coordination. These outcomes suggest that even modest levels of chlorpyrifos exposure during critical windows of brain maturation may yield irreversible neurotoxic effects, highlighting urgent public health implications.
While residential use of CPF was the principal exposure route for the cohort analyzed, it is notable that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned indoor residential use of chlorpyrifos in 2001. Despite this, agricultural applications continue unabated on a range of non-organic agricultural commodities, including fruits, vegetables, and grains. Consequently, the persistent presence of CPF residues in outdoor environments—airborne particulates and dust in agricultural vicinities—remains a source of ongoing exposure, particularly affecting vulnerable populations like farmworkers, pregnant women, and fetuses.
Dr. Virginia Rauh, senior author and Jane and Alan Batkin Professor of Population and Family Health at Columbia Mailman School, emphasized the continued risk posed by chlorpyrifos exposure in agricultural settings. She urged persistent monitoring of exposure levels among susceptible demographics, emphasizing the dire need for protective public policies aimed at pregnant women and infants in farming communities where environmental pesticide contamination is prevalent.
The multifaceted disturbances identified in the study extend beyond mere brain structure. Bradley Peterson, MD, lead author and Vice Chair for Research in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at USC’s Keck School of Medicine, noted that prenatal chlorpyrifos exposure induced widespread biochemical and metabolic dysregulation throughout the developing brain. Peterson cautioned that similar organophosphate pesticides may exert parallel neurotoxic effects, cautioning the public health community to minimize exposure during pregnancy and early childhood—a period marked by rapid and exquisitely vulnerable neurodevelopment.
The significance of this research lies not only in its large urban cohort and longitudinal design but also in its comprehensive approach that integrates environmental exposure quantification with state-of-the-art brain imaging and behavioral correlates. This integrative methodology provides robust evidence elucidating the mechanisms underlying CPF-induced neurotoxicity and reinforces concerns about the long-term developmental toll of prenatal pesticidal exposures.
Moreover, the research highlights a stark environmental justice issue: children born to low-income Latino and African-American families—populations historically marginalized and often residing in pesticide-contaminated neighborhoods—bear a disproportionate burden of chlorpyrifos-induced neurodevelopmental harm. This calls for targeted interventions and regulatory reforms that address systemic inequities contributing to hazardous environmental exposures.
Importantly, this study stands as a clarion call for revisiting pesticide regulations and underscores the necessity for expansive biomonitoring frameworks that extend to emerging populations at heightened risk. Given the vast usage of organophosphates globally and their pervasive detection in food and agricultural environments, the implications of this research extend far beyond New York City and are relevant worldwide.
In conclusion, prenatal chlorpyrifos exposure emerges as a potent disruptor of normal brain development with lasting consequences on brain morphology, metabolism, and motor function. The evidence presented demands urgent action to mitigate such environmental exposures, protect vulnerable populations, and incorporate neurodevelopmental endpoints in pesticide risk assessments. This pivotal work enriches our understanding of the invisible yet profound impact pesticides exert on the developing human brain and propels forward the imperative for preventative public health strategies.
Subject of Research: People
Article Title: Brain Abnormalities in Children Exposed Prenatally to the Pesticide Chlorpyrifos
News Publication Date: 18-Aug-2025
Web References: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2025.2818
Keywords: Children, Brain, Public health, Environmental health
