Exposure to pesticides in mothers linked to kids low IQ

April 22nd, 2011 - 8:43 pm ICT by Aishwarya Bhatt  

New York, April 22 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Scientists say pregnant women who are exposed to pesticides have increased risk of having children with low intelligent quotient (IQ).

Three studies on the subject were published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. The researches were carried out by researchers from University of California, Columbia University and Mt. Sinai Medical Center.

In the study conducted by the researchers from the University of California, the IQs of children born to mothers who had high exposure to an organophosphate pesticide were compared to those born to mothers who had lowest exposure to the chemical. All the mothers were African Americans and Dominicans. The children who were compared were all at the age of 7.

In another study conducted by Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York City, cognitive tests were carried out on babies born to mothers who had high levels of pesticide metabolites in their urine. All the children scored lower on the cognitive tests which were carried out on the babies from the age of 12 months.

The third study was carried out by the Columbia University. In a similar study as the one carried out at the University of California, the researchers found the IQ levels in children born to mothers who had the lowest exposure to pesticides were much higher than those whose mothers had high levels of the chemical.

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