Pesticides Affecting Newborns

Pesticide Exposure in the Womb

• Newborns exposed to pesticides in the womb are more likely to have low birth weight and lower gestational age. Womb exposure to pesticides had risks similar to that of tobacco smoking during pregnancy. Birth typically took place a few days earlier with one-third pound less birth weight than non-exposed peers, according to a report in the July 2012 edition of the journal "Environmental Health Perspectives." Exposure does not have to be significant. In fact, the study was not of field crop workers exposed to high doses of pesticides. Instead, pesticide exposure was through food and common pesticides used in the home or around the yard. Another study, in the April 2012 edition of "Environmental Health Perspectives," concluded that the IQ of children who were exposed to pesticides in the womb to be lower than those with less exposure.

Exposure Risks in Infancy

• Exposure to pesticides does not have to be from newborns being in the direct path of the substance being sprayed. In fact, this is not the method that most newborns come into contact with pesticides. Pesticides can be found in the food we eat, the air we breathe and water we drink. Newborns are at higher risk for pesticide exposure because they breathe faster than adults and their kidney and liver is not mature enough to filter out the pesticide residue. Since babies breathe at a faster rate than adults, they take more breathes per minute and inhale more pesticides that might be in the air, according the 2013 publication by the NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme. Babies also eat and drink more than adults in relation to their body weight. This means they could be ingesting more pesticides in their food consumption. Breastfed infants can have pesticides passed to them through breast milk. Formula-fed infants have pesticides passed to them through pesticide-contaminated water used to prepare the formula, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Health Effects

• Several documented negative health effects of pesticide exposure can be found in early childhood and infancy. Newborns who are exposed to pesticides can experience physical symptoms such as abnormal reflexes and developmental delays. Motor skill development can be prolonged with pesticide exposure as well as verbal communication delays. Behavioral issues and lowered IQ have also been linked to pesticide exposure in newborns, according to the 2013 publication by the NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme.

Reduce the Risk

• Reduce the amount of pesticides the child is exposed to in the home and take precautionary measures when possible. Always store pesticides out of reach of children. Locked cabinets are best. If you are applying pesticides to your home or lawn, remove the baby from the area and do not return until the pesticide has dried. Follow instructions on the label for pesticide products. Washing a child's hands and toys frequently can help wash away any pesticide residue that might have contaminated the area.