Indiana University School of Medicine researchers are learning more regarding the effects of herbicide exposure during pregnancy, finding glyphosate in 99% of pregnant women they observed in the Midwest. In a study recently published in Environmental health, higher levels of glyphosate were associated with lower birth weight and may also lead to a higher risk of neonatal intensive care unit admission.
This is the second small-scale study the researchers have conducted with significant results. The team’s previous study, published in 2018, was the first study to confirm glyphosate in 93% of pregnancies that found associations with shortened pregnancies. Other recent studies have also confirmed their findings.
“Exposure to pesticides during pregnancy, particularly early in pregnancy, can imprint DNA and alter gene expression,” said Paul Winchester, MD, professor of clinical pediatrics and lead study author. . “But little is known regarding how these chemicals may impact fetal development in humans.”
Glyphosate is a chemical, commonly found in Roundup, used to kill weeds. It is used by farmers and homeowners across the United States, but especially in the Midwest on corn and soybeans. Previous studies have shown that people can be exposed to glyphosate in any food they eat, even packaged or organic foods.
Over several years, researchers observed a cohort of 187 pregnant women in Indiana collecting urine samples during the first trimester of their pregnancy. All but one of the women had glyphosate detected in their urine.
Winchester said previous studies have shown a variety of negative effects of pesticide exposure in animal models, but not much is known regarding the impact on fetal development in humans. .
“As a neonatologist, I see more and more infants with issues like low birth weight as well as mothers with issues like obesity or gestational diabetes,” Winchester said. “We need to continue to study these herbicides long-term to find out how they might cause these problems and what we can do to prevent them.”
Researchers hope to study glyphosate exposure in a larger group of pregnant women over time.
This study was a collaborative effort with Franciscan Health in Indianapolis, University of California San Francisco, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and King’s College London School of Medicine.
Source of the story:
Material provided by Indiana University School of Medicine. Original written by Christina Griffiths. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
