Developmental neurobehavioral neurotoxicity of insecticides
Since the 1940s five major classes of synthetic insecticides have been introduced into the market: organochlorines, organophosphates, carbamates, pyrethroids, and neonicotinoids. All classes primarily target the nervous system of insects as a means of killing them. Similarities between the insect and human nervous systems often lead to cross-toxicity. There is increasing evidence that insecticides are more harmful to fetuses and children due to physiological/developmental and behavioral factors and that the disruption of developmental processes during critical periods of early life may lead to a large variety of persisting adverse effects. This chapter covers the developmental neurotoxicity of these classes of insecticides and provides important evidence that, for all classes, the classic mechanisms responsible for insect toxicity and off-target acute poisoning cannot explain the very distinct outcomes of developmental exposure. It has become evident that additional mechanisms of action play major roles in the effects associated with low-level exposure during brain development.