Evaluating the effects on neurodevelopment of pre-natal and post-natal expo- sure to phytopharmaceutical products: presentation of the NEUROPHYTO project

Prenatal and neonatal periods are windows of vulnerability to environmental chemical conta-minants. A growing number of epidemiological and toxicological studies suggest that expo-sure to pesticides during these periods may impact the health of children at birth as well as their development, with potential delayed adverse effects. The NEUROPHYTO project is a new research project that aims to evaluate the exposure to pesticides of French children from the prenatal period to early childhood, and to study the possible effects of these exposures on their motor and neuropsychological development. New exposure data will be generated: levels of 140 pesticides and metabolites will be mea-sured in biological samples (urine and hair) taken from 200 children in the Elfe national cohort (French longitudinal study of children). The levels of active substance(s) in the brain will be estimated using a mathematical model and will then be related to early neurodeve-lopmental effects. Two approaches will be used to better identify and characterise these links. The first strategy will rely on epidemiological methods and the second will be based on the understanding of the neurotoxicity mechanisms of the substances. Finally, a child-specific risk analysis will provide support to public policies by targeted evidence during these pre-and post-natal windows of vulnerability.