Children exposed to flower pesticides show neurobehavioral effects.

A new study published in the May 2017 issue of the journal NeuroToxicology has shown that children exposed to flower pesticides exhibit neurological behaviors. The research carried out in Ecuador examined children who did not work in agriculture but lived in agricultural communities. The study showed short term neurological behavior in these children which coincided with peak periods when flower pesticides are used. Ecuador is the third largest producers of roses in the world ,the industry is buoyant and they rely heavily on agricultural pesticides. The study showed that children examined sooner after the flower harvest displayed lower performance , such as attention, self-control, visuospatial processing which is the ability to perceive and interact with our visual world and sensorimotor ,the eye-hand coordination compared to children examined later in a time of lower flower production and pesticide use. Early exposure to commonly used agricultural pesticides is associated with neurobehavioral delays in children, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD). Pesticide exposure has also been linked to altered development of reflexes and psychomotor and mental function in newborns with boys more susceptible than girls.