Background: Organophosphorus (OP) pesticides are widely used worldwide. The effect of OP exposure during pregnancy on the offspring is inconsistent in the current literature. Moreover, similar studies in the Middle East are lacking.
Purpose: To examine the effects of OP exposure in utero on the outcome of pregnancies in an agricultural region in Jordan.
Method: A prospective study, employing a questionnaire to collect women demographic data. Hospital records were collected for newborns' birth data. In addition, urine samples during the third trimester were collected from pregnant women and then analyzed for six OP metabolites to measure exposure.
Results: One of the metabolites, DEDTP, was negatively correlated with gestational age and Apgar scores 1 and 5. There were no other significant associations.
Conclusions: Exposure to OP during pregnancy is not highly associated with any negative anthropometric characteristics of the newborns; it is probably offset by other factors.
Keywords: Environment; Jordan; off spring; pollution.