Pesticide exposure may lead to ADHD: report

Exposure to high levels of pesticides through diet may increase the risk of developing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, suggests a report published online May 17 in the journal Pediatrics.

Using a nationally representative sample of 1,139 children ages 8-15 from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, researchers found children with higher levels of the pesticide dimethyl alkylphosphate, or DMAP, in their urine were more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD. Results indicated a tenfold increase in DMAP concentration was associated with a 55-72 percent increase in the odds of having ADHD. Researchers concluded that pesticide exposure at levels common among American children may be a contributor to ADHD diagnoses.