Exposure to pesticides and cognitive function in school-age children of the Bolivar department (Colombia)

Joining efforts to address the interactions between social and environmental determinants of cognitive functioning allows the identification of structural barriers that guide government plans towards the fulfillment of the 2030 Agenda. This study examined the pesticide exposure and cognitive function in school-age children between the ages of 6–12 years old from Magangue, Achi, and Arjona (reference site) in the Bolivar Department (Colombia). A total of 323 school-age children participated in the study. A cross-sectional examination was conducted, including the measurement of blood serum pesticide concentrations using a gas chromatography–mass spectrometer (GC–MS) and cognitive function was assessed employing the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, 4th edition. A comprehensive questionnaire was used to collect demographic information and exposure profiles. A total of fourteen organophosphate pesticides and 2 carbamates in human blood serum were detected. In Magangue, pesticides were quantified in 91 % of the participants, and in Achi in 34 %. At the comparison site, the results showed the presence of these pesticides in less than 2 % of the total samples analyzed. Interaction effects were observed between parental education, number of pesticides detected (>LOD), IQ, and verbal comprehension index, which could generate alterations in reasoning, problem solving, memory and verbal comprehension. Interaction effects were observed between parental education, the number of pesticides detected, sum of pesticide concentrations detected in blood divided by the reported LD₅₀ of each chemical (ΣCPN/LD), and very low scores on the perceptual reasoning index, indicating compromised performance in abstract, logical, and analytical reasoning tasks. These findings underscore the magnitude of pesticide exposure as a public health concern, emphasizing the need for longitudinal studies to establish causal relationships between social determinants and neurotoxicant exposure as predictors of human development. The results contribute to governmental public health strategies aimed at protecting vulnerable populations and raising awareness of the risks associated with toxic exposures.