The relationship between organophosphate pesticide exposure and anthropometric outcomes among a cohort of children from four informal settlements in the Western Cape

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dc.contributor.advisorDalvie, Aqiel
dc.contributor.advisorOlaniyan, Toyib
dc.contributor.authorWallace, Hayley Marget
dc.date.accessioned2026-06-26T09:26:26Z
dc.date.available2026-06-26T09:26:26Z
dc.date.issued2026
dc.date.updated2026-06-26T09:25:21Z
dc.description.abstractObjective: There is limited data on the association between pesticide exposure in children and anthropometric outcomes, particularly in non-agricultural communities and developing countries. This study investigated the association between organophosphate pesticide (OPP) exposure and anthropometric outcomes in primary schoolchildren from four informal settlements in Western Cape Province in South Africa. Methods: This study was a repeated cross-sectional study of 600 schoolchildren over a 12-month period. Measurements included urinary dialkyl phosphate (DAP) metabolites [diethylphosphate (DEP), dimethylphosphate (DMP), and dimethylthiophosphate (DMTP)] at baseline and DEP and DMP at follow-up. Individual level characteristics as well as anthropometric measurements [height, weight, and Body Mass Index (BMI)] were collected at both time points. Results: The mean age for all participants at baseline was 9.93 ± 0.90 years and mean ∑DAP at baseline was 41.78 ± 33.80 ng/ml. Mean changes in weight, height, and BMI from baseline to follow-up for all participants were 6.04 ± 5.29 kg, 6.83 ± 4.00 cm, and 1.05 ± 2.01 kg/m2, respectively. Eighty percent of participants measured below the 50th percentile in height-for-age at baseline, and 76.8% at follow-up. Although not all reached statistical significance, besides the association of the sum of DAP at follow-up (OR: 2.23, 95% CI: 1.09 – 4.57), all the other measures of urinary DAP were positively associated with low BMI-for-age (i.e., BMI values below two standard deviations of the WHO growth chart reference). Conclusion: Urinary OPP metabolite measurements and the prevalence of short stature among children in the study were high compared to other settings. The study found some evidence of decreased BMI-for age with increasing DAPs concentrations among the participating children. Large longitudinal studies with follow-up periods exceeding two years and incorporating pesticide biomonitoring at multiple time-points are recommended. Additionally, policy and intervention to reduce pesticide exposures in non-agricultural communities are recommended.
dc.identifier.apacitationWallace, H. M. (2026). <i>The relationship between organophosphate pesticide exposure and anthropometric outcomes among a cohort of children from four informal settlements in the Western Cape</i>. (). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43402en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationWallace, Hayley Marget. <i>"The relationship between organophosphate pesticide exposure and anthropometric outcomes among a cohort of children from four informal settlements in the Western Cape."</i> ., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, 2026. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43402en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationWallace, H.M. 2026. The relationship between organophosphate pesticide exposure and anthropometric outcomes among a cohort of children from four informal settlements in the Western Cape. . University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43402en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Wallace, Hayley Marget AB - Objective: There is limited data on the association between pesticide exposure in children and anthropometric outcomes, particularly in non-agricultural communities and developing countries. This study investigated the association between organophosphate pesticide (OPP) exposure and anthropometric outcomes in primary schoolchildren from four informal settlements in Western Cape Province in South Africa. Methods: This study was a repeated cross-sectional study of 600 schoolchildren over a 12-month period. Measurements included urinary dialkyl phosphate (DAP) metabolites [diethylphosphate (DEP), dimethylphosphate (DMP), and dimethylthiophosphate (DMTP)] at baseline and DEP and DMP at follow-up. Individual level characteristics as well as anthropometric measurements [height, weight, and Body Mass Index (BMI)] were collected at both time points. Results: The mean age for all participants at baseline was 9.93 ± 0.90 years and mean ∑DAP at baseline was 41.78 ± 33.80 ng/ml. Mean changes in weight, height, and BMI from baseline to follow-up for all participants were 6.04 ± 5.29 kg, 6.83 ± 4.00 cm, and 1.05 ± 2.01 kg/m2, respectively. Eighty percent of participants measured below the 50th percentile in height-for-age at baseline, and 76.8% at follow-up. Although not all reached statistical significance, besides the association of the sum of DAP at follow-up (OR: 2.23, 95% CI: 1.09 – 4.57), all the other measures of urinary DAP were positively associated with low BMI-for-age (i.e., BMI values below two standard deviations of the WHO growth chart reference). Conclusion: Urinary OPP metabolite measurements and the prevalence of short stature among children in the study were high compared to other settings. The study found some evidence of decreased BMI-for age with increasing DAPs concentrations among the participating children. Large longitudinal studies with follow-up periods exceeding two years and incorporating pesticide biomonitoring at multiple time-points are recommended. Additionally, policy and intervention to reduce pesticide exposures in non-agricultural communities are recommended. DA - 2026 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - Organophosphate pesticides KW - Anthropometric outcomes KW - Children KW - Non-occupational settings KW - Non-agricultural settings KW - Informal settlements LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2026 T1 - The relationship between organophosphate pesticide exposure and anthropometric outcomes among a cohort of children from four informal settlements in the Western Cape TI - The relationship between organophosphate pesticide exposure and anthropometric outcomes among a cohort of children from four informal settlements in the Western Cape UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43402 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/43402
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationWallace HM. The relationship between organophosphate pesticide exposure and anthropometric outcomes among a cohort of children from four informal settlements in the Western Cape. []. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, 2026 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43402en_ZA
dc.language.isoen
dc.language.rfc3066eng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Public Health and Family Medicine
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Health Sciences
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subjectOrganophosphate pesticides
dc.subjectAnthropometric outcomes
dc.subjectChildren
dc.subjectNon-occupational settings
dc.subjectNon-agricultural settings
dc.subjectInformal settlements
dc.titleThe relationship between organophosphate pesticide exposure and anthropometric outcomes among a cohort of children from four informal settlements in the Western Cape
dc.typeThesis / Dissertation
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationlevelMPH
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