Prenatal Exposure to Neonicotinoid Insecticides and Neurological and Cognitive Development in Preschool Children: Evidence from a Birth Cohort in Guangxi, China

Neonicotinoid insecticides (NEOs) are widely used globally, leading to human exposure including pregnant women, and may pose risks of neurocognitive toxicity. In this study, we analyzed 114 mother–child pairs from the Guangxi Zhuang birth cohort. Umbilical cord plasma concentrations of 10 NEOs were measured using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS), and child neurocognitive development was assessed using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, Fourth Edition (WPPSI-IV) and the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, Third Edition (ASQ-3). NEOs were frequently detected, with detection rates ranging from 15.8% to 96.5%, and dinotefuran (DIN) showed the highest prevalence. Prenatal exposure to several NEOs was associated with lower neurocognitive scores. Specifically, DIN and clothianidin (CLO) exposure were associated with lower Full-Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ), while thiacloprid (THIA) exposure was linked to poorer communication performance. In addition, imidacloprid (IMI) and THIA exposure were associated with reduced gross motor function, and thiamethoxam (TMX) was further associated with reduced fine motor development. Mixed exposure analysis suggested a negative but non-significant association between overall NEO exposure and FSIQ or fine motor outcomes. These findings suggest a potential association between prenatal exposure to NEOs and neurocognitive development in preschool children, highlighting the need for further research to inform public health strategies.