Developmental inequity and the impact of pesticide exposure on gut and brain health in developing nations – a Brazilian perspective

The Green Revolution brought substantial improvements in food production, making nutrients more accessible than at any other point in human history. However, the widespread use of agrochemicals during this period has led to significant concerns regarding environmental health and human well-being. In developing nations, where pesticide regulation is often less stringent, the use of highly hazardous chemicals poses serious health risks. This paper addresses the developmental inequities linked to pesticide exposure, particularly in Brazil, focusing on its impact on the gut microbiome and neurodevelopment. The gastrointestinal tract, home to a complex microbiome, plays an essential role in immune regulation and neurological functions. Pesticide exposure, which may begin prenatally through maternal pathways and continue postnatally, has the potential to disrupt this microbiome and affect critical neurodevelopmental processes, likely altering lifelong health outcomes. The effects of pesticides on developmental trajectory are particularly concerning during vulnerable periods of heightened cortical neuroplasticity over prenatal, infancy, and adolescent stages. This article also explores the unequal regulatory landscape for pesticides, emphasizing the disparities between more-regulated and less-regulated regions. Brazil serves as a case study to illustrate how inconsistent global pesticide standards contribute to developmental inequity, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities. The findings underscore the need for sustainable agricultural practices and stronger international regulatory coherence to ensure safe food production and to protect neurodevelopment, especially for children in low- and middle-income countries. A unified approach toward regulating pesticide use globally is crucial to safeguard public health, promote developmental equity, and advance a more sustainable relationship with the environment.