Neurodevelopmental disorders and prenatal residential proximity to agricultural pesticides: The CHARGE study

California is the top agricultural producing state in the nation, grossing 38 billion dollars in revenue from farm crops in 2010 (CDFA 2010). Each year approximately 200 million pounds of active pesticide ingredients are applied throughout the state (CDPR 2011). While pesticides are critical for the modern agricultural industry, certain commonly used pesticides have been associated with abnormal and impaired neurodevelopment in children (Bouchard et al. 2010; Bouchard et al. 2011; Engel et al. 2007; Eskenazi et al. 2006; Grandjean et al. 2006; Guillette et al. 1998; Rauh et al. 2006; Ribas-Fito et al. 2006; Torres-Sanchez et al. 2007; Young et al. 2005). In addition, specific associations have been reported between agricultural pesticides and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) (Roberts et al. 2007) and the broader diagnostic category under which autism falls, the pervasive developmental disorders (Eskenazi et al. 2007).