The Impact of Neonicotinoid Pesticides on Reproductive Health

Neonicotinoids are some of the most widely used insecticides in the world because they broadly target chewing and sucking insects. Neonicotinoids are used in commercial agricultural systems, sold for use in home gardens, and found in veterinary pharmaceuticals in the form of flea and tick preventatives for companion animals. They are also used as crop seed treatments and spread throughout crops as they mature. As a result, humans, wildlife, livestock, and pets are routinely exposed to neonicotinoids through consumption of contaminated food and water as well as through use of some veterinary pharmaceuticals. Although several studies indicate that neonicotinoid exposure causes genotoxicity, neurotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and immunotoxicity in some non-target species, the impact of neonicotinoid pesticides on the male and female reproductive systems in mammals is largely understudied. This review summarizes current insights on the impact of common neonicotinoid pesticides such as acetamiprid, clothianidin, imidacloprid, and thiacloprid on male and female reproductive health in mammals. The review also summarizes the impacts of exposure to mixtures of neonicotinoids on reproductive endpoints. In addition, this review highlights where gaps in research on neonicotinoid pesticides and reproductive health exist so that future studies can be designed to fill current gaps in knowledge.