J Environ Sci (China). 2026 May;163:348-375. doi: 10.1016/j.jes.2025.08.053. Epub 2025 Aug 27.
ABSTRACT
Neonicotinoid insecticides (NEOs) are a group of widely used insecticides in agriculture, livestock, and pest control for pets. However, increasing reports on their adverse effects on non-target organisms have aroused growing public concerns. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate NEO exposure and the related human health. This review summarized the human biomonitoring studies on NEOs, and the epidemiological, in vitro, and in vivo toxicological investigations on the health effects of NEOs. Human biomonitoring studies revealed significant changes in NEO detection frequencies, concentrations, and profiles across different human populations, suggesting potential variances in exposure patterns or metabolic processes. Certain metabolites may be more sensitive biomarkers than their parent molecules, as evidenced by higher levels of some NEO metabolites than those of their parent compounds. Although human epidemiological data has revealed associations between NEO exposure and diverse detrimental health outcomes including reproductive and developmental abnormalities, oxidative damage, etc., the cross-sectional design of most studies cannot elucidate causality, necessitating further prospective research. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown various toxic effects of NEOs, including neurotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, genotoxicity, etc. Further research on the molecular mechanisms beyond oxidative stress is worthwhile. Given metabolic activation, additional metabolites of both conventional and new generation NEOs as well as NEO-like compounds need to be determined, and their toxicities should be evaluated. This review can be contributed to the comprehensive understanding of the threat from extensive exposure to NEOs and proposed future research directions can aid to improve studies on health effects of NEOs.
PMID:41887854 | DOI:10.1016/j.jes.2025.08.053
