Elevated quantitative vibrotactile threshold among workers previously poisoned with methamidophos and other organophosphate pesticides

Details

• Personal Author:
  Keifer, Max ; McConnell R ; Rosenstock, Linda
• Description:
  A study of vibrotactile sensitivity in Nicaraguan agricultural workers previously poisoned with methamidophos (10265926) and other organophosphorus pesticides was conducted. The cohort consisted of 36 males, 15 to 44 years old, who had been discharged from a hospital in the Northern Pacific Coastal Plain of Nicaragua for organophosphate insecticide poisoning between July 7, 1986 and July 31, 1988. The comparisons consisted of 36 age matched friends or siblings from the same community as the cohort who had never been treated for pesticide poisoning. The subjects completed a questionnaire to obtain information on demographic characteristics and medical history focusing on previous poisonings. Vibrotactile thresholds of the right and left index fingers and big toes were measured in May or June 1989 with the Vibraton-II apparatus. Callus thicknesses on these digits were also measured. Twenty one patients were classified as being poisoned by methamidophos. Fifteen reported being poisoned by other organophosphates such as acephate (30560191), chlorpyrifos (2921882), or malathion (121755). The prevalence of moderate or thick callus formation in one or more big toes was significantly greater in the patients than in the comparisons. There were too few subjects with upper extremity calluses for analysis. The prevalence of abnormally elevated vibrotactile thresholds in the right and left index fingers and big toes in the patients poisoned by methamidophos was 9.5, 4.8, 24, and 29%, respectively. The prevalence of abnormally elevated vibrotactile thresholds in these digits in patients poisoned by other pesticides was 6.7, 6.7, 13, and 27%, respectively. The prevalence of abnormally elevated vibrotactile thresholds in the same digits in the comparisons was 0, 0, 5.9, and 5.9%, respectively. After adjusting for callus thickness, the prevalence of elevated vibrotactile thresholds across all digits was significantly higher in the patients poisoned by methamidophos than in those poisoned by other organophosphate pesticides and the comparisons. The authors conclude that methamidophos poisoning causes chronic sensory impairment. They recommend that use of methamidophos be substituted by other pest control methods that do not have the potential to cause peripheral neuropathy. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Agriculture Epidemiology Insecticides Nervous System Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Organophosphates Safety Sense Organs
• Keywords:
  Agricultural-workers Author Keywords: Neuropathy Great Toes Index Fingers Insecticide-poisoning Methamidophos Neurotoxic-effects Neurotoxicity Nicaragua Occupational-exposure Organo-phosphorus-pesticides Organophosphate Pesticide Poisoning Sensory-thresholds Vibrotactile Thresholds

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• ISSN:
  0271-3586
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  New York ; OSHA Region 10 ; OSHA Region 2 ; Washington
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  325-334
• Volume:
  25
• Issue:
  3
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00218878
• Citation:
  Am J Ind Med 1994 Mar; 25(3):325-334
• Contact Point Address:
  Community Medicine Mount Sinai School of Medicine One Gustave L. Levy Place New York City, NY 10029-6754
• CAS Registry Number:
  Acephate (CAS RN 30560-19-1) ; Chlorpyrifos (CAS RN 2921-88-2) ; Malathion (CAS RN 121-75-5) ; Methamidophos (CAS RN 10265-92-6)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1994
• Performing Organization:
  Division of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Department of Community Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  19920701
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Industrial Medicine
• End Date:
  19970731
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:72fc204552391040718d85f6ee68dc65e5d88e1694312a7aa45c943f31839581819405a19534824ac07793d59f504081a010566c5ed5965d8294d7c373e1398f
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/204585/cdc_204585_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 608.89 KB ]