Exposures, Symptoms and Neurobehavioral Performance: A Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Pesticide Applicators

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bonner M ; Hendy O ; Ismail A ; Khan K ; Olson J ; Rasoul GA ; Rohlman D
• Description:
  Chlorpyrifos (CPF), an organophosphorus pesticide, is applied to the cotton crop in Egypt by adolescent workers; however, the extent of occupational exposure and the potential for environmental CPF exposure in this population is not well understood. In addition, while there is evidence that repeated low-level OP exposures are associated with neurobehavioral performance deficits in adults, little is known about potential effects in adolescents, who have a developing nervous system. The goal of this project is to assess biomarkers of exposure and the impact of exposure on neurological symptoms and neurobehavioral performance among adolescents. Adolescent male pesticide applicators (N=57) and age-matched male non-applicators 9n=38), recruited from Menoufia Governorate, Egypt, completed symptom questionnaires and neurobehavioral tests across a 10-month period prior to, during and after pesticide application in 2010. Spot urine samples were collected measure trichloro-2-pyrinidol) TCPy a CPF-specific metabolite (exposure biomarker) at multiple time points, and blood acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) provided biomarkers of effect. Significantly higher TCPy concentration and BChE depression were found in applicators compared to non-applicators throughout CPF application. This difference persisted for 4-7 weeks after the cessation of agricultural spraying. However, both groups exhibited significantly elevated TCPy and depressed BChE, compared to their respective baseline. Applicators reported significantly more neurological symptoms relative to baseline than non-applicators at time-points during and after the pesticide application season. Cumulative TCPy level was a significant predictor for the average percentage of neurological symptoms only among the applicators. Neurobehavioral performance showed initial learning effects and then deficits in performance for the pesticide applicators during the pesticide application season. The biomarkers provided robust measures of exposure and effect and revealed noteworthy exposures in both applicators and non-applicators. Biomarker levels in the non-applicators, which mirrored that of the applicators, indicated that the non-applicators received environmental CPF exposures. The number of symptoms reported by both the applicators and non-applicators follow the same pattern as the urinary TCPy levels. Larger, long-term studies are needed to more fully characterize the exposure and effects in adolescent applicators, furthermore, non-applicators appear to have environmental exposures that need to be addressed because of the potential public health concern. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Adolescent Biomarkers Blood Energy Metabolism Environmental Exposure Insecticides Occupational Health Organophosphates Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Surveys And Questionnaires Urine

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• Keywords:
  Acetylcholinesterase Adolescents Chlorpyrifos Exposure Levels Health Effects Metabolites Nervous System Neurological System Organophosphorus Pesticides Pesticides Pesticides And Agricultural Chemicals Questionnaires Risk Factors Urinalysis

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• Publisher:
  Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  Iowa ; New York ; OSHA Region 2 ; OSHA Region 7
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  74
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20052792
• Citation:
  Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium: Safety & Health in Agricultural & Rural Populations: Global Perspectives (SHARP), October 19-22, 2014, Saskatoon, SK, Canada. Saskatoon, SK, Canada: Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, 2014 Oct; :74
• CAS Registry Number:
  Chlorpyrifos (CAS RN 2921-88-2)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2015
• NORA Priority Area:
  Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
• Performing Organization:
  University of Iowa, Iowa City
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20010930
• Source Full Name:
  Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium: Safety & Health in Agricultural & Rural Populations: Global Perspectives (SHARP), October 19-22, 2014, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
• End Date:
  20270929
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:4813dc5ee3162892c53b6f6d887d428632deb01699133406cc6bef8868328b9a866f1f5be6f7a6b7f9b03de598c9af8d4062319522c9957b19e1b62856dc9ec2
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/212266/cdc_212266_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 243.10 KB ]