Peripheral Nervous System Function and Organophosphate Pesticide Use Among Licensed Pesticide Applicators in the Agricultural Health Study

Details

• Personal Author:
  Alavanja MC ; Gerr F ; Hoppin JA ; Jones MP ; Kamel F ; Lynch CF ; Sandler DP ; Starks SE
• Description:
  BACKGROUND: Evidence is limited that long-term human exposure to organophosphate (OP) pesticides, without poisoning, is associated with adverse peripheral nervous system (PNS) function. OBJECTIVE: We investigated associations between OP pesticide use and PNS function by administering PNS tests to 701 male pesticide applicators in the Agricultural Health Study (AHS). METHODS: Participants completed a neurological physical examination (NPx) and electrophysiological tests as well as tests of hand strength, sway speed, and vibrotactile threshold. Self-reported information on lifetime use of 16 OP pesticides was obtained from AHS interviews and a study questionnaire. Associations between pesticide use and measures of PNS function were estimated with linear and logistic regression controlling for age and outcome-specific covariates. RESULTS: Significantly increased odds ratios (ORs) were observed for associations between ever use of 10 of the 16 OP pesticides and one or more of six (NPx) outcomes. Most notably, abnormal toe proprioception was significantly associated with ever use of 6 OP pesticides, with ORs ranging from 2.03 to 3.06; monotonic increases in strength of association with increasing use was observed for 3 of the 6 pesticides. Mostly null associations were observed between OP pesticide use and electro-physiological tests, hand strength, sway speed, and vibrotactile threshold. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides some evidence that long-term exposure to OP pesticides is associated with signs of impaired PNS function among pesticide applicators. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Insecticides Occupational Health Organophosphates Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Agricultural Workers Nervous System Function Neurological System Neurological Testing Occupational Exposure Organophosphates Organophosphorus Pesticides Pesticide Exposure Pesticide Industry Pesticides And Agricultural Chemicals
• ISSN:
  0091-6765
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Iowa ; Maryland ; North Carolina ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 7
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  120
• Issue:
  4
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20062585
• Citation:
  Environ Health Perspect 2012 Apr; 120(4):515-520
• Contact Point Address:
  Fred Gerr, University of Iowa, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa Research Park, 140 IREH, Iowa City, IA 52242-5000
• Email:
  fred-gerr@uiowa.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2012
• Performing Organization:
  University of Iowa
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Environmental Health Perspectives
• End Date:
  20290630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:a61316f57be291e3214de9289f6c339b20e2069f3f7ed28f0b4f8658c69810386ce7ba5d37a99c1e7602bd4b2b1f08bcb6257e662d058ff211169c4549b59f67
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/225796/cdc_225796_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 194.72 KB ]