Journal article
Peripheral nervous system function and organophosphate pesticide use among licensed pesticide applicators in the Agricultural Health Study
Environmental health perspectives, Vol.120(4), pp.515-520
04/2012
DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1103944
PMCID: PMC3339452
PMID: 22262687
Abstract
Evidence is limited that long-term human exposure to organophosphate (OP) pesticides, without poisoning, is associated with adverse peripheral nervous system (PNS) function.
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).
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.
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 electrophysiological tests, hand strength, sway speed, and vibrotactile threshold.
This study provides some evidence that long-term exposure to OP pesticides is associated with signs of impaired PNS function among pesticide applicators.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Peripheral nervous system function and organophosphate pesticide use among licensed pesticide applicators in the Agricultural Health Study
- Creators
- Sarah E Starks - Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-5000, USAJane A HoppinFreya KamelCharles F LynchMichael P JonesMichael C AlavanjaDale P SandlerFred Gerr
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Environmental health perspectives, Vol.120(4), pp.515-520
- Publisher
- United States
- DOI
- 10.1289/ehp.1103944
- PMID
- 22262687
- PMCID
- PMC3339452
- ISSN
- 0091-6765
- eISSN
- 1552-9924
- Grant note
- Z01 CP010119 / Intramural NIH HHS Z01ES04903 / NIEHS NIH HHS R01-ES013067-03 / NIEHS NIH HHS R01 ES013067 / NIEHS NIH HHS
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 04/2012
- Academic Unit
- Statistics and Actuarial Science; Occupational and Environmental Health; Epidemiology; Biostatistics; Public Policy Center (Archive)
- Record Identifier
- 9983995145902771
Metrics
20 Record Views