Pesticides associated with wheeze among commercial pesticide applicators in the Agricultural Health Study

Jane A Hoppin; David M Umbach; Stephanie J London; Charles F Lynch; Michael C R Alavanja; Dale P Sandler

doi:10.1093/aje/kwj138

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Pesticides associated with wheeze among commercial pesticide applicators in the Agricultural Health Study

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Pesticides associated with wheeze among commercial pesticide applicators in the Agricultural Health Study

Jane A Hoppin, David M Umbach, Stephanie J London, Charles F Lynch, Michael C R Alavanja and Dale P Sandler

American journal of epidemiology, Vol.163(12), pp.1129-1137

06/15/2006

DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwj138

PMID: 16611668

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Abstract

Pesticides are potential risk factors for respiratory disease among farmers, but farmers are also exposed to other respiratory toxicants. To explore the association of pesticides with wheeze in a population without other farming exposures, the authors analyzed data from 2,255 Iowa commercial pesticide applicators enrolled in the Agricultural Health Study. Controlling for age, smoking status, asthma and atopy history, and body mass index, the authors calculated odds ratios for the relationship between wheeze and 36 individual pesticides participants had used during the year before enrollment (1993-1997). Eight of 16 herbicides were associated with wheeze in single-agent models; however, the risk was almost exclusively associated with the herbicide chlorimuron-ethyl (odds ratio (OR) = 1.62, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.25, 2.10). Inclusion of chlorimuron-ethyl in models for the other herbicides virtually eliminated the associations. The odds ratios for four organophosphate insecticides (terbufos, fonofos, chlorpyrifos, and phorate) were elevated when these chemicals were modeled individually and remained elevated, though attenuated somewhat, when chlorimuron-ethyl was included. The association for dichlorvos, another organophosphate insecticide, was not attenuated by chlorimuron-ethyl (OR = 2.48, 95% CI: 1.08, 5.66). Dose-response trends were observed for chlorimuron-ethyl, chlorpyrifos, and phorate; the strongest odds ratio was for applying chlorpyrifos on more than 40 days per year (OR = 2.40, 95% CI: 1.24, 4.65). These results add to the emerging literature linking organophosphate insecticides and respiratory health and suggest a role for chlorimuron-ethyl.

Organophosphorus Compounds - adverse effects

Cross-Sectional Studies

Occupational Exposure - adverse effects

Humans

Middle Aged

Risk Factors

Male

Sulfonylurea Compounds - adverse effects

Chi-Square Distribution

Dose-Response Relationship, Drug

Adolescent

Pyrimidines - adverse effects

Aged, 80 and over

Adult

Female

Iowa - epidemiology

Aged

Pesticides - adverse effects

Respiratory Sounds

Details

Title: Subtitle: Pesticides associated with wheeze among commercial pesticide applicators in the Agricultural Health Study
Creators: Jane A Hoppin - Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2233, USA. hoppin1@niehs.nih.gov
David M Umbach
Stephanie J London
Charles F Lynch
Michael C R Alavanja
Dale P Sandler
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: American journal of epidemiology, Vol.163(12), pp.1129-1137
DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwj138
PMID: 16611668
NLM abbreviation: Am J Epidemiol
ISSN: 0002-9262
eISSN: 1476-6256
Publisher: United States
Grant note: Intramural NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 06/15/2006
Academic Unit: Epidemiology
Record Identifier: 9983995027602771

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