Dataset Information

Peripheral nervous system function and organophosphate pesticide use among licensed pesticide applicators in the Agricultural Health Study.

ABSTRACT:

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 electrophysiological 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.

SUBMITTER: Starks SE

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3339452 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Peripheral nervous system function and organophosphate pesticide use among licensed pesticide applicators in the Agricultural Health Study.

Starks Sarah E SE Hoppin Jane A JA Kamel Freya F Lynch Charles F CF Jones Michael P MP Alavanja Michael C MC Sandler Dale P DP Gerr Fred F

Environmental health perspectives 20120119 4

<h4>Background</h4>Evidence is limited that long-term human exposure to organophosphate (OP) pesticides, without poisoning, is associated with adverse peripheral nervous system (PNS) function.<h4>Objective</h4>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).<h4>Methods</h4>Participants completed a neurological physical examination (NPx) and electrophysiological tests as well ...[more]

PMID: 22262687

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Project description:BackgroundSome pesticides are immunotoxic and have been associated with an increased risk of immune-mediated diseases. The risk of shingles, the clinical reactivation of varicella-zoster virus, increases with aging and immunosuppression; little is known about its associations with pesticides.ObjectiveWe examined the use of agricultural pesticides in relation to incident shingles in a prospective cohort of licensed pesticide applicators.MethodsThe study sample included 12,820 (97% male) farmers (enrolled in 1993-1997 in North Carolina and Iowa), who were followed for a median of 12 y (interquartile range: 11-13). Shingles was self-reported at enrollment and at follow-up. We evaluated ever-use of 48 agricultural pesticides reported at study enrollment in relation to shingles risk and considered exposure-response for intensity-weighted lifetime days (IWLDs) of use. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using Cox proportional hazard models, adjusting for state, and allowing estimates to vary by median attained age (60 y).ResultsIncident shingles was reported by 590 participants. Associations were positive (HRs>1.2) for ever- vs. never-use of eight insecticides, three fumigants, two fungicides, and five herbicides, and exposure-response trends were seen across increasing quartiles (Q3 and Q4>Q1) or tertiles (T3 and T2>T1) of IWLDs for four insecticides [permethrin (crops), coumaphos, malathion, and lindane], two fumigants (carbon tetrachloride/carbon disulfide and methyl bromide), and three herbicides [alachlor, trifluralin (<60 years of age) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid]. Shingles was not associated with total years or days per year mixed or applied any pesticides, but in older participants, shingles was associated with a history of a high pesticide exposure event [HR=1.89 (95% CI: 1.45, 2.45)].ConclusionsSeveral specific pesticides were associated with increased risk of shingles in farmers, especially at higher levels of cumulative use. These novel findings, if replicated in other populations, could have broader implications for the potential effects of pesticides on vaccine efficacy and susceptibility to other infections. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP7797.

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Dataset Information

Peripheral nervous system function and organophosphate pesticide use among licensed pesticide applicators in the Agricultural Health Study.

Background

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Peripheral nervous system function and organophosphate pesticide use among licensed pesticide applicators in the Agricultural Health Study.

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