title: Ototoxicity study in workers exposed to organophosphate.
abstract: Occupational and environmental exposure to agricultural pesticides represent an important health care problem in our country. Among the symptoms presented, dizziness stands out, because of a probable toxic action.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The goal of our study was to characterize vestibular test results from rural workers occupationally and environmentally exposed to organophosphates used in agricultural pesticides.
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out a cohort cross-sectional study with 18 rural workers from Teresópolis, RJ. Age ranged between 16 and 59 years, with a mean value of 39.6 years, 5 were males and 13 females. We used three questionnaires with questions associated with general and auditory health, and more specific questions about dizziness and its association with work. All workers underwent clinical evaluation, audiometry and vectoelectronystagmography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed that 16 workers had irritative peripheral body balance disorder and 7 workers had sensorineural hearing loss, thus suggesting that agricultural pesticides cause vestibular alterations through a slow and silent intoxication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Medical care for this population exposed to neurotoxic substances require an interdisciplinary approach, to guarantee efficient preventive and therapeutic measures.
authors: MSc, Speech and Hearing Therapist. Electronic address: choshino@globo.com.
authors: Ana Cristina Hiromi
authors: ACH
authors: Hoshino
authors: PhD, Adjunct Professor at the Medical School at UFRJ.
authors: Heloisa
authors: H
authors: Pacheco-Ferreira
authors: PhD, Adjunct Professor at Faculdade de Fonoaudiologia da Santa Casa SP.
authors: Carlos Kazuo
authors: CK
authors: Taguchi
authors: PhD, Full Professor at the Medical School at UFRJ.
authors: Shiro
authors: S
authors: Tomita
authors: SPecialist, Assistant Professor at the Speech and Hearing Therapy School at UFRJ. Instituto de Estudos em Saúde Coletiva - IESC/UFRJ.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: de Fátima Miranda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D001299:Audiometry; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004584:Electronystagmography; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000187:drug effects*; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds