Ototoxicity study in workers exposed to organophosphate.
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.
Hoshino
Ana Cristina Hiromi
ACH
MSc, Speech and Hearing Therapist. Electronic address: choshino@globo.com.
Pacheco-Ferreira
Heloisa
H
PhD, Adjunct Professor at the Medical School at UFRJ.
Taguchi
Carlos Kazuo
CK
PhD, Adjunct Professor at Faculdade de Fonoaudiologia da Santa Casa SP.
Tomita
Shiro
S
PhD, Full Professor at the Medical School at UFRJ.
de Fátima Miranda
Maria
M
SPecialist, Assistant Professor at the Speech and Hearing Therapy School at UFRJ. Instituto de Estudos em Saúde Coletiva - IESC/UFRJ.
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
D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds