title: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-5000, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Starks
authors.forename: Jane A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hoppin
authors.forename: Freya
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kamel
authors.forename: Charles F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Alavanja
authors.forename: Dale P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Sandler
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gerr
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007484:Iowa / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D017933:Peripheral Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010575:Pesticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D010575:Pesticides