title: Temporal auditory processing in rural workers exposed to pesticide.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this research was to assess the ordering and temporal resolution auditory abilities in rural workers exposed to pesticides and compare them with laborers exposure index.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sectional study assessed 33 individuals of both genders, aged 18-59 years, who were exposed to pesticides during their daily routine. The procedures were: questionnaire, meatoscopy, basic audiological evaluation and Temporal Auditory Processing tests: pattern test duration and Gaps-in-Noise. In order to analyse the results, a variable called 'index of exposure' was set up through a simple sum of variables present in the questionnaire. The tests' results on Temporal Auditory Processing were categorized according to the tercis of distribution, based on the results observed - in this study, tertile 1, tertile 2, and tertile 3 - and then compared with the exposure index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Difference was verified in all tertiles, with a dose-response relationship, i.e. increased average exposure was associated to worse performance on pattern test duration (p=0.001) and Gaps-in-Noise (p=0.001) in all tertiles. The highest correlation was observed between tertiles 3 and 1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Workers exposed to pesticide performed bellow average on Temporal Auditory Processing tests. There was association between the index of exposure to pesticides and worse performance in Temporal Auditory Processing tests, suggesting that the pesticides may be harmful to central auditory pathways.
authors: Institute for Studies in Public Health, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. celauni@yahoo.com.br
authors: Martha Marcela de Matos
authors: MM
authors: Bazilio
authors: Silvana
authors: S
authors: Frota
authors: Juliana Rezende
authors: JR
authors: Chrisman
authors: Armando
authors: A
authors: Meyer
authors: Carmem Ildes Fróes
authors: CI
authors: Asmus
authors: Volney de Magalhaes
authors: Vde M
authors: Camara
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D001308:Auditory Perceptual Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000187:drug effects; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010575:Pesticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D012424:Rural Population; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010575:Pesticides