title: Cognitive disorders and occupational exposure to organophosphates: results from the PHYTONER study.
abstract: The involvement of organophosphate insecticides in cognitive disorders is supported by epidemiologic and biological evidence, but the effects of long-term exposure remain debated. We studied the association between organophosphate exposure and cognitive performance in vine workers from the PHYTONER study cohort in the Bordeaux area of France. Results from interviews of 614 subjects conducted at the 4-year follow-up between 2001 and 2003 were analyzed. Exposure to pesticides since 1950 was assessed with cumulative exposure scores for 34 organophosphates combining an historical crop-exposure pesticide matrix and field exposure studies, taking into account the characteristics of treatment (mixing, spraying, equipment cleaning) and reentry tasks. For the 11 organophosphates retained in the analysis, exposure (ever vs. never) was associated with low cognitive performance. No dose-effect relationship was found, but an increased risk was observed with a 50-mg increase in the cumulative score, which was greater with mevinphos (Benton Visual Retention Test: odds ratio = 3.26, 95% confidence interval: 1.54, 6.88; Trail Making Test, part A: odds ratio = 3.03, 95% confidence interval: 1.39, 6.62). Our results support the hypothesis that cognitive disorders observed in vine workers may be associated with exposure to specific organophosphates.
authors.affiliation: Equipe Santé Travail Environnement, INSERM U 897, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux Cedex, France. audrey.blanc-lapierre@iaf.inrs.ca
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blanc-Lapierre
authors.forename: Ghislaine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bouvier
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gruber
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Leffondré
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lebailly
authors.forename: Colette
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fabrigoule
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Baldi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000383:Agriculture; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008799:Mevinphos / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010755:Organophosphates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010575:Pesticides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D027843:Vitis
chemical_list: D010755:Organophosphates; D010575:Pesticides; D008799:Mevinphos
keywords: cognitive disorders; occupational exposure; organophosphorus compounds; pesticides