title: Effects of Lifetime Occupational Pesticide Exposure on Postural Control Among Farmworkers and Non-Farmworkers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to assess potential chronic effects of pesticide exposure on postural control, by examining postural balance of farmworkers and non-farmworkers diverse self-reported lifetime exposures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Balance was assessed during quiet upright stance under four experimental conditions (2 visual × 2 cognitive difficulty).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences in baseline balance performance (eyes open without cognitive task) between occupational groups were apparent in postural sway complexity. When adding a cognitive task to the eyes open condition, the influence of lifetime exposure on complexity ratios appeared different between occupational groups. Removing visual information revealed a negative association of lifetime exposure with complexity ratios.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Farmworkers and non-farmworkers may use different postural control strategies even when controlling for the level of lifetime pesticide exposure. Long-term exposure can affect somatosensory/vestibular sensory systems and the central processing of sensory information for postural control.
authors: Industrial and Systems Engineering, (Dr Sunwook, Dr Nussbaum) Virginia Tech, Blacksburg; Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Epidemiology and Prevention (Dr Quandt), Center for Worker Health; Department of Radiology (Dr Laurienti); Department of Family and Community Medicine (Dr Arcury), Center for Worker Health, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC.
authors: Kim
authors: K
authors: Sunwook
authors: Maury A
authors: MA
authors: Nussbaum
authors: Sara A
authors: SA
authors: Quandt
authors: Paul J
authors: PJ
authors: Laurienti
authors: Thomas A
authors: TA
authors: Arcury
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D000067565:Farmers; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009657:North Carolina; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D010575:Pesticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000187:drug effects*; D014171:Transients and Migrants
chemical_list: D010575:Pesticides