Association between occupational exposures to pesticides with heterogeneous chemical structures and farmer health in China.
This study analyzed the associations of farmers' exposure to organophosphates (OPs), organosulfurs (OSs), organonitrogens (ONs) and pyrethroids (PYRs) with parameters of the blood complete counts (CBC), a blood chemistry panel (BCP) and the conventional nerve conduction studies among 224 farmers in China in 2012. Two health examinations and a series of follow-up field surveys were conducted. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to evaluate the associations. The results show considerable associations between multiple groups of pesticides and several CBC parameters, but it was not enough to provide evidence of hematological disorders. The short- and medium-term OPs exposures were mainly associated with liver damage and peripheral nerve impairment, respectively, while OSs exposure might induce liver damage and renal dysfunction. The neurotoxicity of ONs was second only to OPs in addition to its potential liver damage and the induced alterations in glucose. In comparison, the estimated results show that PYRs would be the least toxic in terms of the low-dose application. In conclusion, occupational exposures to pesticides with heterogeneous chemical structures are associated with farmer health in different patterns, and the association between a specific group of pesticides and farmer health also differs between the short- and medium-term exposures.
Department of Neurology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, 28 Fuxing Road, Beijing 100853, P. R. China.
Xusheng
X
Huang
School of Management and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, 5 South Zhongguancun Street, Beijing 100081, P. R. China.
Chao
C
Zhang
School of Management and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, 5 South Zhongguancun Street, Beijing 100081, P. R. China.
Ruifa
R
Hu
Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of PLA General Hospital, No. 51 Fucheng Road, Beijing 100048, P. R. China.
Yifan
Y
Li
Department of Neurology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, 28 Fuxing Road, Beijing 100853, P. R. China.
Yanhong
Y
Yin
Department of Neurology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, 28 Fuxing Road, Beijing 100853, P. R. China.
Zhaohui
Z
Chen
School of Management and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, 5 South Zhongguancun Street, Beijing 100081, P. R. China.
Jinyang
J
Cai
Department of Neurology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, 28 Fuxing Road, Beijing 100853, P. R. China.
Fang
F
Cui
D000328:Adult; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000097:blood*; D002681:China; D000067565:Farmers; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D010755:Organophosphates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood; D010575:Pesticides / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D011722:Pyrethrins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood
D010755:Organophosphates; D010575:Pesticides; D011722:Pyrethrins