title: Adverse effects of pesticides on central auditory functions in tobacco growers.
abstract: To investigate the effects of exposure to pesticides on the central auditory functions (CAF) of Brazilian tobacco growers.
  
  
  
  This was a cross-sectional study carried out between 2010 and 2012. Participants were evaluated with two behavioural procedures to investigate CAF, the random gap detection test (RGDT) and the dichotic digit test in Portuguese (DDT).
  
  
  
  A total of 22 growers exposed to pesticides (study group) and 21 subjects who were not exposed to pesticides (control group) were selected.
  
  
  
  No significant differences between groups were observed for pure-tone thresholds. A significant association between pesticide exposure and the results for RGDT and DDT was found. Significant differences between pesticide-exposed and nonexposed subjects were found for RGDT frequency average and DDT binaural average, when including age and hearing level as covariates. Age was significantly associated with RGDT frequency average, DDT left ear score, DDT binaural average and DDT right ear advantage. Hearing levels were not significantly associated with any of the test scores. The relative risk of failing the DDT and RGDT for the study group was 1.88 (95% CI: 1.10-3.20) and 1.74 (95% CI: 1.06-2.86), respectively, as compared with the control group.
  
  
  
  The results showed that tobacco growers exposed to pesticides exhibited signs of central auditory dysfunction characterised by decrements in temporal processing and binaural integration processes/abilities.
authors.affiliation: a Universidade Estadual do Paraná , Curitiba , Brazil.
authors.forename: Denise Maria Vaz Romano
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: França
authors.affiliation: b Universidade Tuiuti do Paraná , Curitiba , Brazil , and.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bender Moreira Lacerda
authors.affiliation: b Universidade Tuiuti do Paraná , Curitiba , Brazil , and.
authors.forename: Diolen
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lobato
authors.affiliation: b Universidade Tuiuti do Paraná , Curitiba , Brazil , and.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ribas
authors.affiliation: c Universidade Federal de São Paulo , São Paulo , Brazil , and.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ziliotto Dias
authors.affiliation: d Université de Montréal , Montreal , Canada.
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Leroux
authors.affiliation: d Université de Montréal , Montreal , Canada.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fuente
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001304:Auditory Diseases, Central / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D001306:Auditory Pathways / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000187:drug effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004007:Dichotic Listening Tests; D000067565:Farmers; D005260:Female; D006309:Hearing / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016272:Occupational Health; D010575:Pesticides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000254:growth & development*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010575:Pesticides
keywords: Hearing loss; binaural integration; hearing; pesticides; temporal resolution