title: Association of health symptoms with low-level exposure to organophosphates, DNA damage, AChE activity, and occupational knowledge and practice among rice, corn, and double-crop farmers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to determine (1) total dialkylphosphate (ΣDAP) levels, occupational knowledge and practice, DNA damage, AChE activity, and health symptoms in rice, corn, and double-crop farmers; (2) the association of health symptoms with ΣDAP levels, occupational knowledge and practice, DNA damage, and AChE activity in farmers; and (3) the prevalence of health symptoms between farmers and non-farmers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted by interviewing as well as analyzing urine and blood samples during July to August 2014.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no differences in ΣDAP levels, AChE activity, and occupational knowledge and practice scores among all farmer groups. In terms of health symptoms related to ΣDAP, AChE activity, DNA damage, and occupational knowledge and practice, pesticide-related symptoms were determined, including breathlessness, chest pain, dry throat, numbness, muscle weakness, cramp, headache, dizziness, eye irritation, white/red rash, and white/red pimple, which were classified as respiratory, muscle, nervous, and epithelial symptoms. A remarkable finding was that farmers had a significantly higher prevalence of muscle weakness (odds ratio (OR)=3.79) and numbness (OR=3.45) as compared with non-farmers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings, therefore, suggest that a long-term low-level exposure to organophosphates (OPs) may be associated with an increasing prevalence of muscle symptoms. However, a further cohort study incorporating sensitive health outcomes and measurement of multiple pesticides monitoring on a larger scale is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Environment and Health Research Unit, Research Institute for Health Sciences, Chiang Mai University.
authors.forename: Surat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hongsibsong
authors.forename: Nalin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sittitoon
authors.forename: Ratana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sapbamrer
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000383:Agriculture; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004249:DNA Damage; D000067565:Farmers / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control; D010755:Organophosphates / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D012275:Oryza; D010575:Pesticides / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D011481:Protective Clothing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D003313:Zea mays
chemical_list: D010755:Organophosphates; D010575:Pesticides; D003404:Creatinine; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase