PESTICIDE EXPOSURE AND NEUROLOGIC FUNCTION IN FARMWORKER

工作总结：美国的农药使用情况 在过去的50年里，美国的人口大大增加。某些 职业群体和一般公众可能受到辐射， 但杀虫剂对健康的影响还没有得到很好的研究。 虽然急性高水平接触的神经毒性是 有充分的文献记载，关于慢性病的影响知之甚少。 低水平暴露。我们进行了一项横断面研究， 职业性农药暴露对神经系统的影响 佛罗里达中部的农场工人。与会者来自 本地储蓄互助社的一百名单，并由 佛罗里达农场工人协会，一个基层组织， 代表农场工人。实地工作完成; 230人暴露 工人来自三种类型的农业-蕨类植物，苗圃， 柑橘-和70名对照工人， 农业被纳入研究。大约85%的 参与者是拉丁美洲人;男女都包括在内。 使用结构化的面对面评估农药暴露 访谈收集了有关生活史的信息， 农场工作，农药中毒，农药卫生以及 具体农业类型的工作实践。神经功能 使用一系列测试进行评估，包括神经行为测试， 认知和心理功能测试，视力测试， 的振动触觉敏感性，以评估周围神经病变，和 姿势摇摆测试来评估平衡数据目前 正在准备分析。基因多态性参与 还将研究农药代谢，以评估 遗传易感性这项研究的结果将阐明 农药暴露对神经功能的影响， 解决服务不足的少数群体的健康问题。

Summary of Work: Pesticide use in the United States has increased greatly in the last 50 years. Certain occupational groups as well as the general public may be exposed, but the health effects of pesticides have not been well studied. Although the neurotoxicity of acute high-level exposure is well-documented, little is known regarding the effects of chronic low-level exposure. We have conducted a cross-sectional study of the neurologic effects of occupational pesticide exposure in farmworkers in central Florida. Participants were identified from the membership list of a local Credit Union and recruited by staff of the Farmworkers Association of Florida, a grassroots organization representing farmworkers. Field work is complete; 230 exposed workers from three types of agriculture -- ferns, nurseries, and citrus -- and 70 control workers with relatively little experience in agriculture were enrolled in the study. Approximately 85% of the participants were Latino; both men and women were included. Exposure to pesticides was assessed using a structured in-person interview which collected information about lifetime history of farmwork, pesticide poisoning, and pesticide hygiene as well as work practices in specific types of agriculture. Neurologic function was assessed using a battery of tests, including neurobehavioral tests of cognitive and psychomotor function, tests of vision, a test of vibrotactile sensitivity to evaluate peripheral neuropathy, and a test of postural sway, to assess equilibrium. Data are presently being prepared for analysis. Polymorphisms in genes involved in pesticide metabolism will also be studied, to evaluate the role of genetic susceptibility. The results of this study will elucidate the effects of pesticide exposure on neurologic function and also address the health problems of an underserved minority group.