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，各州的人口大幅增加。一定的 职业组和普通公众可能会受到暴露， 但杀虫剂对健康的影响还没有得到很好的研究。 尽管急性高水平暴露的神经毒性是 有很好的文件记录，关于慢性疾病的影响知之甚少 低水平接触。我们已经进行了一项横断面研究 职业性农药暴露的神经学效应 佛罗里达州中部的农场工人。参与者的身份来自 本地储蓄互助社的会员名单，由 佛罗里达州农民工人协会，一个草根组织 代表农场工人。实地工作完成；230人暴露 来自三种农业类型的工人--蕨类植物、苗圃和 柑橘--以及70名对照工人，他们的经验相对较少 农业也参与了这项研究。约85%的 参与者是拉丁裔；男性和女性都包括在内。 使用结构化的面对面评估暴露于杀虫剂 采访收集了关于……生平的信息 农活、农药中毒、农药卫生以及 在特定类型农业中的工作实践。神经功能 通过包括神经行为在内的一系列测试进行评估 认知和精神运动功能测试，视力测试，测试 评估周围神经病变的振动触觉敏感性，以及 姿势摆动测试，以评估平衡性。数据目前 正在为分析做准备。人类免疫缺陷相关基因的多态性 还将研究农药新陈代谢，以评估其作用 遗传易感性。这项研究的结果将阐明 农药接触对神经功能和神经功能的影响 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.