Longitudinal assessment of chlorpyrifos exposure and self-reported neurological symptoms in adolescent pesticide applicators

Objectives Occupational exposure of organophosphorus pesticides, such as chlorpyrifos (CPF), in adolescents is of particular concern because of the potential vulnerability of the developing neurological system. The objectives of this study were to examine how neurological symptoms reported over the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMJ open 2014-03, Vol.4 (3), p.e004177
Main Authors: Khan, Khalid, Ismail, Ahmed A, Abdel Rasoul, Gaafar, Bonner, Matthew R, Lasarev, Michael R, Hendy, Olfat, Al-Batanony, Manal, Crane, Alice L, Singleton, Steven T, Olson, James R, Rohlman, Diane S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Agriculture
Biomarkers
Biomarkers - blood
Biomarkers - urine
Butyrylcholinesterase - blood
Child
Chlorpyrifos - adverse effects
Cotton
Data collection
Developing Countries
Egypt
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Nervous System Diseases - blood
Nervous System Diseases - chemically induced
Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Occupational Diseases - blood
Occupational Diseases - chemically induced
Occupational Diseases - urine
Occupational Exposure - adverse effects
Pesticides
Pesticides - adverse effects
Pyridones - urine
Questionnaires
Sample size
Self Report
Teenagers
Work
Young Adult
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Summary:Objectives Occupational exposure of organophosphorus pesticides, such as chlorpyrifos (CPF), in adolescents is of particular concern because of the potential vulnerability of the developing neurological system. The objectives of this study were to examine how neurological symptoms reported over the application season vary across time, whether these effects are reversible postapplication and if there are associations between CPF biomarkers and neurological symptoms in an adolescent study population. Setting The longitudinal study was conducted in two agricultural districts of Menoufia Governorate, Egypt between April 2010 and January 2011. Participants Male adolescent participants, including CPF applicators (n=57) and non-applicators (n=38), were recruited. Primary and secondary outcome measures Self-reported data for 25 neurological symptoms were collected at 32 time points over the 8-month period before, during and after the application season. Additionally, urine and blood samples were collected to measure urine trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPy), a CPF-specific biomarker and blood cholinesterase activity. Results Applicators and non-applicators report the highest numbers of symptoms during the application season, followed by a reduction in symptoms after the application ended. Applicators reported a greater percentage of neurological symptoms, relative to baseline, than non-applicators after accounting for potential covariates. Among the applicators, cumulative TCPy was positively and significantly associated with the average percentage of symptoms (B=4.56, 95% CI 3.29 to 5.84; p
ISSN:2044-6055
2044-6055
DOI:10.1136/bmjopen-2013-004177