Organophosphate pesticides exposure bring out neurological symptoms in the children of agriculture workers in rural India: A community based cross-sectional study from Maharashtra
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background:
In rural areas of developing countries, children of agricultural workers have a high potential for exposure to organophosphorus (OP) pesticides. This puts them at an increased risk of damage to neurobehavioural performance, cognitive and psychomotor dysfunction. The main objective of this study was to assess the neurological risk of exposure to organophosphate pesticides in the children of agricultural workers in rural India.
Methods:
A community based cross-sectional study was carried out in 200 children aged 8-15 years in adjoining villages of Taluka Chalisgaon, district Jalgaon, Maharashtra. Various neurological symptoms like muscarinic (diarrhea, urinary incontinence, lacrimation, excessive salivation), nicotinic (tremors, muscle weakness, tachycardia) and general symptoms (headache, insomnia, numbness in legs, fatigue, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, lethargy) were assessed by a specially designed Q16 questionnaire. Exposure index (EI) was calculated by multiplying the number of hours exposed to OP pesticides and the number of years of exposure.
Results:
The predominant clinical symptoms found in children in study group were muscarinic [diarrhea (12%), lacrimation (26%) and urinary incontinence (12%)]; nicotinic [muscle weakness (42%)] and general symptoms [pallor (58%), fatigue (34%), headache (30%), numbness in legs (24%), lethargy (20%)]. Also, the cognition and psychological function was more impaired in children exposed to OP pesticides than the non-exposed children.
Conclusion:
Our study findings suggest that neurologic symptoms involved both central and peripheral nervous systems, resulting from occupational and environmental exposure to OP pesticides. The high prevalence of neurologic symptoms could be attributed to chronic effects of OP pesticides on the central nervous system.
Article Details
References
private pesticide applicators in the Agricultural Health Study. Environ Health Perspect 2005;113:877-82.
Rastogi SK, Tripathi S, Ravishankar D. A study of neurological symptoms on exposure to organophosphate pesticides in the children of agricultural workers. Indian Journal of occupational and environmental medicine 2010;14:54-57.
Jaga K, Dharmani C.Sources of exposure to and public health implications of organophosphate pesticides. Rev Panam Salud Publica 2003;14(3):171-85.
Petchuay C, Visuthismajarn P, Vitayavirasak B, Hore P, Robson MG. Biological monitoring of organophosphate pesticides in preschool children in an agricultural community in Thailand. Int J Occup Environ Health 2006;12(2):134-41.
Chensheng Lu, Fenske RA. Pesticide Exposure of Children in an Agricultural Community: Evidence of Household Proximity to Farmland and Take Home Exposure Pathways. Environmental Research Section 2000;84:290-302.
Kamel F, Hoppin JA. Association of pesticides exposure with neurologic dysfunction and disease. Environ Health Perspect 2004;112:950-8.
Eskenazi B, Bradman A, Castorina R. Exposures of children to organophosphate pesticides and their potential adverse health effects. Environ Health Perspect 1999;107(3):409-19.
Lundberg I, Hogberg M. Evaluation of the Q16 questionnaire on neurotoxic symptoms and review of its use. Occup Environ Med 1997;54:343–350.
Hogstedt C, Andersson K, Hane M. A questionnaire approach to the monitoring of early disturbances in central nervous functions. In: Aitio A, Rihimdki V, Vainio H, eds. The biological monitoring of exposure to industrial chemicals. Washington: Hemisphere, 1984:275-87.
Farhat TM, Abdelrasoul GM, Amir MM, Shebi MM, Farhat FM, anger WK. Neurobehavioural effects among workers occupationally exposed to organophosphorus pesticides. Occup Environ Med 2003;60:279-86.
Lotti M. Experimental and clinical neurotoxicology. New York: Oxford University Press;2000. p.911-8.
Gomes J, Lloyd O, Revitt MD, Basha M. Morbidity among farm workers in a desert country in relation to long-term exposure to pesticides. Scand J Work Environ Health 1998;24:213-19.
Strong LL, Thompson B, Coronado GD, Griffith WC, Vigoren EM, Islas I. Health symptoms and exposure to organophosphate pesticides in farmworkers. Am J Ind Med 2004;46:599-606.
Bazylewicz-Walczak B, Majczakowa W, Szymczak M. Behavioural effects of occupational exposure to organophosphorus pesticides in female greenhouse planting workers. Neurotoxicology 1999;20:819-26.
Peiris-John RJ, Ruberu DK, Wickremasinghe AR, Smit LA, vander Hoek W. Effects of occupational exposure to organophosphate pesticides on nerve and neuromuscular function. J Occup Environ Med 2002;44:352-7.
Savitz DA, Sonnenfeld NL, Olshan AF. Review of epidemiologic studies of paternal occupational exposure and spontaneous abortions. Am J Ind Med 1994;25:361–83
Rastogi SK, Singh VK, Kesavachandran C, Jyoti, Siddiqui MK, Mathur N, et al. Monitoring of plasma butyrylcholinesterase activity and hematological parameters in pesticide sprayers. Indian J Occup Environ Med 2008;12:29–32.
Rastogi SK, Satyanarayna PV, Ravishanker D, Tripathi S. A study on oxidative stress and anti-oxidant status of agricultural workers exposed to organophosphate insecticides during spraying. Indian J Occup Environ Med 2009;13:131–34.
Smit AM, Van Wendel de Joode BN, Heederik D, Peiris-John RJ, Van der Hoek W. Neurologic symptoms among Sri Lankan farmers occupationally exposed to acetylcholinesterase- inhibiting insecticides. Am J Ind Med 2003;44:254–64.