Work

Hearing Loss Among Licensed Pesticide Applicators in the Agricultural Health Study

Year: 2008

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: We evaluated self-reported hearing loss and pesticide exposure in licensed private pesticide applicators enrolled in the Agricultural Health Study in 1993 to 1997 in Iowa and North Carolina. METHODS: Among 14,229 white male applicators in 1999 to 2003, 4926 reported hearing loss (35%). Logistic regression was performed with adjustment for state, age, and noise, solvents, and metals. We classified pesticides by lifetime days of use. RESULTS: Compared with no exposure, the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for the highest quartile of exposure was 1.19 (1.04 to 1.35) for insecticides and 1.17 (1.03 to 1.31) for organophosphate insecticides. Odds of hearing loss were elevated for high pesticide exposure events (1.38, 1.25 to 1.54), pesticide-related doctor visits (1.38, 1.17 to 1.62) or hospitalization (1.81, 1.25 to 2.62), and diagnosed pesticide poisoning (1.75, 1.36 to 2.26). CONCLUSIONS: Although control for exposure to noise or other neurotoxicants was limited, this study extends previous reports suggesting that organophosphate exposure increases risk of hearing loss.

Source: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

DOI: 10.1097/jom.0b013e31816a8caf

Authors: John Mac Crawford, Jane A. Hoppin, Michael C. R. Alavanja, Aaron Blair, Dale P. Sandler, Freya Kamel

Institutions: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Cancer Institute, The Ohio State University

Language: English

Topic: Pesticide Exposure and Toxicity

Subfield: Plant Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green