Citation

Muñoz-Quezada MT, Lucero B, Iglesias V, Muñoz MP, Achú E, Cornejo C, Concha C, Grillo A, Brito AM. Gac. Sanit. 2016; 30(3): 227-231.

Vernacular Title

Plaguicidas organofosforados y efecto neuropsicológico y motor en la Región del Maule, Chile.

Affiliation

Hospital Regional de Talca, Talca, Chile.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.gaceta.2016.01.006

PMID

26907086

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate organophosphate pesticide exposure and neuropsychological and motor performance in agricultural and non-agricultural workers in the Maule Region in Chile.

METHOD: Analytic cross-sectional study in 93 exposed farm workers and 84 unexposed non-agricultural workers. A battery of four neuropsychological tests was administered together with a neuro-motor physical examination.

RESULTS: On the Weschler adult intelligence scale (WAIS-IV), exposed agricultural workers exhibited poorer performance than non-agricultural workers in verbal comprehension (β=-3.2; p=0.034) and processing speed (β=-4.4; p=0.036) and in the full scale (β=-4; p=0.016), as well as in discrimination sensitivity (β=1, p=0,009), adjusted by years of schooling and/or age.

CONCLUSIONS: We suggest the development of policies and regulations for the control, sale and use of organophosphate pesticides and intervention strategies on safety measures aimed at the exposed population.

Language: es