Occupational Exposure to Pesticides and Nerve Conduction Studies Among Korean Farmers

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to determine whether occupational exposure to pesticides was associated with decreased nerve conduction studies among farmers. On 2 separate occasions, the authors performed a cross-sectional study of a group of 31 male farmers who periodically applied pesticides. The study included questionnaire interviews and nerve conduction studies on the median, ulnar, posterior tibial, peroneal, and sural nerves. Although all mean values remained within laboratory normal limits, significant differences between the first and second tests were found in sensory conduction velocities on the median and sural nerves, and motor conduction velocities on the posterior tibial nerve. Lifetime days of pesticide application was negatively associated with nerve conduction velocities at most nerves after adjusting for potential confounders. These findings may reflect a link between occupational pesticide exposure and peripheral neurophysiologic abnormality that deserves further evaluation.

KEYWORDS:

• farmers
• nerve conduction study
• occupational exposure
• pesticides

Acknowledgments

This work was carried out with the support of “Cooperative Research Program for Agricultural Science & Technology Development (Project No. PJ007455)” Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.