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NEUROBEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT OF WORKERS EXPOSED TO ORGANOPHOSPHOROUS PESTICIDES
Citation:
Otto, D., S. Soloman, D. Svendsgaard, A. Soffar, AND N. Ahmed. NEUROBEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT OF WORKERS EXPOSED TO ORGANOPHOSPHOROUS PESTICIDES. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/D-89/151 (NTIS PB90113788).
Description:
Workers (N=229) from an Egyptian pesticide formulation plant were screened for signs of organophosphorous induced delayed polyneuropathy (OPIDP). ests included lymphocyte neuropathy target esterase (LNTE), serum cholinesterase (ChE), tactile sensitivity (OPTACON), block design (BD) and Santa Ana Dexterity (SAD) tests. orkers from fertilizer (N=181) and textile (N=166) plants were tested as controls. ne-year follow-up evaluation of workers was also conducted. NTE activity levels of pesticide formulators were significantly lower than levels of education (inverse relationship) after controlling for age and LNTE activity. Tactile threshold increased linearly with age. D and SAD scores did not vary with LNTE or among plants. esults suggest that tactile sensitivity testing may provide a useful method for early detection of peripheral neuropathy in workers exposed to pesticides.