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. 2016 Feb;58(2):133-9.
doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000000655.

Effects of Lifetime Occupational Pesticide Exposure on Postural Control Among Farmworkers and Non-Farmworkers

Kim Sunwook  1 , Maury A Nussbaum, Sara A Quandt, Paul J Laurienti, Thomas A Arcury
Affiliations

Effects of Lifetime Occupational Pesticide Exposure on Postural Control Among Farmworkers and Non-Farmworkers

Kim Sunwook et al. J Occup Environ Med. 2016 Feb.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess potential chronic effects of pesticide exposure on postural control, by examining postural balance of farmworkers and non-farmworkers diverse self-reported lifetime exposures.

Methods: Balance was assessed during quiet upright stance under four experimental conditions (2 visual × 2 cognitive difficulty).

Results: Significant differences in baseline balance performance (eyes open without cognitive task) between occupational groups were apparent in postural sway complexity. When adding a cognitive task to the eyes open condition, the influence of lifetime exposure on complexity ratios appeared different between occupational groups. Removing visual information revealed a negative association of lifetime exposure with complexity ratios.

Conclusions: Farmworkers and non-farmworkers may use different postural control strategies even when controlling for the level of lifetime pesticide exposure. Long-term exposure can affect somatosensory/vestibular sensory systems and the central processing of sensory information for postural control.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest:

All authors have none to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Relationships between years of occupational pesticide exposure and complexity index (CI) ratio in the medial-lateral direction (rCIML) for the two worker groups in the eyes open plus additional cognitive task condition. Note that rCIML is the ratio of CI obtained in this condition, relative to the baseline condition (eyes open with no additional cognitive task). Lines are drawn over the range of years of pesticide exposure reported for each occupational group; dotted lines indicate 95% Confidence Intervals.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Relationships between years of occupational pesticide exposure and CI ratio in the antero-posterior direction (rCIAP) for the two workers groups in the eyes closed plus additional cognitive task condition. Note that rCIML is the ratio of CI obtained in this condition, relative to the baseline condition (eyes open with no additional cognitive task). Lines are drawn over the range of year of pesticide exposure reported for each occupational group; dotted lines indicate 95% Confidence Intervals.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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