Organophosphate pesticides and neuropsychological and motor effects in the Maule Region, Chile Plaguicidas organofosforados y efecto neuropsicológico y motor en la Región del Maule, Chile

Abstract

© 2016 SESPAS. 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 popul