Neurological evaluation of newborn infants of mothers working in citrus groves in Northern Thailand

Int J Occup Environ Health. 2011 Apr-Jun;17(2):135-43. doi: 10.1179/107735211799030997.

Abstract

The purpose of this pilot study was to assess neurological function in newborn infants born to mothers working in citrus orchards in Northern Thailand for a period in excess of one year where pesticide applications average 35 times a year. Forty-one infants from uncomplicated term births at the community hospital in Fang, Thailand, were given neurological evaluations during the first four days of life. This was a cross-sectional study in which nine mothers worked in citrus orchards and 32 mothers did not. Examiners were not given the exposure history of the mothers. Twelve infants--five of them born to mothers from citrus orchards--had examinations demonstrating abnormal muscle tone. Using logistic regression, the final model showed that maternal citrus grove exposure and anesthesia use were significant predictors (p < 0.05) of abnormal muscle tone with adjusted odds ratios of 9.82 (CI = 1.42, 68.07) and 5.99 (CI = 1.003, 35.85) for exposure and anesthesia respectively.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Agriculture*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Newborn, Diseases / epidemiology
  • Infant, Newborn, Diseases / etiology*
  • Male
  • Mothers
  • Muscle Hypotonia / epidemiology
  • Muscle Hypotonia / etiology*
  • Occupational Exposure / adverse effects*
  • Pesticides / adverse effects*
  • Pilot Projects
  • Single-Blind Method
  • Thailand / epidemiology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Pesticides