[Organophosphate pesticides and neuropsychological and motor effects in the Maule Region, Chile]

Abstract

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 population.

Keywords: Agricultural workers; Habilidades motoras; Motor skills; Neuropsychological tests; Organofosforados; Organophosphates; Pesticides; Plaguicidas; Pruebas neuropsicológicas; Trabajadores agrícolas.