Environmental pesticide exposure and the risk of irritable bowel syndrome: A case-control study

Lola Rueda-Ruzafa; Pablo Roman; Diana Cardona; Mar Requena; Carmen Ropero-Padilla; Raquel Alarcón

doi:10.1016/j.etap.2023.104076

Environmental pesticide exposure and the risk of irritable bowel syndrome: A case-control study

Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2023 Mar:98:104076. doi: 10.1016/j.etap.2023.104076. Epub 2023 Feb 7.

Authors

Lola Rueda-Ruzafa¹, Pablo Roman², Diana Cardona³, Mar Requena⁴, Carmen Ropero-Padilla⁵, Raquel Alarcón⁶

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Medicine, University of Almeria, Carretera Sacramento S/N, La Cañada, 04120 Almeria, Spain. Electronic address: lrr606@ual.es.
² Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Medicine, University of Almeria, Carretera Sacramento S/N, La Cañada, 04120 Almeria, Spain; Health Research Center, University of Almeria, Carretera Sacramento S/N, La Cañada 04120, Spain. Electronic address: pablo.roman@ual.es.
³ Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Medicine, University of Almeria, Carretera Sacramento S/N, La Cañada, 04120 Almeria, Spain; Health Research Center, University of Almeria, Carretera Sacramento S/N, La Cañada 04120, Spain. Electronic address: dcardona@ual.es.
⁴ Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Medicine, University of Almeria, Carretera Sacramento S/N, La Cañada, 04120 Almeria, Spain; Health Research Center, University of Almeria, Carretera Sacramento S/N, La Cañada 04120, Spain. Electronic address: mrm047@ual.es.
⁵ Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Medicine, University of Almeria, Carretera Sacramento S/N, La Cañada, 04120 Almeria, Spain. Electronic address: crp984@ual.es.
⁶ Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Medicine, University of Almeria, Carretera Sacramento S/N, La Cañada, 04120 Almeria, Spain; Health Research Center, University of Almeria, Carretera Sacramento S/N, La Cañada 04120, Spain. Electronic address: ralarcon@ual.es.

PMID: 36754128
DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2023.104076

Abstract

The agricultural model in southern Spain is highly productive, mainly due to the intensive cultivation under plastic. Despite strict pesticide regulation, human exposure to pesticides in the environment has been connected to an increase in diseases such as celiac disease. Certain pesticides have also been associated to the disruption of the intestinal microbiota, which has been tied to the development of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). A case-control study was conducted in Andalusia, south Spain, to assess the prevalence and risk of IBS related to pesticide exposure. This research found a high prevalence of IBS in Andalusia between 2000 and 2021 in areas with high pesticide exposure using agronomic criteria. Furthermore, the odds ratio for IBS was significantly higher in the population with high pesticide exposure. This study suggests that pesticides may be involved in IBS, whereas more research is needed to determine the role of pesticides in IBS symptomatology.

Keywords: Case-control study; Environmental chemicals; Irritable bowel syndrome; Pesticides.

MeSH terms

Case-Control Studies
Celiac Disease* / epidemiology
Environmental Exposure
Humans
Irritable Bowel Syndrome* / epidemiology
Pesticides*

Substances

Pesticides