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Determinants of disability in illnesses related to agricultural use of organophosphates (OPs) in California.

Weinbaum-Z; Schenker-MB; O'Malley-MA; Gold-EB; Samuels-SJ

Am J Ind Med 1995 Aug; 28(2):257-274

http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajim.4700280210

00228469

An effort was made to examine the severity of pesticide related illness in California and the association of severe illness with demographic characteristics and circumstances of agricultural pesticide applications. The study examined 1,159 organophosphate (OP) related illnesses. Systemic cases were divided into groups of severe or mild disability. Independent predictors of severe illness were identified among the systemic cases using multiple logistic regression analysis. Several factors associated with systemic OP related illnesses of greater severity were identified including Hispanic surname, job activity, increasing number of OPs in the exposure, violations of California regulations, and chemical structure of the OP. Chemical structure was also associated with the type of illness outcome. Job activity was significantly associated with illness severity. The mixers/loaders/applicators group had more severe illness, as did the group exposed to residue (ER) in this population. Illness severity in the ER group was also strongly related with high toxicity OPs. Mixing of more than one OP increased the likelihood of severe illness, particularly if no protective gear was worn. The authors conclude that while education of populations exposed to pesticides about health effects could be implemented to reduce pesticide related illnesses, growers and local government personnel need to assume responsibility for reducing these exposures to workers and to the local populations.

NIOSH-Publication; NIOSH-Cooperative-Agreement; Agricultural-workers; Agricultural-chemicals; Organo-phosphorus-pesticides; Risk-factors; Risk-analysis; Epidemiology; Racial-factors;

AJIMD8

19950801

Journal Article

1055222

Cooperative Agreement

1995

Cooperative-Agreement-Number-U07-CCU-906162

2

0271-3586

American Journal of Industrial Medicine

CA

University of California - Davis