Determinants of disability in illnesses related to agricultural use of organophosphates (OPs) in California.
Authors
Weinbaum-Z; Schenker-MB; O'Malley-MA; Gold-EB; Samuels-SJ
Source
Am J Ind Med 1995 Aug; 28(2):257-274
Abstract
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.
Keywords
NIOSH-Publication; NIOSH-Cooperative-Agreement; Agricultural-workers; Agricultural-chemicals; Organo-phosphorus-pesticides; Risk-factors; Risk-analysis; Epidemiology; Racial-factors;
Document Type
Journal Article
Funding Type
Cooperative Agreement
Identifying No.
Cooperative-Agreement-Number-U07-CCU-906162
Source Name
American Journal of Industrial Medicine
Performing Organization
University of California - Davis
