Farmers Exposed to High Levels of Pesticide More Likely to Have Poor Sense of Smell

by Adeline Dorcas on January 17, 2019 at 11:44 AM

Exposure to high levels of pesticide can lead to poor sense of smell among farmers, reports a new study. The findings of the study are published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

A Michigan State University study is the first to show an association between unusually high pesticide exposure and poor sense of smell among aging farmers.

Pesticide Exposure Ups Heart Disease Risk

Latinos who are exposed to pesticides in their workplaces are twice as likely to have cardiovascular disease compared with Latinos who are not exposed to pesticides at work.

‘High pesticide exposure among farmers can be associated with diminished sense of smell, reveals a new study.’
Read More..

Tweet it Now

The research examined more than 11,200 farmers over a 20-year period. At the start of the study, about 16 percent of participants reported having experienced a high pesticide exposure event, or HPEE, such as a large amount of pesticide spilling on their body. Two decades later, they were asked if they suffered olfactory impairment, a partial to complete loss of sense of smell.

Farmers who reported an HPEE were 50 percent more likely to report a poor sense of smell at the end of the study. The research also showed that an immediate washing with soap and water might mitigate risk. Compared to farmers who never experienced a high exposure event, those who did and washed within three hours, had about a 40 percent higher risk of having problems with smell. Those who waited four or more hours, saw their risk potentially double.

Pesticide Poisoning

Pesticide poisoning occurs when chemicals intended to control pests harm humans, wildlife. Treatment is specific and often dependent on pesticide type or class.

The study, a collaboration with researchers from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Cancer Institute, is published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

"Studying farmers gives us more reliable data on pesticide exposures than if we had studied the general population," said Honglei Chen, lead author, and professor of epidemiology. "Because they use pesticides more and it's part of their job, they're more likely to remember what pesticides they used and in cases of high exposures, report the specific events."

In the study, Chen was able to identify two insecticides - DDT and lindane - as well as four weed killers - alachlor, metolachlor, 2,4-D, and pendimethalin - that showed a greater association with poor sense of smell.

"Farmers reporting incidents, involving unusually high exposures to certain organochlorine insecticides such as DDT and herbicides including 2,4-D, were more likely to have a poor sense of smell," he said. "More research needs to be done, but some studies have linked these chemicals to Parkinson's and possibly dementia too."

While poor sense of smell has been shown to be an early symptom of Parkinson's and dementia, Chen said his study only addresses an association between pesticide exposure and impaired smell, not to neurodegenerative diseases.

"Olfactory impairment affects up to 25 percent of our older population, and our understanding of what the consequences are is still very limited," Chen said. "Studies have also suggested that older adults with a poor sense of smell are more likely to die earlier, so understanding the factors involved is very important."

Source: Eurekalert

Strawberries, Spinach Top List of ‘Foods Containing Most Pesticides’

An annual report by the Environmental Working Group found that nearly 70% of samples of 48 types of produce were contaminated with pesticide residues.

<< Overprescription of Opioids for Elbow Fractures in Children:...

Amit Shah Admitted to AIIMS Due to Swine Flu Infection >>

New Topical Gel to Prevent Pesticide Toxicity Developed

Novel topical gel has been developed for farmers who are exposed to pesticides. Discovering new technologies to protect every single farmer from lethal effects of pesticides is the need of the hour in developing countries like India.