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Effects of Organophosphate Insecticide Exposure on Postural Sway Characteristics of Children and Adolescents

Charles, Rachaline
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1391705848

Abstract Details

2005, Master of Public Health, Ohio State University, Public Health.
Organophosphate pesticides (OPs) are used in great abundance in the U.S. and other parts of the world for agricultural purposes. Over the years, studies conducted on the effects of pesticides have proven that prolonged exposure to chemicals such as OPs has significant adverse health effects on the nervous system of humans. Recent studies have shown that applicators are not the only ones being exposed and affected by OPs. Children of applicators who live on farms and participate in farm work are exposed and are also affected. Children are more vulnerable to OP exposure and its effects because of their size and weight. The adverse health effect OP exposure has on children may not be immediately apparent. Children may be more likely to experience latent or delayed effects that do not appear until long after exposure. The purpose of this research is to assess effects of exposures encountered in a single growing season on postural stability, stimulate further research on the effects of OPs on children and encourage public health workers to take appropriate measures to minimize exposures to children, especially those at greatest risk. The effect OP exposure has on children is evident in neurobehavioral functions, such as balance, which are controlled by the central nervous system (CNS). To assess the effects of OP exposure on the nervous system function in children, their standing steadiness were measured and compared to OP concentrations in their urine. One hundred and three (104) children and adolescents, ages nine to seventeen participated in this study. Twenty-seven (27) were applicator youth and seventy-six (76) were control youth. A correlation between sway parameters and urine OP metabolite concentration was not shown in this study as applicator youth measurements for sway length and sway area were less than that of control youth. However, analysis did show that applicator youth had a greater concentration of OPs in their urine. When Romberg ratios were applied the sway area Romberg ratio, showed applicator youth sway measurements larger than control youth. No change was observed in the sway length Romberg ratio measurements. Although the results of this study are inconclusive, a snap shot of exposure levels in a sample of children from farm families in Ohio was given. These results can potentially provide a baseline for evaluating trends over time, e.g. the levels of dialkylphosphate observed in the urine of participants in this study can be compared to levels observed in future studies. The use of pesticides cannot be eliminated from society because they are crucial for successful modern agricultural practices and they have significant economic, environmental and public health impacts. In spite of the benefits of pesticide use, exposure to them can still cause health problems, which includes interruption/impairment of neurobehavioral functions/systems such as the vision, vestibular and proprioceptive systems causing poor postural stability in children. Because of the limitations of this study, the association between OP exposure and the effects on postural stability remain cloudy. This is evident that further studies are needed to clarify OP exposure risks to children.
J.R. Wilkins, III (Advisor)
J. Mac Crawford (Committee Member)
89 p.
Public Health

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Charles, R. (2005). Effects of Organophosphate Insecticide Exposure on Postural Sway Characteristics of Children and Adolescents [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1391705848

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Charles, Rachaline. Effects of Organophosphate Insecticide Exposure on Postural Sway Characteristics of Children and Adolescents . 2005. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1391705848.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Charles, Rachaline. "Effects of Organophosphate Insecticide Exposure on Postural Sway Characteristics of Children and Adolescents ." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2005. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1391705848

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1391705848
275
© 2005, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.