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Retinal degeneration in licensed pesticide applicators
Author(s) -
Kamel F.,
Boyes W. K.,
Gladen B. C.,
Rowland A. S.,
Alavanja M. C. R.,
Blair A.,
Sandler D. P.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0274(200006)37:6<618::aid-ajim6>3.0.co;2-e
Subject(s) - medicine , pesticide , odds ratio , retinal degeneration , retinal , confidence interval , carbamate , macular degeneration , toxicology , degeneration (medical) , organophosphate , environmental health , pathology , ophthalmology , biology , ecology , biochemistry
Background Retinal degeneration is the leading cause of visual impairment in older adults, but little is known about its relationship to neurotoxic exposures. Methods The Agricultural Health Study is a cohort study of licensed pesticide applicators from Iowa and North Carolina. We used cross‐sectional data from self‐administered questionnaires given at enrollment in 1994–1996 to compare pesticide use in 154 applicators who reported retinal degeneration and 17,804 controls. Results Retinal degeneration was associated with fungicide use (odds ratio = 1.8, 95% confidence interval = 1.3–2.6). This relationship was seen in subgroups defined by state, demographic characteristics, or medical history, as well as in the entire group. Risk increased with cumulative days of fungicide use (P for trend = 0.011) and was greater when application methods involving greater personal exposure were used. Retinal degeneration was also related to use of organochlorine or carbamate insecticides, but these associations were less consistent. Since nearly all applicators used organophosphate insecticides and herbicides, these exposures could not be effectively evaluated. Conclusions These results suggest that exposure to some fungicides and insecticides may increase risk of retinal degeneration. Am. J. Ind. Med. 37:618–628, 2000. © Published 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.