Impairment of visual and neurologic functions associated with agrochemical use

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 18; no. 8; p. e0290263
• Main Authors: Jiménez Barbosa, Ingrid Astrid, Rodríguez Alvarez, Martha Fabiola, Bernal Bechara, Laila Cristina, Khuu, Sieu K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Francisco Public Library of Science 23.08.2023; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Acetylcholinesterase; Agricultural chemicals industry; Agricultural production; Agrochemicals; Biology and Life Sciences; Biomarkers; Care and treatment; Coherence; Color sensitivity; Comparative analysis; Compounds; Congenital diseases; Diagnosis; Employee performance; Environmental aspects; Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; Exposure; Farmworkers; Health aspects; Medicine and Health Sciences; Motion detection; Motion perception; Nervous system; Nervous system diseases; Neurotoxicity; Occupational exposure; Pesticides; Physical Sciences; Questionnaires; Research and Analysis Methods; Social Sciences; Substance P; Surveys; Thresholds; Vision disorders; Visual acuity; Visual discrimination; Visual perception; Visual tasks; Colombia
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290263

To determine whether exposure to occupational levels of agrochemicals is associated with a range of low- (contrast and colour) and higher-level visual functions, particularly the detection of global form and motion coherence. We compared the performance of workers exposed to occupational levels of pesticides and non-exposed individuals on visual tasks that measured colour discrimination (Farnsworth Munsell 100 and Lanthony D15 desaturated) and the contrast sensitivity function (1–16 cpd). Global form and motion detection thresholds were measured using Glass-pattern and global dot motion stimuli. Neurotoxicity symptoms and biological markers associated with pesticide exposure were quantified using the Q16 modified questionnaire and via tests for levels of acetylcholinesterase in blood and substance P from the tear film, respectively. Workers exposed to pesticides had significantly more neurotoxic symptoms than non-exposed workers. No significant difference between groups for acetylcholinesterase levels was found, but there was a significant group difference in Substance P. The exposed group also had significantly poorer contrast sensitivity, colour discrimination and higher coherence detection thresholds for global form and motion perception. Exposure to occupational levels of agrochemicals in workers with signs of neurotoxicity is associated with low and high visual perception deficits.