People exposed to pesticides on a regular basis, such as farmers and gardeners, may have 5 times or more the normal risk of developing subtle neurological impairments or learning problems categorized as mild cognitive dysfunction (MCD), researchers in the Netherlands report.
The authors note that currently "Little is known about the adverse effects of substances, such as pesticides and metals, on the development of mild cognitive dysfunction."
MCD includes problems with verbal learning, word fluency and recall, among others.
The investigators evaluated exposure histories for 791 individuals.
"Of the 17 people who reported pesticide exposure, six (35%) had mild cognitive dysfunction at baseline, whereas only 85 (11%) of 774 individuals in the unexposed group had MCD," the researchers write.
The authors note that "Exposure to pesticides was consistently associated with the separate neuropsychological test results and the longitudinal changes thereof." Interestingly, they state that "Results did not differ significantly or consistently between currently and previously employed (eg, retired) people. This may indicate long-term adverse effects of pesticide exposure."
The study authors conclude that additional larger studies are needed to more accurately evaluate the risk of these types of pesticide exposures leading to subtle cognitive impairments.
The Lancet September 9, 2000;356:912-913
Chemicals exposure should be limited as much as possible to stay healthy. Pesiticides are particularly troublesome chemicals, especially for pregnant women. If a pregnant woman has any exposure during the pregnancy there is a great chance of infertility developing in her child 20 to 30 years later. The delay tends to hide this association from traditional views.
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