A Comparative Study of the Quality of Life, Depression, Anxiety and Stress in Farmers Exposed to Organophosphate Pesticides with those in a Control Group

Authors

1 Department of Biology, Damghan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Semnan, Iran

2 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

3 Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran

4 Department of Biology, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the quality of life, depression, anxiety and stress in farmers exposed to organophosphate pesticides with those in a control group. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 67 farmers of Gheinarje village in Arak, central Iran in 2012. The case group included 35 farmers exposed to organophosphate pesticides, the control group consisted of 32 subjects who had no contact with organophosphate pesticides and were matched with the case group in terms of age, gender, and education.The assessment of the quality of life was done according to the scores obtained in SF-36 questionnaire. To assess the level of depression, anxiety and stress the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS)-42 was used. A significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of mental health and quality of life in such a way that the mental health and life quality of the farmers exposed to organophosphate pesticides were significantly lower than those of the control group were (P<0.05). According to the Pearson correlation analysis there was a significant positive relationship between job history and depression as well as stress (P<0.05). Chronic exposure to organophosphate pesticides can affect the psychological aspects of farmers' lives, including the quality of life, depression, anxiety and stress and may endanger their mental health. Biologic drug development and promotion of the use of protective equipment by farmers are the secure solutions to get rid of the current problems resulted from using chemical pesticides.

Keywords

References

  1. Lederman S.A., 1996. Environmental Contaminants in Breast Milk from the Central Asian Republics. Reproduc Toxicol. 10, 93-104.
  2. Kwong T.C., 2002. Organophosphate Psticides: Biochemistry and Clinical Toxicology. Ther Drug Monit. 24(1), 144-149.
  3. WHO. Multi-level Course on the Safe Use of Pesti-cides and on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pesticide Poisoning. Course manual, Geneva, 1978.
  4. Dawood Shah M., Iqbal M., 2010. Diazinon-induced Oxidative Stress and Renal Dysfunction in Rats. Food Chem Toxicol. 48, 3345ââ‚‌“3353.
  5. Shayeghi M., Nasirian H., Nourjah N., Baniardelan M., Shayeghi F., Aboulhassani M., 2009. Cholinesterase Activity Among Spray Workers inIran. Pak J Biol Sci. 1; 12(9), 696-701.
  6. Soares L., Desozaporto M.F., 2009. Estimating the Social Coast of Pesticide Use: an Assessment from Acute Poisoning in Brazil. Ecol Econ. 68, 2721-2728.
  7. Shayeghi M., Nasirian H., Nourjah N., Baniardelan M., Shayeghi F., Aboulhassani M., 2009. Cholinesterase Activity Among Spray Workers inIran. Pak J Biol Sci. 1; 12(9), 696-701.
  8. Eddleston M., Karalliedde L., Buckley N., Fernando R., Hutchinson G., Isbister G., Konradsen F., Murray D., Piola J. C., Senanayake N., Sheriff R., Singh S., Siwach S.B., Smit L., 2002. Pesticide poisoning in the Developing World. a Minimum Pesticides List. Lancet. 360(9340), 1163-1167.
  9. Singh S., Sharma N., 2000. Neurological Syndromes Following Organophosphate Poisoning Neurology India. 48(4), 308-313.
  10. Jokanović M., Kosanović M., 2010. Neurotoxic effects in patients poisoned with organophosphorus pesticides. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 29(3), 195-201.
  11. Fattahi E., Jorsaraei S.G., Parivar K., Moghaddamnia A.A., 2010. The Effects of a Single Dosage of Diazinon and Hinosan on the Structure of Testis Tissue and Sexual Hormones in Mice. Yakhteh Med J. 12(3), 405-410.
  12. Alpaslan G., Kanat G., Hilmi D., Dilek B., Ahmet K., Irfan A., 2007. Effects of diazinon at different doses on rat liver and pancreas tissues. Pesticide Biochem Physiol. 87, 103ââ‚‌“108.
  13. Sarabia I., Maurer E., Bustos O., 2009. Melatonin Prevents Damage Elicited by the Organophosphorous Pesticide Diazinon on the Mouse Testis. Ecotoxicol Environ Safety. 72(3), 938ââ‚‌“942.
  14. Mostafalou S., Abdollahi M., 2013. Pesticides and human chronic diseases: evidences, mechanisms, and perspectives. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 15, 268(2), 157-77
  15. Osweiler G.D., Toxicology. Williams and Wilkins, Philadelphia. 1996.
  16. Steenland K., Wesseling C., Román N., Quirós I., Juncos J.L., 2013. Occupational Pesticide Exposure and Screening Tests for Neurodegenerative Disease among an Elderly Population in Costa Rica. Environ Res. 120, 96ââ‚‌“101.
  17. Demers P., Rosenstock L., 1991. Occupational Injuries and Illnesses among Washington State Agricultural Workers. Am J Public Health. 81(12), 1656ââ‚‌“1658.
  18. Kushik J., Chandrabhan D., 2007. The Interrelation between Organophosphate Toxicity and the Epidemiology of Depression and Suicide. Rev Environ Health. 22(1), 57ââ‚‌“74.
  19. Salvi R.M., Lara D.R., Ghisolfi E.S., Portela L.V., Dias R.D., Souza D.O., 2003. Neuropsychiatric Evaluation in Subjects Chronically Exposed to Organophosphate Pesticides. Toxicol Sci. 72, 267-271.
  20. Mearns J., Dunn J., Lees-Haley P.R., 2006. Psychological Effects of Organophosphate Pesticides: A Review and Call for Research by Psychologists. J Clin Psychol. 50(2), 286-294.
  21. Bazylewicz-Walczak B., Majczakowa W., Szymczak M., 1999. Behavioral Effects of Occupational Exposure to Organophosphorous Pesticides in Female Greenhouse Planting Workers. Neurotoxicol. 20, 819ââ‚‌“826.
  22. Jamal G.A., Hansen S., Pilkington A., Buchanan D., Gillham R.A., Abdel-Azis M., Julu P.O.O., Al-Rawas S.F., Hurley F.J.P., Ballantyne J.P., 2002. A Clinical Neurological, Neurophysiological, and Neuropsychological Study of Sheep Farmers and Dippers Exposed to Organophosphate Pesticides. Occup Environ Med. 59, 434ââ‚‌“441.
  23. Stephens R., Spurgeon A., Calvert I.A., Beach J., Levy L.S., Berry H., Harrington J.M., 1995. Neuropsychological Effects of Long-term Exposure to Organophosphates in Sheep Dip. The Lancet. 345(8958), 1135-1139.
  24. Davies D.R., Mrcpsych M., Ahmed G.M., Freer T., 1999. Chronic Organophosphate Induced Neuropsychiatric Disorder (COPIND): Results of Two Postal Questionnaire Surveys. J Nutr Environ Med. 9(2), 123-134.
  25. Stephens R., Sreenivasan B., 2004. Neuropsychological Effects of Long-Term Low-Level Organophosphate Exposure in Orchard Sprayers in England. Arch Environ Health. 59(11), 566-574.
  26. Levin H.S., Rodnitzky R.L., 1976. Behavioral Effects of Organophosphate in Man. Clin Toxicol. 9(3), 391-403.
  27. Xavier R., Rekha K., Bairy K.L., 2004. Health Perspective of Pesticide Exposure and Dietary Management. Mal J Nutr. 10(1), 39-51.
  28. Berr C., Balansard B., Arnaud J., Roussel A.M., Alpérovitch A., 2000. Cognitive Decline Is Associated with Systemic Oxidative Stress: The EVA Study. Etude du Vieillissement Artériel. J Am Geriatr Soc. 48(10), 1285-1291.
  29. Gonza´lez-Gross M., Marcos A., Pietrzik K., 2001. Nutrition and Cognitive Impairment in the Elderly. Brit J Nutr. 86, 313ââ‚‌“321.
  30. Tan D., Peng S., Wu Y., Wang Y., Lu C., Yan C., 2009. Chronic Organophosphate (OP)-induced Neuropsychiatric Disorder as a Withdrawal Syndrome. Med Hypothes. 72(4), 405-406.
  31. Lovella M.A., Markesbery W.R., 2008. Oxidative-lyModified RNA in Mild Cognitive Impairment. Neurobiol Dis. 29(2), 169-175.
  32. Overstreet D.H., 2000. Organophosphate Pesticides, Cholinergic Function and Cognitive Performance in Advanced Age. Neurotoxicol. 21(1-2), 75-81.
  33. Rosenstock L., Keifer M., Daniell W.E., McConnell R., Claypoole K., 1991. Chronic Central Nervous System Effects of Acute Organophosphate Pesticide Intoxication. The Lancet. 338 (8761), 223- 227.
  34. Fiedler N., Kipen H., Kelly-McNeil K., Fenske R., 1997. Long-term Use of Organophosphates and Neuropsychological Performance. Am J Ind Med. 32(5), 487-496.
  35. Beseler C.L., Stallones L., Hoppin J.A., Alavanja M.C., Blair A., Keefe T., Kamel F., 2008. Depression and pesticide exposures among private pesticide applicators enrolled in the Agricultural Health Study. Environ Health Perspect. 116(12), 1713-9.
  36. Roldán-Tapia L., Parrón T., Sánchez-Santed F., 2005. Neuropsychological effects of long-term exposure to organophosphate pesticides. Neurotoxicol Teratol. 27(2), 259ââ‚‌“266.
  37. Wesseling C., van Wendel de Joode B., Keifer M., London L., Mergler D., Stallones L., 2010. Symptoms of psychological distress and suicidal ideation among banana workers with a history of poisoning by organophosphate or n-methyl carbamate pesticides. Occup Environ Med. 67(11), 778-84.
  38. Salvi R.M., Lara D.R., Ghisolfi E.S., Portela L.V., Dias R.D., Souza D.O., 2003. Neuropsychiatric evaluation in subjects chronically exposed to organophosphate pesticides. Toxicol Sci. 72(2), 267-71.
  39. Tan D.H., Peng S.Q., Wu Y.L., Wang Y.M., Lu C.F., Yan C.H., 2009. Chronic organophosphate (OP)- induced neuropsychiatric disorder is a withdrawal syndrome. Med Hypothes. 72(4), 405-6.
  40. Fazilati M., Salavati H., Pour Shaaban H., 2015. The Comparison of DNA Damage, Cognitive State, Psychological Disorders, Clinical Symptom, and Oxidative Stress in Farmers Exposed In rganophosphate Pesticide and Control Group And To Determine the Relationship between Them. Int J Rev Life Sci. 5(8), 358-371.

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 12 March 2016
  • Revise Date: 30 July 2021
  • Accept Date: 29 October 2018

Share

How to cite

Statistics