Exploring Associations Between Postural Balance and Levels of Urinary Organophosphorus Pesticide Metabolites

J Occup Environ Med. 2018 Feb;60(2):174-179. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000001194.

Abstract

Objective: Apply a data-driven approach to explore associations between postural balance and pesticide exposure among Latino farmworkers and non-farmworkers.

Methods: Lasso-regularized, generalized linear models were used to examine associations between postural control measures in four experimental conditions (2 visual × 2 cognitive difficulty) and dialkylphosphate (DAP) urinary metabolite levels.

Results: Obtained models generally performed poorly at explaining postural control measures. However, when both visual and cognitive conditions were altered-the most challenging balance condition-models for some postural balance measures contained several DAP metabolites and had relatively better fits.

Conclusions: The current results were equivocal regarding associations between postural control measures and DAP metabolite concentrations. However, farmworker status appears to be an important variable in understanding this association. Future work should use a posturally- and cognitively-challenging test condition to reveal any potential associations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Agriculture*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Occupational Exposure*
  • Organophosphates / metabolism
  • Organophosphates / urine*
  • Organophosphorus Compounds / urine
  • Organothiophosphates / urine
  • Pesticides / metabolism
  • Pesticides / urine*
  • Phosphates / urine
  • Postural Balance*

Substances

  • Organophosphates
  • Organophosphorus Compounds
  • Organothiophosphates
  • Pesticides
  • Phosphates
  • O,O-dimethyl phosphorothionate
  • O,O-dimethyl phosphorodithioate
  • diethyl phosphate
  • dimethyl phosphate
  • thiophosphoric acid