Mwmm. Ruijten et al., EFFECT OF CHRONIC MIXED PESTICIDE EXPOSURE ON PERIPHERAL AND AUTONOMIC NERVE FUNCTION, Archives of environmental health, 49(3), 1994, pp. 188-195
In a cross-sectional study involving 131 flower bulb farmers (mean age
= 43 y) and 67 well-matched controls, peripheral and autonomic nerve
functions were examined. The study group had been exposed during a per
iod of 20 y (standard deviation = 7) and applied a similar pesticide p
ackage. Lifetime cumulative exposure was estimated based on exposure l
evels for specific application methods and duration of exposure. Expos
ure-related decreased conduction velocities were found in the motor fi
bers of the median (-1.1 m/s) and peroneal (fast fibers: -1.2 m/s, slo
w fibers: -1.3 m/s) nerves, and in the sensory fibers of the median (-
1.4 m/s) and sural (-0.9 m/s) nerves. In addition, the refractory peri
od was determined and found to be increased in the sural and peroneal
nerves. With regard to the autonomic nerve function, a decrease was fo
und in resting sinus arrhythmia (-10%).