Michigan State research examined more than 11,200 farmers over 20-year period.

January 23, 2019

2 Min Read
Study finds high pesticide exposure linked to poor smell
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A Michigan State University study is the first to show an association between unusually high pesticide exposure and poor sense of smell among aging farmers.

The research examined more than 11,200 farmers over a 20-year period. At the start of the study, about 16% of participants reported having experienced a high pesticide exposure event (HPEE), such as a large amount of pesticide spilling on their body. Two decades later, they were asked if they suffered olfactory impairment, which is a partial to complete loss of the sense of smell.

Farmers who reported an HPEE were 50% more likely to report a poor sense of smell at the end of the study. The research also showed that immediately washing with soap and water might mitigate the risk. Compared to farmers who never experienced an HPEE, those who did and washed within three hours had about a 40% higher risk of problems with smell. Those who waited four hours or more saw their risk potentially double.

The study -- a collaboration with researchers from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Cancer Institute -- was published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

“Studying farmers gives us more reliable data on pesticide exposures than if we had studied the general population,” said lead author Honglei Chen, a professor of epidemiology. “Because they use pesticides more and it’s part of their job, they’re more likely to remember what pesticides they used and, in cases of high exposures, report the specific events.”

In the study, Chen was able to identify two insecticides – DDT and lindane – as well as four weed killers – alachlor, metolachlor, 2,4-D and pendimethalin – that showed a greater association with poor sense of smell.

“Farmers reporting incidents involving unusually high exposures to certain organochlorine insecticides such as DDT and herbicides including 2,4-D were more likely to have a poor sense of smell,” he said. “More research needs to be done, but some studies have linked these chemicals to Parkinson’s and possibly dementia, too.”

While poor sense of smell has been shown to be an early symptom of Parkinson’s and dementia, Chen said his study only addresses an association between pesticide exposure and impaired smell, not to neurodegenerative diseases.

“Olfactory impairment affects up to 25% of our older population, and our understanding of what the consequences are is still very limited,” Chen said. “Studies have also suggested that older adults with a poor sense of smell are more likely to die earlier, so understanding the factors involved is very important.”

Chen’s study was conducted as part of the national "Agricultural Health Study" with the National Institutes of Health, the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health.

Source: Michigan State University, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.

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