High pesticide exposure linked to olfactory impairment in U.S. farmers
Exposure to high levels of pesticides may cause farmers over time to lose their sense of smell, according to a study published recently in Environmental Health Perspectives. The study examined high pesticide exposure events (HPEEs) in relation to self-reported olfactory impairment (OI) in participants in the long running, multi-generational Agricultural Health Study (AHS) conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
A little more than ten percent of the farmers surveyed reported OI. A history of HPEEs reported at enrollment was associated with a higher likelihood of reporting OI two decades later. The study found higher exposure rates when there was a delay between HPEE and washing with soap and water. Significant associations were observed both for HPEEs involving the respiratory or digestive tract and dermal contact.