Pesticide Exposure and Thyroid Function in Elementary School Children Living in an Agricultural Area, Brebes District, Indonesia.
Int J Occup Environ Med
; 9(3): 137-144, 2018 07.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-29995019
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Children living in agricultural areas are at risk of exposure to pesticides due to their involvement in agricultural activities. Pesticides are one of the chemicals classified as endocrine disrupting chemicals.OBJECTIVE:
To examine the association between exposure to organophosphate pesticides and the occurrence of thyroid dysfunction in children.METHODS:
This cross-sectional study was conducted on 66 children in two elementary schools located in an agricultural area in Brebes District, Indonesia, in 2015. To determine the pesticide exposure history, we analyzed urine samples and completed a questionnaire. Meanwhile, thyroid function tests were performed.RESULTS:
Organophosphate pesticide metabolites were detected in urine samples of 15 (23%) of 66 children. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels >4.5 µIU/mL were detected in 24 (36%) children. Free thyroxine (FT4) levels of all participants were normal. The mean TSH level in children with positive urinary organophosphate pesticide metabolites (7.74 µIU/ mL) was significantly (p=0.005) higher than that in those who were negative (4.34 µIU/mL). The prevalence of hypothyroidism in children with positive urinary organophosphate pesticide metabolites (67%) was significantly higher than that in those who were negative (27%; PR 2.4, 95% CI 1.4 to 4.3).CONCLUSION:
A history of pesticide exposure could be used as a risk factor for the occurrence of thyroid dysfunction in children living in agricultural areas.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Pesticides
/
Rural Population
/
Schools
/
Students
/
Thyroid Gland
/
Environmental Exposure
Type of study:
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Aspects:
Determinantes_sociais_saude
Limits:
Child
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
En
Journal:
Int J Occup Environ Med
Year:
2018
Document type:
Article