Lucero Boris, Muñoz-Quezada María Teresa
The Neuropsychology and Cognitive Neurosciences Research Center (CINPSI Neurocog), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile.
Front Hum Neurosci. 2021 Jul 16;15:648171. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.648171. eCollection 2021.
In recent years, pyrethroids have emerged as a less toxic alternative to eliminate insect pests. However, some animal studies and studies with children show that these pesticides are toxic and lead to neurobehavioral effects similar to other pesticides, such as organophosphates. The purpose of this review was to systematize the epidemiological scientific evidence about the neurobehavioral, neuromotor, and neurocognitive effects in agricultural workers and their children exposed to pyrethroid pesticides. We conducted two searches (with different terms) in PubMed and Scopus databases, including articles in Spanish and English language on the effects of occupational exposure to pyrethroid pesticides associated with neurobehavioral, neuromotor, and neurocognitive functioning of agricultural workers and their children. There were no filters by year, and the search included studies till march 2021. To develop the search, we followed the recommendations contained in the PRISMA guidelines and the PICO strategy. The results show that in 66.6% of the studies reviewed (8 of 12 studies), agricultural workers or their children occupationally exposed to pyrethroid pesticides have a higher risk of presenting difficulties in their neurocognitive, neuromotor, or neurobehavioral performance, mainly associated with attention, processing speed (linked to hand-eye coordination), and motor coordination. There are still few studies that address this issue. However, the quality of most of the research conducted (83% intermediate or high quality) confirms the risk for neurobehavioral health in agricultural workers due to occupational exposure to pyrethroids. More research is required evaluating the exposure to pyrethroids, including biomarkers and validated neurobehavioral and neuromotor tests, in addition to evaluating the effect of simultaneous exposure to other hazardous pesticides. Assuming that the use of pyrethroids is increasing considerably and faster than the scientific evidence, it is suggested as a precautionary principle to regulate, more strictly, the sale of pyrethroids and other pesticides.
近年来，拟除虫菊酯已成为一种毒性较低的害虫防治替代品。然而，一些动物研究和针对儿童的研究表明，这些杀虫剂具有毒性，并会导致与其他杀虫剂（如有机磷）类似的神经行为效应。本综述的目的是系统整理关于农业工人及其接触拟除虫菊酯类农药的子女的神经行为、神经运动和神经认知效应的流行病学科学证据。我们在PubMed和Scopus数据库中进行了两次检索（使用不同的检索词），检索包括西班牙语和英语文章，内容涉及职业接触拟除虫菊酯类农药对农业工人及其子女的神经行为、神经运动和神经认知功能的影响。检索未按年份进行筛选，检索涵盖截至2021年3月的研究。为开展检索，我们遵循了PRISMA指南和PICO策略中包含的建议。结果显示，在纳入综述的研究中，66.6%（12项研究中的8项）的农业工人或其职业接触拟除虫菊酯类农药的子女在神经认知、神经运动或神经行为表现方面出现困难的风险更高，主要与注意力、处理速度（与手眼协调有关）和运动协调有关。针对这一问题的研究仍然较少。然而，大多数已开展研究的质量（83%为中等或高质量）证实了农业工人因职业接触拟除虫菊酯而面临神经行为健康风险。除了评估同时接触其他有害农药的影响外，还需要更多研究来评估拟除虫菊酯的暴露情况，包括生物标志物以及经过验证的神经行为和神经运动测试。鉴于拟除虫菊酯的使用正在大幅增加且增速超过科学证据的积累速度，建议作为一项预防原则，更严格地规范拟除虫菊酯和其他农药的销售。
