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Document ID (ISN)46792
CIS number 86-1672
ISSN - Serial title 0019-8366 - Industrial Health
Year 1984
Convention or series no.
Author(s) Misra U.K., Nag D., Krishna Murti C.R.
Title A study of cognitive functions in DDT sprayers
Bibliographic information 1984, Vol.22, No.3, p.199-206. 20 ref.
Abstract Organochlorine pesticides are widely used in India and other developing countries. To study the effects of occupational exposure to DDT, 29 sprayers were subjected to clinical evaluation, the Bhatia battery performance test of intelligence, the Wechsler memory scale and the Bender visuomotor Gestalt test. Blood tests showed that DDT levels in the sprayers were 8.5 times higher than in controls. Intelligence and memory did not differ significantly from control values, but visuomotor function did. Over half of the sprayers with poor visuomotor performance had diffuse electroencephalographic changes. Visuomotor performance scores were correlated with DDT levels. This suggests a role of DDT in the impairment of cognitive functions.
Descriptors (primary) neurotoxic effects; visual function disorders; cognitive performance; DDT; agriculture; crop protection; long-term exposure; chronic toxicity; pesticides
Descriptors (secondary) developing countries; India
Document type D - Periodical articles
Subject(s) Occupational pathology
Broad subject area(s) Occupational medicine, epidemiology
Browse category(ies) Diseases of the nervous system
Diseases of the eye and vision damage
Halogenated hydrocarbons
Agriculture
Agricultural chemicals