Brain Anatomy in Latino Farmworkers Exposed to Pesticides and Nicotine.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Migrant tobacco farmworkers experience regular occupational exposure to pesticides and nicotine. The present study was designed to determine whether there are differences in brain anatomy between Latino farmworkers and non-farmworkers.

Methods

Magnetic resonance brain images were compared between farmworkers and non-farmworkers. In addition, blood cholinesterase activity and urinary cotinine levels were also used to identify associations with pesticide and nicotine exposure.

Results

Farmworkers had greater gray matter signal in putamen and cerebellum, and lower gray matter signal in frontal and temporal lobes. Urinary cotinine was associated with the observed differences in brain anatomy, but blood cholinesterase activity was not.

Conclusions

Nicotine

SUBMITTER: Laurienti PJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4866817 | biostudies-literature | 2016 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature