Depression and pesticide exposures in female spouses of licensed pesticide applicators in the agricultural health study cohort

J Occup Environ Med. 2006 Oct;48(10):1005-13. doi: 10.1097/01.jom.0000235938.70212.dd.

Abstract

Objective: This nested case-control study evaluated the association between depression and pesticide exposure among women.

Methods: The study population included 29,074 female spouses of private pesticide applicators enrolled in the Agricultural Health Study between 1993 and 1997. Cases were women who had physician-diagnosed depression requiring medication. Lifetime pesticide use was categorized as never mixed/applied pesticides, low exposure (up to 225 days), high exposure (>225 days), and a history of diagnosed pesticide poisoning.

Results: After adjustment for state, age, race, off-farm work, alcohol, cigarette smoking, physician visits, and solvent exposure, depression was significantly associated with a history of pesticide poisoning (odds ratio [OR] = 3.26; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.72-6.19) but not low (OR = 1.09; CI = 0.91-1.31) or high (OR = 1.09; 95% CI = 0.91-1.31) cumulative pesticide exposure.

Conclusion: Pesticide poisoning may contribute to risk of depression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Agricultural Workers' Diseases / epidemiology
  • Agricultural Workers' Diseases / psychology*
  • Agrochemicals / toxicity
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Depression / chemically induced*
  • Depression / epidemiology
  • Environmental Exposure / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Iowa / epidemiology
  • Middle Aged
  • North Carolina / epidemiology
  • Odds Ratio
  • Pesticides / toxicity*
  • Risk Factors
  • Spouses*

Substances

  • Agrochemicals
  • Pesticides