Adverse effects of pesticides on central auditory functions in tobacco growers.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of exposure to pesticides on the central auditory functions (CAF) of Brazilian tobacco growers.


DESIGN
This was a cross-sectional study carried out between 2010 and 2012. Participants were evaluated with two behavioural procedures to investigate CAF, the random gap detection test (RGDT) and the dichotic digit test in Portuguese (DDT).


STUDY SAMPLE
A total of 22 growers exposed to pesticides (study group) and 21 subjects who were not exposed to pesticides (control group) were selected.


RESULTS
No significant differences between groups were observed for pure-tone thresholds. A significant association between pesticide exposure and the results for RGDT and DDT was found. Significant differences between pesticide-exposed and nonexposed subjects were found for RGDT frequency average and DDT binaural average, when including age and hearing level as covariates. Age was significantly associated with RGDT frequency average, DDT left ear score, DDT binaural average and DDT right ear advantage. Hearing levels were not significantly associated with any of the test scores. The relative risk of failing the DDT and RGDT for the study group was 1.88 (95% CI: 1.10-3.20) and 1.74 (95% CI: 1.06-2.86), respectively, as compared with the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
The results showed that tobacco growers exposed to pesticides exhibited signs of central auditory dysfunction characterised by decrements in temporal processing and binaural integration processes/abilities.
['França|Denise Maria Vaz Romano|DM|', 'Bender Moreira Lacerda|Adriana|A|', 'Lobato|Diolen|D|', 'Ribas|Angela|A|', 'Ziliotto Dias|Karin|K|', 'Leroux|Tony|T|', 'Fuente|Adrian|A|']
D000328:Adult D000367:Age Factors D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone D001304:Auditory Diseases, Central D001306:Auditory Pathways D001307:Auditory Perception D016022:Case-Control Studies D004007:Dichotic Listening Tests D000067565:Farmers D005260:Female D006309:Hearing D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D016273:Occupational Exposure D016272:Occupational Health D010575:Pesticides D012307:Risk Factors D013997:Time Factors D014026:Tobacco D055815:Young Adult
pesticides hearing binaural integration Hearing loss temporal resolution