Citation

Beseler C, Stallones L, Hoppin JA, Alavanja MC, Blair A, Keefe T, Kamel F. J. Occup. Environ. Med. 2006; 48(10): 1005-1013.

Affiliation

Colorado Injury Control Research Center, Department of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/01.jom.0000235938.70212.dd

PMID

17033500

PMCID

PMC1626656

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.

Language: en