Hypothyroidism and pesticide use among male private pesticide applicators in the agricultural health study

Journal or Publishing Institution: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Study: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24064777

Author(s): Goldner, W.S., Sandler, D.P., Yu, F., Shostrom, V., Hoppin, J.A., Kamel, F. and LeVan, T.D.

Article Type: Peer Reviewed Study

Record ID: 802

Abstract: OBJECTIVE. Evaluate the association between thyroid disease and use of insecticides, herbicides, and fumigants/fungicides in male applicators in the Agricultural Health Study. METHODS. We examined the association between use of 50 specific pesticides and self-reported hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and “other” thyroid disease among 22,246 male pesticide applicators. RESULTS. There was increased odds of hypothyroidism with ever use of the herbicides 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid), 2,4,5-T (2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid), 2,4,5-TP (2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy-propionic acid), alachlor, dicamba, and petroleum oil. Hypothyroidism was also associated with ever use of eight insecticides: organochlorines chlordane, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), heptachlor, lindane, and toxaphene; organophosphates diazinon and malathion; and the carbamate carbofuran. Exposure-response analysis showed increasing odds with increasing level of exposure for the herbicides alachlor and 2,4-D and the insecticides aldrin, chlordane, DDT, lindane, and parathion. CONCLUSION. There is an association between hypothyroidism and specific herbicides and insecticides in male applicators, similar to previous results for spouses.

Keywords: Herbicides, Insecticides, Hypothyroidism, Pesticides, 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid, 2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic Acid, Chlordan, Lindane, Thyroid Diseases, Health, Dicamba, Toxaphene, Heptachlor, Carbofuran, Aldrin, Diazinon, Parathion, Malathion, Carbamates, Organophosphates

Citation: Goldner, W.S., Sandler, D.P., Yu, F., Shostrom, V., Hoppin, J.A., Kamel, F. and LeVan, T.D., 2013. Hypothyroidism and pesticide use among male private pesticide applicators in the agricultural health study. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine/American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 55(10), p.1171.