The study, titled “Association between Organophosphate Pesticide Exposure and Suicidal Ideation in U.S. Adults: A Population-Based Study,” analyzed mental and physical health information from more than 5,000 people aged 20 years and older in the United States. The study aimed to provide key epidemiological information on the relationship between single and mixed organophosphate pesticide exposures and SI. The authors note that mixed organophosphate pesticide exposures “are more common than single exposures, but mixed exposures are considered limited…” The study used “advanced statistical methods emerging in environmental epidemiology to address multiple contaminants,” the authors continue. Complex Associations Between Mixtures and Specific Health Outcomes” to model single and mixed organophosphate pesticide exposures.
Research has shown that long-term exposure to organophosphate pesticides can lead to a decrease in certain protective substances in the brain, so older men with long-term exposure to organophosphate pesticides are more susceptible to the harmful effects of organophosphate pesticides than others. Together, these factors make older men particularly vulnerable to anxiety, depression, and cognitive problems when exposed to organophosphate pesticides, which are also known to be risk factors for suicidal ideation.
Organophosphates are a class of pesticides derived from World War II-era nerve agents. They are cholinesterase inhibitors, meaning they irreversibly bind to the active site of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which is essential for normal nerve impulse transmission, thereby inactivating the enzyme. Reduced AChE activity is associated with higher rates of depression in people at higher risk of suicide. (See the Beyond Pesticides report here.)
The results of this latest study support previous research published in the WHO Bulletin, which found that people who store organophosphate pesticides in their homes are more likely to have suicidal thoughts due to higher levels of exposure. The studies found a link between suicidal thoughts and the availability of household pesticides. In areas where households are more likely to store pesticides, rates of suicidal thoughts are higher than in the general population. WHO scientists consider pesticide poisoning to be one of the most important methods of suicide worldwide, as the increased toxicity of pesticides makes them potentially lethal substances. “Organophosphate pesticides are widely used worldwide. When overdosed, they are particularly deadly chemicals, leading to many suicides worldwide,” said Dr. Robert Stewart, a researcher for the WHO Bulletin.
Although Beyond Pesticides has been reporting on the adverse mental health effects of pesticides since its inception, research in this area remains limited. This study further highlights a serious public health concern, particularly for farmers, farm workers, and people living near farms. Farm workers, their families, and those living near farms or chemical plants are at higher risk of exposure, resulting in disproportionate consequences. (See the Beyond Pesticides: Agricultural Equity and Disproportionate Risk webpage.) Additionally, organophosphate pesticides are used in many environments, including urban areas, and their residues can be found in food and water, affecting the general population and leading to cumulative exposure to organophosphate pesticides and other pesticides.
Despite pressure from scientists and public health experts, organophosphate pesticides continue to be used in the United States. This and other studies show that farmers and people in farming communities are disproportionately at risk for mental health problems due to pesticide use, and that exposure to organophosphates can lead to a host of neurodevelopmental, reproductive, respiratory, and other health problems. The Beyond Pesticides Pesticide-Induced Diseases (PIDD) database tracks the latest research related to pesticide exposure. For more information on the many dangers of pesticides, see the Depression, Suicide, Brain and Nerve Disorders, Endocrine Disruption, and Cancer section of the PIDD page.
Buying organic food helps protect farm workers and those who eat the fruits of their labor. See Eating Consciously to learn about the risks of pesticide exposure when eating conventional fruits and vegetables, and to consider the health benefits of eating organic, even on a budget.
Post time: Nov-27-2024