Ambient Pyrethroid Pesticide Exposures in Adult Life and Depression in Older Residents of California’s Central Valley

Abstract

Pyrethroid pesticide exposures may be associated with the onset of depression in later life via disruption of dopaminergic, serotonergic, and neurological functioning. We sought to investigate the association between living near agricultural pyrethroid pesticide applications and depression measures in central California, using two waves (PEG 1&2, total N = 1,654) of a case control study of Parkinson’s disease (PD). At enrollment, participants self-reported history of use of depression medications and dates of MD-diagnosed depression and anxiety. Participants also completed a Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form upon enrollment. We used the California Pesticide Use Registry to assign estimated ambient pyrethroid pesticide exposures at participant’s home addresses over the 5 years before the index date (date of outcome, or an age-matched year for participants without the outcome). We used logistic and linear regression to evaluate associations between living near any pyrethroid applications over the 5-year index period and measures of depression and anxiety. We also evaluated modification by study wave and PD status. We observed associations of pyrethroids with depression, depression medications, and anxiety (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] depression = 1.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14, 2.07; aOR depression medications = 1.68, 95% CI 1.25, 2.25; aOR anxiety = 1.60, 95% CI 1.17, 2.18). However, we observed no associations with mild/moderate depressive symptoms according to the GDS score at enrollment (aOR = 1.04, 95% CI 0.77, 1.42). We did not observe a consistent modification of the pyrethroid-depression associations by study wave and PD status. Ambient pyrethroid pesticide exposures may be associated with measures of depression in later life.

Towards quantifying atmospheric dispersion of pesticide spray drift in Yuma County Arizona

“…This is especially the case on the evaporation processes. In light of increasing association of potential health outcomes from agricultural pesticides (e.g., Furlong et al, 2020a , 2020b ; Rull et al, 2006 ; Shelton et al, 2014 ), improved capabilities to monitor pesticide abundance, including field measurements for quantifying baseline and ambient concentrations, especially with resuspension, as well as to calibrate and evaluate dispersion models, are strongly recommended, given the increase in pesticide usage, recent reports on their alarming health outcomes, and potential impact of warming in recent years on volatilization of these spray drifts.…”

“…The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are 3 million cases of pesticide poisoning each year and up to 220,000 deaths, primarily in developing countries ( Thundiyil et al, 2008 ). Studies have also shown that pesticide exposure can cause a range of neurological health effects such as memory loss, loss of coordination, reduced speed of response to stimuli, reduced visual ability, altered or uncontrollable mood and general behavior, and reduced motor skills ( Shelton et al, 2014 ; Kori et al, 2018 ; Furlong et al, 2020a , b ; Lucero and Muñoz-Quezada, 2021 ).…”

Occupational Exposure to Pesticides and the Occurrence of Mental Disorders: A Systematic Review of the Literature

“…It is important to highlight that, in general, the cited studies resort to the most diverse scales of mental disorders evaluation, referring mainly to the occurrence of depressive and/or anxiogenic disorders in individuals exposed or not to the different types of pesticides. However, these measurement tools, performed through self-report, may not be as reliable in diagnosing depression and anxiety [17,18].…”

Epigenetics in neurodegenerative disorders induced by pesticides

“…Pyrethroids with low mammalian toxicity are now commonly used for household and post-harvest insect control [88]. However, pyrethroid pesticide exposures may be also associated with disruption of neurological functioning [89][90][91][92]. Neonatal exposure to permethrin can induce a Parkinson-like disease.…”