Resumen

MARTOS MULA, Ana J et al. Impairment of cognitive and motor functions in children from rural areas of Jujuy, and its relationship with cholinesterase inhibitor pesticides: A pilot study. Acta toxicol. argent. [online]. 2013, vol.21, n.1, pp.15-25. ISSN 1851-3743.

The aim of this research was to study the effects of these toxics on the cognitive and motor functions of a group of 42 children of a rural town with high percentage of exposure to organophosphate and carbamic pesticide (Yuto) and compare the results with a group of 29 children with low percentage of exposure to pesticides. In both cases a research of the patients history was done, a medical revision and a full checkup including neurobehavioral tests, motor and balance tests and biomarkers levels (plasma pseudocholinesterase and erythrocyte cholinesterase). The behavioral assessment was performed by a standard neurological clinic history, a digital and symbol subtest, a digital memory, a maze test, intelligence test WISC-III of Wechsler and gross motor and balance tests. In the group from Yuto, Pearson correlations were done between the years of residency and the neurobehavioral tests and the linear correlation between the years of residency and the acetylcholinesterase activities. In the maze test results there were differences between the two towns and it was proved an inverse lineal relation between the years of residency and the tests scores. It was also observed a reduction in the acetylcholinesterase activities both erythrocyte and plasma in the children from Yuto. Nevertheless there were not signifcant correlations between the levels of enzyme activities and the performance in the tests for neither of the towns. The results achieved did not point out that chronic exposure to low-dose pesticides can produce cognitive malfunctions, such as psychomotor problems. The lack of correlations between the activities of the acetylcholinesterase enzyme and the negative results of the neurobehavioral motor and balance tests couldn´t be associated.

Palabras clave : Children; Organophosphates and carbamates; Neurotoxicity; Plasmatic and erythrocyte cholinesterases.

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