[ID 44274]ALTERAÇÕES AUDITIVAS DE AGRICULTORES EXPOSTOS A AGROTÓXICOS ATENDIDOS EM UM CENTRO ESPECIALIZADO EM REABILITAÇÃO

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between pesticide exposure and changes in the auditory system of rural workers treated at a specialized hearing rehabilitation center (CER) in Santa Rosa, RS, Brazil. Material and Methods: This is a cross-sectional population-based study whose sample consisted of 70 workers, of both genders, with current or previous work in the agricultural sector, who had used pesticides. The data was collected from the patients’ medical records and through a questionnaire. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using descriptive techniques, Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, and the Mann Whitney test, using R software v. 2.15.3. Results: There were no significant relations between age, duration of exposure, or use of personal protective equipment with the degree of hearing loss in both ears (p-value>0.01). Conclusion: This study shows that workers did not frequently use organophosphate pesticides, whose ototoxic potential has been proven in several studies. In addition, age was the factor that most impacted the results, since nearly all of the sample subjects were elderly and may present auditory changes due to aging. DESCRIPTORES: Auditory System. Rural Workers. Pesticides.