The Impact of Chronic Exposure to Organophosphate Pesticides on the Incidence of Primary Brain Tumors in Farmers: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Primary brain tumors have high mortality and morbidity rates. Its causes and risk factors have not been explored further. Several studies indicate that exposure to pesticides can be one of the main triggering factors. Organophosphate insecticide is one of the most common pesticides used by farmers. Chronic exposure to organophosphates is known to trigger an imbalance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the body by suppressing the acetylcholinesterase enzyme. Objective: This study aimed to determine the impact of chronic exposure to organophosphates in terms of the types of organophosphates used by farmers, frequency of usage, and duration of exposure, using a narrative review method. Methods: A literature search was conducted with multiple electronic databases, such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, and Springer. The keywords will be searched using the boolean operator method, while synonyms will be found in the Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) database. Articles were assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) Questionnaire. Results: There were 1071 articles found, but only 14 were selected for review. The studies showed that there was a relationship between the type, frequency, and duration of organophosphate usage and the incidence and risk factors for primary brain tumors. Conclusion: Chronic exposure to organophosphate pesticides, either directly or indirectly, can increase the incidence of primary brain tumors in farmers. The influencing factors include the type, frequency, and duration of pesticide exposure. The most influential factor is the duration of chronic pesticide exposure by farmers. Pesticide reduction exposure is beneficial in preventing the incidence of primary brain tumors in farmers.