Question

A case-control study was designed to test whether persons exposed to certain types of pesticides during early childhood were more likely to develop neurological problems in later adulthood. The results were statistically significant. The cases consisted of those with severe but treatable neurological disorders, and the controls consisted of those without any diagnosed neurological disorders. Both cases and controls were asked detailed questions about their pesticide exposures during early childhood. What was the purpose of this study?

1) To determine the prevalence of neurological disorders in the general population
2) To investigate the relationship between pesticide exposure and neurological problems in later adulthood
3) To compare the effectiveness of different treatments for neurological disorders
4) To identify the specific types of pesticides that are most harmful to neurological health

Answer 1

The case-control study aimed to explore the connection between early childhood exposure to pesticides and the occurrence of neurological disorders in later adulthood, revealing significant associations. Option 2 is correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

The purpose of the case-control study described was to investigate the relationship between pesticide exposure during early childhood and neurological problems in later adulthood. This type of study is retrospective and compares two groups: cases (individuals with the trait of interest) and controls (individuals without the trait).

In the context given, severe but treatable neurological disorders were present in the cases, and answers regarding pesticide exposure were sought to find a correlation with the health problems.

The significant findings of the study indicate a link between pesticide exposure and neurological issues in adulthood, highlighting the need for more stringent regulations regarding the use of highly toxic pesticides, especially in developing countries where they are used extensively and safety measures are often neglected.