Cholinesterase Status of Some Ethiopian State Farm Workers Exposed to Organophosphate Pesticides

Kibruyisfa LAKEW; Yalemtsehay MEKONNEN

doi:10.1539/joh.40.83

Kibruyisfa LAKEW, Yalemtsehay MEKONNEN

Author information

Keywords: Organo phosphates, Cholinesterases, Job category, Length of employment, Poisoning symptoms

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

1998 Volume 40 Issue 1 Pages 83-90

DOI https://doi.org/10.1539/joh.40.83

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Published: 1998 Received: March 03, 1997 Available on J-STAGE: April 07, 2006 Accepted: August 20, 1997 Advance online publication: - Revised: -
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Date of correction: April 07, 2006 Reason for correction: - Correction: ABSTRACT Details: Wrong : Cholinesterase Status of Some Ethiopian State Farm Workers Exposed to Organophosphate Pesticides : Kibruyisfa LAKEW, et al. Occupational Safety and Health Division. Region 14 Labour and Social Affairs Bureau-The effects of organophosphate (OP) pesticide exposure on cholinesterase (ChE) activities were assessed in relation to occupational factors by studying 430 pest control workers from three state farms and 1 61 comparable controls. Plasma cholinesterase (PChE) and erythrocyte cholinesterase (AChE) activities were determined by an electrometric method. Plasma alkaline phosphatase (AP) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) were estimated colorimetrically by using diagnostic kits 6391 and 1442520 respectively. Information on OP poisoning symptoms and related occupational factors were collected based on the WHO recommendations. Pest control workers had significantly lower PChE and AChE activities than the controls (P<0.001). In addition, 58 (13.5%) and 47 (10.9%) of the exposed workers had PChE and AChE activities below the lower limits of the controls respectively. Normal plasma AP and GPT values without significant difference from the controls were noted. Among the exposed population, the “spray men” and those who were exposed for 5 years or less were found to be the most affected groups. Although poisoning symptoms were more frequent in the exposed workers than in the controls, only sweating was found to have an association with a significant reduction in AChE activities (P<0.05). The study revealed that the health risks are more apparent in the exposed workers and are of immediate concern. Pre-placement and periodic medical examination and creation of swareness among the exposed population are recommended to minimize the problem.
Right : Cholinesterase Status of Some Ethiopian State Farm Workers Exposed to Organophosphate Pesticides : Kibruyisfa LAKEW, et al. Occupational Safety and Health Division. Region 14 Labour and Social Affairs Bureau-The effects of organophosphate (OP) pesticide exposure on cholinesterase (ChE) activities were assessed in relation to occupational factors by studying 430 pest control workers from three state farms and 1 61 comparable controls. Plasma cholinesterase (PChE) and erythrocyte cholinesterase (AChE) activities were determined by an electrometric method. Plasma alkaline phosphatase (AP) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) were estimated colorimetrically by using diagnostic kits 6391 and 1442520 respectively. Information on OP poisoning symptoms and related occupational factors were collected based on the WHO recommendations. Pest control workers had significantly lower PChE and AChE activities than the controls (P<0.001). In addition, 58 (13.5%) and 47 (10.9%) of the exposed workers had PChE and AChE activities below the lower limits of the controls respectively. Normal plasma AP and GPT values without significant difference from the controls were noted. Among the exposed population, the “spray men” and those who were exposed for 5 years or less were found to be the most affected groups. Although poisoning symptoms were more frequent in the exposed workers than in the controls, only sweating was found to have an association with a significant reduction in AChE activities (P<0.05). The study revealed that the health risks are more apparent in the exposed workers and are of immediate concern. Pre-placement and periodic medical examination and creation of swareness among the exposed population are recommended to minimize the problem.

Date of correction: April 07, 2006 Reason for correction: - Correction: CITATION Details: Wrong : 1) Coye MJ. Lowe JA, Maddy KT. Biological monitoring of agricultural workers exposed to pesticides : I. Cholinesterase activity determinations. J Occup Med 1986; 28: 619-628.
2) Ciesielski S, Loomis DP, Mims SR, et al. Pesticide exposures, cholinesterase depression and symptoms among North Carolina migrant workers. Am J Public Hlth 1994; 84: 447-451.
3) ILO (International Labour Organization). Guide to health and hygiene in agricultural work. Geneva, Switzerland: International Labour Office, 1979: 94-157.
4) Spigel RW, Gourley DR, Holcslaw TL, et al. Organophosphate pesticide exposure in farmers and commercial applicators. Clin Toxicol Consult 1981; 3: 45-50.
5) WHO (World Health Organization). The WHO recommended classification of pesticides by hazard and guidelines to classification 1994-1995. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO. WHO/PCS/1994.2.
6) WHO (World Health Organization). Field surveys of exposure to pesticides. Standard protocol Geneva, Switzerland : WHO, VBC/1982. 1.
7) Maroni M, Jarvisalo J, Laferla F. The WHO-UNDP epidemiological study on the health effects of exposure to organophosphorus pesticides. Toxicol Lett 1986; 33: 115-123.
8) Namba T. Cholinestease inhibition by organophosphorus compounds and its clinical effects. Bull Wld Hlth Org 1971; 44: 289-307.
9) Michel HO. An electrometric method for the determination of red blood cell and plasma cholinesterase activity. J Lab Clin Med 1949; 34: 1564-1569.
10) SCE (The commitee on Enzymes of the Scandinavian Society for Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Physiology). Scand J Clin Lab Invest 1974; 33, 291.
11) Bergmeyer HU, Horder M. Rej R. IFCC method for Alanine Aminotransferase (L-Alanine: 2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase, EC 2.6.1.2). J Clin Chem Clin Biochem 1986; 24: 481-495.
12) Abiola FA, Sere A, Sawadogo JG, et al. Cholinesterase depression among Senegalese crop protection workers exposed to organophosphorus pesticides. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 1988; 41: 483-488.
13) Brown JR, Chail FC, Stopps GJ. Human blood cholinesterase activity in Holland Marsh, Ontario, 976. Bull Environm Contam Toxicol 1978; 19: 617-623.
14) Rider JA, Moeller HC, Swader J, et al. The effect of Parathion on human blood cell and plasma cholinesterase. Arch Ind Health 1978; 18: 442-445.
15) Quinones MA, Bogden JD, Louria DB, et al. Depressed cholinesterase activities among farm workers in New Jersy. Sci Total Environ 1976; 6: 155-159.
16) Knaak JB, Maddy T, Jackson T. Fredrickson AS, Peoples SA, Love R. Cholinesterase activity in blood samples collected from field workers and non field workers'' in California. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 1978; 45: 755-770.
17) Misra UK, Nag D, Bushan V, et al. Clinical and biochemical changes in chronically exposed organophosphate workers. Toxicol Lett 1985; 24: 187-193.
18) Gupta SK, Jani JP, Haiyed HN, et al. Health hazards in pesticide formulators exposed to a combination of pesticides. Ind J Med Res 1984; 79: 666-672.
19) Kummer R, Vansittert NJ. Field studies on the health effects from the applications of two organophosphorus insecticide formulations by handheld ULV to cotton. Toxicol Lett 1986; 33: 7-24.
20) Vasilic Z, Drevenkar V, Frobe Z, et al. The metabolites of organophosphorus pesticides in urine as an indicator of occupational exposure. Toxicol Environ Chem 1987; 14: 111-127.
21) Gupta RC, Dave SK, Shah MP, et al. A monitoring of study of workers handling pesticides in ware houses and godowns, J Environ Sci Hlth 1979; B14: 405-416.
22) Amr MM, Batanouni EM, Emara M, et al. Health profile of workers exposed to pesticides in two largescale formulating plants in Egypt. In: Proceedings of the symposium on the impacts of pesticide use on health in developing countries, 17-20 September 1990, Ottawa, Canada. Ottawa, Canada: International Development Research Center, 1993: 118-130.
23) Roberts DV. In: Tordoir WF, Van Heemstra-Lequin EAH, eds. Field worker exposure during pesticide application. USA Studies in Environmental Sciences, New York: Elsevier, 1980: 173-176.
24) Aguilar GC, Medina H, Chichilla J, et al. Pesticide poisoning among agricultural workers in Bolivia. In: Proceedings of the symposium on the impact of pesticide use on health in developing countries, 17-20 September 1990, Ottawa, Canada. Ottawa, Canada: International Development Research Center, 1993: 76-84.
25) WuYQ, Wang JD, Chen JS, et al. Occupational risk of decreased plasma cholinesterase among pesticide production workers in Taiwan. Am J Ind Med 1989; 16: 659-666.
26) Jeyaratnam J, Lun KC, Phoon WO. Blood chlinesterase level among agricultural workers in four Asian countries. Toxico Lett 1986; 33: 196-202.
27) Sansur RM, Kuttab S, Abu-Al-Haj S. Extent of exposure of farm workers to organophosphate pesticides in the Jordan valley. In: Proceedings of the symposium on the impact of pesticide use on health in developing countries, 17-20 September 1990, Ottawa, Canada. Ottawa, Canada; International Development Research Center, 1993: 131-140.
28) Lewalter J, Korallus U. Erythrocyte protein conjugates as a principle of biological monitoring for pesticides. Toxicol Lett 1986; 33: 153-165.
29) Loosli R. In: Tordoir WF, Van Heemstra-Lequin EAH eds., Field worker exposure during pesticide application. USA Studies in Environmental Sciences 7, New York: Elsevier, 1980: 93-98.

Right : 1) Coye MJ. Lowe JA, Maddy KT. Biological monitoring of agricultural workers exposed to pesticides : I. Cholinesterase activity determinations. J Occup Med 1986; 28: 619-628.
2) Ciesielski S, Loomis DP, Mims SR, et al. Pesticide exposures, cholinesterase depression and symptoms among North Carolina migrant workers. Am J Public Hlth 1994; 84: 447-451.
3) ILO (International Labour Organization). Guide to health and hygiene in agricultural work. Geneva, Switzerland: International Labour Office, 1979: 94-157.
4) Spigel RW, Gourley DR, Holcslaw TL, et al. Organophosphate pesticide exposure in farmers and commercial applicators. Clin Toxicol Consult 1981; 3: 45-50.
5) WHO (World Health Organization). The WHO recommended classification of pesticides by hazard and guidelines to classification 1994-1995. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO. WHO/PCS/1994.2.
6) WHO (World Health Organization). Field surveys of exposure to pesticides. Standard protocol Geneva, Switzerland : WHO, VBC/1982. 1.
7) Maroni M, Jarvisalo J, Laferla F. The WHO-UNDP epidemiological study on the health effects of exposure to organophosphorus pesticides. Toxicol Lett 1986; 33: 115-123.
8) Namba T. Cholinestease inhibition by organophosphorus compounds and its clinical effects. Bull Wld Hlth Org 1971; 44: 289-307.
9) Michel HO. An electrometric method for the determination of red blood cell and plasma cholinesterase activity. J Lab Clin Med 1949; 34: 1564-1569.
10) SCE (The commitee on Enzymes of the Scandinavian Society for Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Physiology). Scand J Clin Lab Invest 1974; 33, 291.
11) Bergmeyer HU, Horder M. Rej R. IFCC method for Alanine Aminotransferase (L-Alanine: 2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase, EC 2.6.1.2). J Clin Chem Clin Biochem 1986; 24: 481-495.
12) Abiola FA, Sere A, Sawadogo JG, et al. Cholinesterase depression among Senegalese crop protection workers exposed to organophosphorus pesticides. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 1988; 41: 483-488.
13) Brown JR, Chail FC, Stopps GJ. Human blood cholinesterase activity in Holland Marsh, Ontario, 976. Bull Environm Contam Toxicol 1978; 19: 617-623.
14) Rider JA, Moeller HC, Swader J, et al. The effect of Parathion on human blood cell and plasma cholinesterase. Arch Ind Health 1978; 18: 442-445.
15) Quinones MA, Bogden JD, Louria DB, et al. Depressed cholinesterase activities among farm workers in New Jersy. Sci Total Environ 1976; 6: 155-159.
16) Knaak JB, Maddy T, Jackson T. Fredrickson AS, Peoples SA, Love R. Cholinesterase activity in blood samples collected from field workers and non field workers' in California. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 1978; 45: 755-770.
17) Misra UK, Nag D, Bushan V, et al. Clinical and biochemical changes in chronically exposed organophosphate workers. Toxicol Lett 1985; 24: 187-193.
18) Gupta SK, Jani JP, Haiyed HN, et al. Health hazards in pesticide formulators exposed to a combination of pesticides. Ind J Med Res 1984; 79: 666-672.
19) Kummer R, Vansittert NJ. Field studies on the health effects from the applications of two organophosphorus insecticide formulations by handheld ULV to cotton. Toxicol Lett 1986; 33: 7-24.
20) Vasilic Z, Drevenkar V, Frobe Z, et al. The metabolites of organophosphorus pesticides in urine as an indicator of occupational exposure. Toxicol Environ Chem 1987; 14: 111-127.
21) Gupta RC, Dave SK, Shah MP, et al. A monitoring of study of workers handling pesticides in ware houses and godowns, J Environ Sci Hlth 1979; B14: 405-416.
22) Amr MM, Batanouni EM, Emara M, et al. Health profile of workers exposed to pesticides in two largescale formulating plants in Egypt. In: Proceedings of the symposium on the impacts of pesticide use on health in developing countries, 17-20 September 1990, Ottawa, Canada. Ottawa, Canada: International Development Research Center, 1993: 118-130.
23) Roberts DV. In: Tordoir WF, Van Heemstra-Lequin EAH, eds. Field worker exposure during pesticide application. USA Studies in Environmental Sciences, New York: Elsevier, 1980: 173-176.
24) Aguilar GC, Medina H, Chichilla J, et al. Pesticide poisoning among agricultural workers in Bolivia. In: Proceedings of the symposium on the impact of pesticide use on health in developing countries, 17-20 September 1990, Ottawa, Canada. Ottawa, Canada: International Development Research Center, 1993: 76-84.
25) WuYQ, Wang JD, Chen JS, et al. Occupational risk of decreased plasma cholinesterase among pesticide production workers in Taiwan. Am J Ind Med 1989; 16: 659-666.
26) Jeyaratnam J, Lun KC, Phoon WO. Blood chlinesterase level among agricultural workers in four Asian countries. Toxico Lett 1986; 33: 196-202.
27) Sansur RM, Kuttab S, Abu-Al-Haj S. Extent of exposure of farm workers to organophosphate pesticides in the Jordan valley. In: Proceedings of the symposium on the impact of pesticide use on health in developing countries, 17-20 September 1990, Ottawa, Canada. Ottawa, Canada; International Development Research Center, 1993: 131-140.
28) Lewalter J, Korallus U. Erythrocyte protein conjugates as a principle of biological monitoring for pesticides. Toxicol Lett 1986; 33: 153-165.
29) Loosli R. In: Tordoir WF, Van Heemstra-Lequin EAH eds., Field worker exposure during pesticide application. USA Studies in Environmental Sciences 7, New York: Elsevier, 1980: 93-98.

Date of correction: April 07, 2006 Reason for correction: - Correction: PDF FILE Details: -

Abstract

Cholinesterase Status of Some Ethiopian State Farm Workers Exposed to Organophosphate Pesticides : Kibruyisfa LAKEW, et al. Occupational Safety and Health Division. Region 14 Labour and Social Affairs Bureau-The effects of organophosphate (OP) pesticide exposure on cholinesterase (ChE) activities were assessed in relation to occupational factors by studying 430 pest control workers from three state farms and 1 61 comparable controls. Plasma cholinesterase (PChE) and erythrocyte cholinesterase (AChE) activities were determined by an electrometric method. Plasma alkaline phosphatase (AP) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) were estimated colorimetrically by using diagnostic kits 6391 and 1442520 respectively. Information on OP poisoning symptoms and related occupational factors were collected based on the WHO recommendations. Pest control workers had significantly lower PChE and AChE activities than the controls (P<0.001). In addition, 58 (13.5%) and 47 (10.9%) of the exposed workers had PChE and AChE activities below the lower limits of the controls respectively. Normal plasma AP and GPT values without significant difference from the controls were noted. Among the exposed population, the “spray men” and those who were exposed for 5 years or less were found to be the most affected groups. Although poisoning symptoms were more frequent in the exposed workers than in the controls, only sweating was found to have an association with a significant reduction in AChE activities (P<0.05). The study revealed that the health risks are more apparent in the exposed workers and are of immediate concern. Pre-placement and periodic medical examination and creation of swareness among the exposed population are recommended to minimize the problem.

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