Erythrocyte cholinesterase activity levels in desert farm workers

In this study we have examined 532 migrant farm workers engagedmainly in the cultivation of vegetable crops, in both greenhousesand openfarms, and an equal number of controls. Erythrocyteacetylcholinesterase activity (AChE) was measured to determinethe degree of toxicity due to exposure to organophosphate andcarbamate pesticides in the farm workers employed either asforemen (41.5%) or farmers (58.5%). The mean ages of the farmworkers and controls were 35.2±7.4 (mean±SD) yearsand 34.6±7.1 years. AChE activity of the farm workersand controls was 3.89±0.64 Ul/ml (mean±SD) and4.15±0.29 Ul/ml. The haemoglobin adjusted erythrocytecholinesterase activity (HAChE) was 29.96±4.14(mean±SD)for farm workers and 32.10±2.26 for controls. AChE activitywas very highly significantly lower for the foremen (3.76±0.69)compared to farmers (3.98±0.59) (Student's t-test=4.13,p=0.0001). HAChE was also very highly significantly lower forforemen (29.24±4.37) compared to farmers (30.46±3.88)(Student's t-test=3.64, p=0.0001). The poorly controlled useof pesticides in the farms appeared to have caused sub-clinicalintoxication in the farm workers and indicated the need fortraining and implementation of hygiene practices.