Epidemiology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR-IITR), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India, 226001.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2013 Oct;20(10):7296-300. doi: 10.1007/s11356-013-1743-5. Epub 2013 May 1.
Pesticide spraying operation is associated with the increased risk of adverse health effects among sprayers who do not follow safe farm work practices. A study was conducted among pesticide sprayers in North India to evaluate the clinical and subclinical variations in their vital health parameters before and after the pesticide spraying season. Blood cholinesterase levels, pulmonary function test, nerve conduction velocity and self-reported symptoms were studied among 18 eligible and consenting male sprayers. Mean acetylcholinesterase activity was reduced by 55 % in the post-exposure assessment (P<0.001) as compared to pre-exposure levels. Mean forced expiratory volume in 1 s was 20 % lower in the post-exposure assessment as compared to the pre-exposure level (P<0.05). No significant change was observed in the motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity in the median nerve of sprayers before and after the spraying activity. Also, no significant variation was observed with respect to self-reported symptoms except weakness in arms and legs (P<0.05). The significant decline in lung function and acetylcholinesterase level after pesticide exposure reflects the strongly negative effect of exposure to pesticides during spraying activity. More longitudinal studies among pesticide sprayers must be undertaken to further substantiate the cause-effect relationship between pesticide exposure and its subclinical effects. There is a strong necessity to minimise the exposure through the use of personal protective equipment in pesticide sprayers.
在不遵守安全农事操作规范的情况下,施药作业会增加施药人员健康不良后果的风险。本研究在印度北部的农药施药者中进行,旨在评估其在农药施药季节前后重要健康参数的临床和亚临床变化。对 18 名合格且同意的男性施药者进行了血胆碱酯酶水平、肺功能测试、神经传导速度和自我报告症状的研究。与暴露前水平相比,暴露后评估的乙酰胆碱酯酶活性平均降低了 55%(P<0.001)。与暴露前水平相比,暴露后评估的 1 秒用力呼气容积平均降低了 20%(P<0.05)。施药前后,正中神经的运动和感觉神经传导速度无明显变化。除手臂和腿部无力(P<0.05)外,自我报告症状也无明显变化。暴露于农药后肺功能和乙酰胆碱酯酶水平显著下降,反映了施药期间接触农药的强烈负面影响。必须进行更多的农药施药者纵向研究,以进一步证实农药暴露与其亚临床效应之间的因果关系。通过在农药施药者中使用个人防护设备,尽量减少接触非常有必要。