Abstract:
A prospective study was conducted in two agricultural
Research institutes in Tanzania on.111 workers who were exposed
to various groups of pesticide compounds including cholinesterase
inhibitors from 19. 3. - 20. 4. 1977. The workers were categorized
into A, B, C, D occupational groups, and group E comprised of
54 subjects was selected as a control group.
The objectives for the study were to assess the effects of the
pesticide chemical compounds on health of the workers; and to try
how to design a methodology for assessing the degree of exposure
risk based on external influencing factors. For determination of
cholinesterase activity, usually inhibated by some anticholinesteras
pesticide compounds Spectrophotometeric and Tintometric methods
were used simultaneously, while interviews, questionnaires and
clinical examinations were the other objective and subjective
methods applied for assessing the clinical pesticide effects.
It was revealed in the study that there was significant
inhibition in cholinesterase activity among the exposed subjects
particularly in groups A and B who handled cholinesterase inhibitors
which correlates with exposure factors and the clinical manifestations observed during the investigations. A proposed model
for assessing the degree of exposure risk to anticholinesteraeee
in form of a screening test is also described.
