Health hazards in pesticide formulators exposed to a combination of pesticides
Gupta, S.K.; Jani, J.P.; Saiyed, H.N.; Kashyap, S.K.
Indian Journal of Medical Research 79: 666-672
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5340 PMID: 6511003 Document Number: 239878
Health risks from exposure to a combination of pesticides, particularly organophosphates and organochlorines, were evaluated in 96 male formulators. The formulators showed a high incidence of generalized symptoms besides those of psychological, neurological, cardiorespiratory and gastrointestinal systems. A significant depression of blood cholinesterase (ChE) activity in the formulators, as compared to 60 comparable controls was indicative of appreciable exposure to organophosphates. Depression of ChE activity in subjects with symptoms related to psychological, cardiorespiratory and gastrointestinal systems, as compared to controls revealed that psychological symptoms were the 1st to manifest and these could be effectively used for a monitoring of health effects due to these chemicals, in combination with the parameter of ChE activity depression. A mild increase in the serum residues of DDT and BHC along with normal levels of SGPT and alkaline phosphatase, though significantly higher than the controls, indicated that the formulators are exposed to these chemicals but without any marked health impairment at particular level of exposure. The need to monitor the health effects of workers exposed to various pesticides so that safety measures could be instituted was emphasized.