Cholinesterase activity depression among California agricultural pesticide applicators.
Cholinesterase activity measurements for 542 California agricultural pesticide applicators under medical supervision during the first 9 months of 1985 were analyzed. Twenty-six workers, 4.8% of the sample, had cholinesterase values at or below the California threshold values for removal from continued exposure to cholinesterase-inhibiting pesticides (60% of baseline for red blood cell cholinesterase and 50% of baseline for plasma cholinesterase activity). Eight of these 26 workers, 31.5%, had pesticide-related illnesses. Pesticides most frequently associated with cholinesterase depressions exceeding California threshold values included mevinphos (Phosdrin), oxydemeton methyl (Metasystox-R), methomyl (Lannate), and acephate (Orthene); these pesticides included organophosphates in toxicity categories I and II and one carbamate in toxicity category I.
Ames
R G
RG
Hazard Evaluation Section, California Department of Health Services, Berkeley 94704.
Brown
S K
SK
Mengle
D C
DC
Kahn
E
E
Stratton
J W
JW
Jackson
R J
RJ
D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000201:enzymology*; D002140:California; D002219:Carbamates; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002802:Cholinesterases / Q000097:blood*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D007306:Insecticides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds
D002219:Carbamates; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D007306:Insecticides; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D002802:Cholinesterases