title: Effects of occupational exposure to organophosphate pesticides on nerve and neuromuscular function.
abstract: This study aimed to investigate whether occupational exposure to organophosphate (OP) pesticides caused neurophysiological abnormalities. Thirty farmers who regularly spray OP pesticides and 30 fishermen (controls), living close by but not involved in pesticide spraying, were evaluated during and between cultivation seasons. The farmers had higher erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase levels than the controls during (P = 0.06) and between cultivation seasons (P = 0.09). During the cultivation season, there was a significant reduction in erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase activity in both groups (P < 0.01). Significant differences between the farmers and controls were found in sensory conduction velocity (P = 0.04) and motor conduction velocity (P = 0.04) between cultivation seasons. Sensory conduction velocity was reduced significantly in farmers (P < 0.01) and in controls (P = 0.04) during the cultivation season. Effects of OP poisoning were seen both in farmers and in controls, who had no history of spray activities. Evidence of sensory dysfunction after acute exposure and sensory and motor impairment after long-term low-level exposure to OP was seen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka. roshi@visual.lk
authors.forename: Roshini Janet
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Peiris-John
authors.forename: Dawala Kusuma
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Ruberu
authors.forename: Ananda Rajitha
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Wickremasinghe
authors.forename: Lidwien Ann Marie
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Smit
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: van der Hoek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced; D002802:Cholinesterases / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007306:Insecticides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D013188:Sri Lanka
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D002802:Cholinesterases