title: [Serum cholinesterase activity as a biomarker of insecticide exposure in Moroccan farmers].
abstract: This study sought to assess chronic insecticide exposure of farmers in the Moroccan province of Settat. The biomarker we used for this exposure was serum cholinesterase activity, which decreases in response to insecticides. The study took serum samples from 325 people, with an average age of 29.8 +/- 19.6 years, 51.7% women and 48.3% men. All came from 3 villages around the city of Settat. The subjects, all of whom consented to participate, received a complete clinical examination and provided information on their medical history, occupation and insecticide exposure. Cholinesterase activity was measured by kinetic spectrophotometry. The average value for the overall population was 4059.9 +/- 658.3 U/l, 4008.6 +/- 717.5 U/L for the 168 women and 4114.9 +/- 585.7 U/L for the 157 men. This difference was not significant. Reduced cholinesterase activity was not observed in any subjects, probably because of the limited use of insecticides in this region. The use of insecticides in farming environments must nonetheless be regularly assessed and farmers must be trained in their safe use.
authors.affiliation: Unité de médecine interne, Hôpital Hassan II, BP 1325, Settat Maroc. said_elkettani@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Said
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: El Kettani
authors.forename: El Mostapha
authors.initials: el M
authors.lastname: Azzouzi
authors.forename: Ouafaâ
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Fennich
authors.forename: Aziz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El Haimouti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000383:Agriculture; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002802:Cholinesterases / Q000097:blood*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007306:Insecticides / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009018:Morocco; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D012423:Rural Health
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007306:Insecticides; D002802:Cholinesterases