title: Pesticide exposure and blood endosulfan levels after first season spray amongst farm workers in the Western Cape, South Africa.
abstract: The study investigated serum endosulfan changes resulting from occupational exposure to the pesticide on farms. Eight applicators and 17 non-applicators were tested (serum endosulfan, anthropometry, short exposure questionnaire) before and after the first day of seasonal spraying. Task-based job exposure matrix (JEM) estimates were calculated. Mean baseline serum endosulfan (530 +/- 0.05 microg/L) was high. Increases in post-spraying endosulfan levels (IPSE) were higher in applicators (mean = 60 +/- 90 microg/L) than in non-applicators (mean = 3.5 x 10(- 6)+/- 90.0 microg/L) adjusting for age (beta = 54.0, p = 0.162, R(2) = 0.22). There was a weak positive relationship between IPSE and JEM estimates. IPSE occurred in applicators and non-applicators and were higher in applicators. The validity of the JEM weightings and characterization of other routes of pesticide exposure require further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Occupational and Environmental Health Research Unit, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. aqiel@cormack.uct.ac.za
authors.forename: Mohamed Aqiel
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Dalvie
authors.forename: Algernon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Africa
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Solomons
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: London
authors.forename: Derk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brouwer
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kromhout
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004726:Endosulfan / Q000097:blood*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010575:Pesticides / Q000097:blood*; D012621:Seasons; D013019:South Africa
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D010575:Pesticides; D004726:Endosulfan