title: Assessment of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase activities in blood plasma of agriculture workers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cholinesterase determination indicates whether the person has been under pesticide exposure is not. It is recommended that the worker's cholinesterase level should be assessed for workers at a pesticide applied region. Hence, cholinesterase activities in blood samples of agricultural workers exposed to vegetables and grape cultivation with age matched, unexposed workers, who never had any exposure to pesticides, were estimated.
  
  
  METHODS
  The detailed occupational history and lifestyle characters were obtained by questionnaire. Cholinesterase activity was determined by the method of Ellman as modified by Chambers and Chambers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AChE was ranging from 1.65 to 3.54μmoles/min/ml in exposed subjects where as it was ranged from 2.22 to 3.51μmoles/min/ml in control subjects. BChE activity was ranging from 0.16 to 5.2μmoles/min/ml among exposed subjects, where as it was ranged from 2.19 to 5.06μmoles/min/ml in control subjects. The results showed statistically significant reduction in enzyme activities (AChE 14%; BChE 56%) among exposed subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was concluded that the reduction in cholinesterase activity may lead to varieties of effects. Hence it is compulsory to use protective gadgets during pesticide spray. Further a continuous biomonitoring study is recommended to assess pesticide exposure.
authors.affiliation: Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology Division, Regional Occupational Health Centre (Southern), ICMR, Kannanmangala PO, Devenahalli TK, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dhananjayan
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ravichandran
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Anitha
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Rajmohan
keywords: Agriculture workers; blood plasma; exposure monitoring; pesticide exposure