title: Longitudinal Assessment of Blood Cholinesterase Activities Over 2 Consecutive Years Among Latino Nonfarmworkers and Pesticide-Exposed Farmworkers in North Carolina.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study (1) describes patterns of whole blood total cholinesterase, acetylcholinesterase, and butyrylcholinesterase activities across the agricultural season, comparing farmworkers and nonfarmworkers; and (2) explores differences between farmworkers' and non-farmworkers' likelihood of cholinesterase depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples from 210 Latino male farmworkers and 163 Latino workers with no occupational pesticide exposure collected 8 times across 2 agricultural seasons were analyzed. Mean cholinesterase activity levels and depressions 15% or more were compared by month.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Farmworkers had significantly lower total cholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase activities in July and August and lower acetylcholinesterase activity in August. Farmworkers had significantly greater likelihood of cholinesterase depression for each cholinesterase measure across the agricultural season.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A repeated-measures design across 2 years with a nonexposed control group demonstrated anticholinesterase effects in farmworkers. Current regulations designed to prevent pesticide exposure are not effective.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Epidemiology and Prevention (Dr Quandt), Department of Biostatistical Sciences (Dr Chen), and Department of Family and Community Medicine (Mr Summers and Dr Arcury), Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC; and Department of Physiological Sciences (Dr Pope), Center for Veterinary Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater.
authors.forename: Sara A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Quandt
authors.forename: Carey N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Pope
authors.forename: Haiying
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Phillip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Summers
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Arcury
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000208:ethnology; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase / Q000097:blood; D002219:Carbamates / Q000633:toxicity*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002802:Cholinesterases / Q000097:blood*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009657:North Carolina; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D010575:Pesticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D012016:Reference Values; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D002219:Carbamates; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D010575:Pesticides; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase; D002802:Cholinesterases