ERYTHROCYTE CHOLINESTERASE ACTIVITY LEVELS IN DESERT FARM-WORKERS

In this study we have examined 532 migrant farm workers engaged mainly in the cultivation of vegetable crops, in both greenhouses and openfa rms, and an equal number oi controls. Erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE) was measured to determine the degree oi toxicity due to exposure to organophosphate and carbamate pesticides in the farm wo rkers employed either as foremen (41.5%) or farmers (58.5%). The mean ages of the farm workers and controls were 35.2 +/- 7.4 (mean +/- SD) years and 34.6 +/- 7.1 years. AChE activity oi the farm workers and co ntrols was 3.89 +/- 0.64 Ul/ml (mean +/- SD) and 4.15 +/- 0.29 Ul/ml. The haemoglobin adjusted erythrocyte cholinesterase activity (HAChE) w as 29.96 +/- 4.14(mean +/- SD) for farm workers and 32.10 +/- 2.26 for controls. AChE activity was very highly significantly lower for the f oremen (3.76 +/- 0.69) compared to farmers (3.98 +/- 0.59) (Student's t-test = 4.13, p = 0.0001). HAChE was also very highly significantly l ower for foremen (29.24 +/- 4.37) compared to farmers (30.46 +/- 3.88) (Student's t-test = 3.64, p = 0.0001). The poorly controlled use of p esticides in the iaims appeared to have caused sub-clinical intoxicati on in the farm workers and indicated the need for training and impleme ntation oi hygiene practices.