Poisoning evidence and clinical symptoms in Tunisian agricultural workers exposed to insecticides

Methomyl was determined in blood from 8 to 150 farmers by means of an analy tical method which combines an acetylcholinesterase testing (inhibition 30% of the mean control) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry detection using a capillary column. The insecticide residue extraction fro m plasma was performed on Sep-Pak Cls cartridges. The levels of methomyl in the blood samples from the farmers were very low and should be considered as trace levels (0.024+/-0.006mg/l). Whereas 5% of the exposed farmers have developed some clinical troubles such as neurobehavioral signs and dermal irritations.