Blood cholinesterase activity levels of farmers in winter and hot season of Mae Taeng District, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand

Abstract

Organophosphate and carbamate pesticides have been widely used by farmers for crop protection and pest control. Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in erythrocyte and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) in plasma is the predominant toxic effect of organophosphate and carbamate pesticides. Mae Taeng District, Chiang Mai Province, is one of the large areas of growing vegetables and fruits. Due to their regular exposure to these pesticides, the farmers are affected by this toxicity. The objective of the study was to examine the AChE and the BChE activity levels in the blood of 102 farmers for comparison of exposure in two cropping seasons, winter and hot. Blood samples were collected in December 2013 (winter) and April-June 2014 (hot). A total of 102 farmers joined the study, represented by 76 males (74.5 %) and 26 females (25.5 %). The age of most of the farmers was 53.4 ± 8.7 years. Out of 102, 21 farmers used carbamate pesticides. The results showed that the AChE and the BChE activity levels of all the farmers were 3.27 ± 0.84 Unit/mL and 2.15 ± 0.58 Unit/mL, respectively. The AChE and the BChE activity levels in males were 3.31 ± 0.88 Unit/mL and 1.97 ± 0.60 U/mL, respectively, during winter and 3.27 ± 0.82 Unit/mL and 2.15 ± 0.58 U/mL, respectively, during the hot season, and AChE and the BChE activity levels in females were 3.27 ± 0.82 U/mL and 2.44 ± 0.56 U/mL, respectively, during the hot season. The cholinesterase activity levels, both AChE and BChE, in the male farmers' blood had significant difference between the two seasons, while in the case of the female farmers, there was significant difference in the BChE activity levels, at p < 0.05. The BChE activity level was found to significantly correlate with self-spray (p < 0.05), which implies that the BChE activity decreased when they sprayed by themselves. The cholinesterase activity levels of the present study were lower than those of the other studies, which may be an indication of some chronic effect of exposure to anticholinesterase pesticides. Thus, it is recommended that the use of pesticides be decreased, together with increase in the awareness of the impact of pesticides on health; also recommended is regular monitoring of blood cholinesterase.

The Pesticide Exposure of People Living in Agricultural Community, Northern Thailand

“…It is apparent that exposure to OPs or carbamates leads to poisoning via the overstimulations of signal transduction due to accumulation of ACh at the synapse [17]. The AChE and BChE activities in every group were in a similar range which was reported in Malaysian by Chan et al [18] This study also reported higher activities of both AChE and BChE than Hongsibsong et al who reported among vegetable growers in Thailand [19]. In this study, BChE activity in the three growers' groups was lower than that in nonfarm workers.…”

“…Most recent studies in Thailand have reported exposure to a single type of pesticide in single crops grown by farmers, such as urinary DAPs levels in rice [11] and chili [12] or general farmers [13]. Despite the fact that Thai farmers use multiple pesticides in multicrop cultivation, the biomarker of pesticide exposure is lacking in one community of agricultural area where several agricultural crops are grown.…”

Oxidative Stress Indices of Organophosphates Pesticides Among Agricultural Workers at Mit-Ghamr District, Egypt

“…This agrees with a study of Mecdad et al in (Al-Salheya farms, Zagazig), which found that exposed agricultural workers recorded reduction in ChE level 1284.2 ± 245U/ml versus non-exposed group 6768.8 (±446.029) U/ml [7]. Also a lot of studies in Tunisia [17], Nigeria [9], Thiland [18] and India were in accordance with our results [19]. In contrast with this study, studies of Ogut et al [20] and Sudjaroen [21] didn't observe any statistical significant difference between both groups as regard BuChE levels.…”

Presence and Health Risks of Obsolete and Emerging Pesticides in Paddy Rice and Soil from Thailand and China

“…Soil is a major absorber of these pesticides that inadvertently, eventually enter higher trophic levels organisms by desorption, dissolution, diffusion, transpiration, and accumulation. These pesticides can act on the acetylcholinesterase enzyme that is reported to cause nerve malfunction and disruption of the reproductive system [9,10]. As biomarkers of OPPs in the human body, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) levels in blood samples from agricultural farmers at San Pa Tong and Mae Taeng district, Northern Thailand were lower than those in nonfarm workers [9,11] Besides, its mutagenicity, teratogenicity, and carcinogenicity have an adverse effect on humans.…”

“…These pesticides can act on the acetylcholinesterase enzyme that is reported to cause nerve malfunction and disruption of the reproductive system [9,10]. As biomarkers of OPPs in the human body, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) levels in blood samples from agricultural farmers at San Pa Tong and Mae Taeng district, Northern Thailand were lower than those in nonfarm workers [9,11] Besides, its mutagenicity, teratogenicity, and carcinogenicity have an adverse effect on humans. The intensive use of OPPs has been proved to pose a threat to children in rural area of Zhejiang, China [12].…”