humans, they are responsible for acute poisonings as well as for long term health effects, including cancer and adverse effects on reproduction. Therefore, it is very essential to balance needs with environment and health issues, when using insecticide and pesticide. The vast majority of insecticides targeted at insects, arthropods and nematodes are neurotoxic. They are capable of exerting a broad range of effects that ultimately results in mortality. At the whole organism level the insecticide effect may be either neuroexcitatory leading to hyperactivity, tremors and rigid paralysis or neuroinhibitory causing immobility and flaccid paralysis. 2 Organophosphates and Carbamates are, nowadays, widely used as insecticides and have been considered as potential chemical warfare agents. As an insecticide they are used widely for agriculture, vector control and domestic purpose. 3 Household and agricultural products containing Organophosphorous (OP) pesticides are widely prevalent eg. insecticidal preparations and fertilizers for gardens, surface and room sprays, baits for cockroaches and other insects, shampoos against lice, pet preparations etc. In
INTRODUCTIONAn insecticide is a pesticide used against insects in all developmental forms. They may be natural or synthetic chemicals and may act either as ovicide, larvicide or a contact insecticide. The age of chemical insecticides began about 2000 years ago, with the use of natural products like pyrethrum and tobacco. Synthetic insecticides were introduced in 1940 with chemicals like Dichlorophenyl Trichloroethane (DDT). 1 In the present times insecticides are widely used in agriculture, medicine, industry and household. In fact, the boon of agricultural productivity of the present time is partly due to the availability of potent and effective insecticides. But, nearly all insecticides have potential to significantly alter ecosystem; many are toxic to humans and others are concentrated in the food chain. In
Cholinesterase Activity in Health WorkersInvolved
a B S t r a c tBackground: recent era of agricultural boon is partially the result of extensive use of insecticides and pesticides. But these compounds also have potential to significantly alter the ecosystem and can cause acute poisonings as well as long term detrimental health effects in humans. these compounds can cause toxicity through all routes of exposure. they exert their effect mainly by the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (ache), which functions by removing acetylcholine (ach) from its postsynaptic receptors. Aims and Objectives: Human exposure to organophosphorous (oP) pesticides can develop lowered cholinesterase levels. the aim of the present study was to estimate the plasma levels of ache in personnel involved in handling of these compounds, during the period of active spraying operations. Methodology: the present study was conducted on 38 subjects working as Multipurpose Health Workers (MPHW groUP-1) and Field Workers (FW groUP-2) involved in the actual spraying of the insecticides, in District roht...