Effect of Pesticide Exposure on Acetylcholinesterase Activity in Subsistence Farmers from Campeche, Mexico.

The article presents a study on the effect of pesticide exposure on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in subsistence farmers from Campeche, Mexico. Self-reports of symptoms of poisoning resulting from occupational pesticide exposure were elicited by questionnaire and AChE activity during insecticide use was evaluated from blood samples. In individuals from 2 of the 4 communities, AChE activity was significantly lower than the mean of activity determined for individuals in a reference group. Results of this study show that erythrocyte AChE inhibition provides a good biomarker of exposure to organophosphate pesticides in field studies with human populations. For carbamate exposure, this biomarker needs to be used with care because AChE can be reactivated in a shorter period of time. Specifically, the regression analysis results indicated that carbofuran was the dependent variable most related to moderate AChE inhibition. AChE inhibition can provide a sensitive biomarker for use in monitoring both short- and long-term health risks in farm workers exposed to anticholinesterase pesticides.