Measurement of plasma cholinesterase activity in field workers

Abstract EN

Objectives : Measurement of cholinesterase (ChE) activity is considered as an important diagnostic tool in the cases of human poisoning with organophosphate (OP) and carbamate insecticides.

Patients and methods : One hundred and seventy four subjects working in different fields and exposed to OP and carbamate compounds were conducted in this work plus fifty apparently healthy volunteers, who were neither exposed to OP and carbamate insecticides nor taken any drug during the course of this study (control group).

Subjects were categorized into three groups according to the place of their work.

An electrometric method was used for the measurement of blood ChE activity.

Results: The results showed significant differences at p < 0.05 of ChE activity in the 3 groups in comparison with the control.

Also the relationship between ChE activities concerning the age of the subjects and the duration of exposure in the market group was significantly different at p < 0.05.

Conclusion : The electrometric method is simple and efficient for multiple samples and field conditions and offers a lower cost, also it is suitable for monitoring human exposure to OP and carbamate insecticides.