Epidemiologic study of physiological effects in usual and volunteer citrus workers from organophosphate pesticide residues at reentry

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Abstract
Biological parameters associated with organophosphate (OP) pesticide exposure were evaluated in a study of citrus harvesters. Changes in these parameters related to environmental residues of cholinesterase (ChE) inhibiting pesticides were studied as well as whether usual and nonusual workers differed in their biochemical parameters after exposure to pesticide residues during field operations. Urine metabolite findings for usual farm workers showed that some exposure to OP pesticides had occurred. Too few workers were available during the reentry stage of the field study to evaluate the effect of this exposure on blood ChE. Baseline (nonexposure) acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and plasma cholinesterase (PChE) activities were significantly higher in usual (Mexican American) workers than in nonusual workers (student volunteers). Student volunteers in the test citrus grove showed statistically significant declines in PChE during the exposure period, yet changes in AChE activity, urine metabolites and residue levels were small. The implications of these findings were discussed in light of current reentry standards and future epidemiologic studies on reentry research.

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