PERIPHERAL NERVE DYSFUNCTION AMONG WORKERS WITH LONG-TERM OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO ORGANOPHOSPHATE PESTICIDES.

Document Type : Study paper

Authors

1 Department of Community Medicine

2 Department of Neurology

3 Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology

4 Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine. Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was carried out to assess cholinesterase activity, study the work practices and investigate the prevalence of peripheral nerve dysfunction among workers with long-term exposure to Organophosphate pesticides (OP). The study was carried out on 36 Organophosphate sprayers with long-term exposure to Organophosphate and
20 controls unexposed to pesticides, from Dekernes, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt. All participant were submitted to general medical examination, neurological evaluation,nerve conduction study and electromyography. Plasma cholinesterase (AChE) level was estimated for both OP sprayers and the controls. Most of the OP sprayers
had practiced pesticide application with improper personal hygiene. OP sprayers had a statistically significant lower plasma AChE mean level (1548.9 ± 801.7 mU/ ml) compared to the controls (6751.7 ± 990.8 mU/ml). The study reported a higher prevalence of peripheral neuropathies among OP sprayers (38.9 %) in comparison to
the controls (5.0%) (P<0.01). However, most of the diagnosed neuropathies among the OP sprayers were subclinical neuropathies (78.6%) and possible neuropathies (21.4%).In conclusion, long-term occupational exposure to OP, was associated with subclinical and possible neuropathies, but not confirmed neuropathies .These results may reflect
an early stage of OP toxic effects on the peripheral nerves among Organophosphate sprayers due to chronic exposure.

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Egyptian Journal of Occupational Medicine
Volume 33, Issue 1
January 2009
Pages 85-102

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