Abstract

CARO-GAMBOA, Leidy Johanna; FORERO-CASTRO, Maribel  and  DALLOS-BAEZ, Alix Eugenia. Cholinesterase inhibition as a biomarker for the surveillance of the occupationally exposed population to organophosphate pesticides. Cienc. Tecnol. Agropecuaria [online]. 2020, vol.21, n.3, e1562.  Epub Aug 31, 2020. ISSN 0122-8706.  https://doi.org/10.21930/rcta.vol21_num3_art:1562.

Cholinesterases are a group of catalytic enzymes whose activity can be diminished by different factors, including organophosphate pesticide exposure. These pesticides are reported as the most used in crop production worldwide, and therefore, those persons who are exposed through their work to these substances are at high risk of suffering adverse health effects. The aim of this review is to describe the use of the cholinesterase enzyme activity as biomarkers to monitor the health status of workers exposed to organophosphate pesticides. Scientific articles were consulted in seven online databases published between 2003 and 2019 using as descriptors: organophosphate poisoning, cholinesterase activity as a biomarker, and determination of cholinesterase in farmers. In this review, different studies that show the validity and usefulness of the use of cholinesterase activity as biomarkers to monitor populations occupationally exposed to organophosphate pesticides were referred. Occupational surveillance following the recommendations of the guidelines that prevent pesticide poisonings is more easily carried out by agricultural workers of companies compared to informal and independent farmers. Studies show that there are populations that have begun to give greater importance to monitoring the negative effects of organophosphates on the health of exposed workers using cholinesterase as biological biomarkers. Its utility improves when comparisons are made with pre-existing values and in unexposed persons.

Keywords : cholinesterase; exposition; farmers; pesticides; pesticide toxicity.

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