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Revista de Salud Pública
versión impresa ISSN 0124-0064
Resumen
TORO-OSORIO, Bibiana M.; ROJAS-RODRIGUEZ, Ana E. y DIAZ-ZAPATA, José A.. Levels of serum cholinesterase in coffee growers from the Caldas Department, Colombia. Rev. salud pública [online]. 2017, vol.19, n.3, pp.318-324. ISSN 0124-0064. https://doi.org/10.15446/rsap.v19n3.52742.
Objective
To determine the levels of serum cholinesterase in coffee growers from the Caldas department and its association with demographic and labor factors.
Methodology
A descriptive study was carried out in a sample of 1 098 farmers from the Upper East and South Center of the Caldas department, through a survey that analyzed characteristics such as sociodemographic, labor, and clinical conditions, as well as cholinesterase levels, determined by Ellman's method.
Results
Regarding the occupational aspect, 90.8 % of farmers reported a risk of direct exposure to pesticides. 3.8 % of the analytical determinations of cholinesterase were abnormal, which was related to the fact that 75.6 % of the farmers themselves prepare the mixture of the insecticide, 22.2 % spread the insecticide over their crops more than twice a week, and 37.8 % do not wear protective clothing during the fumigation. The last fumigation was within the range of one to ten days, revealing that the shorter the time of application of the insecticide, the greater the inhibition of the enzyme. The most frequent pesticides were organophosphates (58.6 %).
Conclusions
Controlling pesticide exposure is difficult because most workers are self-employed. It is necessary to strengthen training programs and awareness campaigns regarding the effect of pesticides on health, as well as health and safety measures at the workplace. Low levels of serum cholinesterase indicate the absorption of a minimal amount of cholinesterase inhibiting insecticides.
Palabras clave : Farmers; pesticides; organophosphates compounds; carbamates; cholinesterase inhibitors; occupational exposure; occupational health; (source: MeSH, NLM).