Pesticide exposure and subjective symptoms of cut-flower farmers / Journal of Rural Medicine

<p>Sales of cut-flowers depend much on the outer appearance of the flowers. They are not intended to be used as foodstuffs; thus, pesticides are used more liberally for cut flower growing than for other agricultural products. Flower production is often carried out in greenhouses; therefore, pesticide exposure seems to reach not only the person spraying the pesticides, but also the non-spraying workers as well. In 2009, a special research project on pesticide poisoning, affiliated with the Japanese Association of Rural Medicine, developed a study that focused on cut-flower farmers’ exposure to pesticide, subsequent adverse symptoms experienced, and treatment modalities to relieve pesticide-related symptoms. In this group of farmers, the pesticide sprayers were almost entirely male, while the females did not do any spraying. The organophosphate metabolite level in the urine of the males was higher than that of the females. However, in the female group, a positive relation was found between average working times in the greenhouse, and urine concentration of dialkylphosphates. In 2 males of this group, the level of dimethylphosphate was detected at 1,000 times the median level. Their butyrylcholinesterase activity levels on the day of testing had declined to 64%, 72% of their average level of the proximate 4 years, respectively. Communication with these subjects regarding pesticide exposure and methods of prevention appeared to be an effective approach for reducing symptom severity. Among soil fumigants, chloropicrin and 1,3-dichloropropene were most often used. Difficulty breathing was one of the subjective symptoms associated with chloropicrin, as well as watery eyes, coughing, and runny nose. These symptoms were effectively suppressed by the preventative practice of wearing gas masks and goggles while using soil fumigants. It would be beneficial to strongly encourage use of suitable protective gear among farmers exposed to soil fumigants.</p>

Acephate-induced alterations in acetylcholine and acetyl-cholinesterase of different brain regions of albino rat.

Acephate (O,S-dimethyl acetyl phosphoramidothioate) is a racemic organophosphorus insecticide, and is effective against a wide range of insects and their larvae. The present study investigated the effect of acute sublethal dose of acephate on acetylcholine (ACh) levels and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in different regions of rat brain, viz., cerebral cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum, and medulla oblongata. The LD50 of acephate (1080mg/kg) was evaluated by probit analysis method. Albino rats were divided into 4 groups with group I serving as control, while II, III and IV groups were given single, double, and multiple doses of acephate (1/5 LD50, i.e., 216mg/kg) orally, respectively. After a pre-determined time period, the rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation, and the brain tissue was isolated in cold conditions to carry out estimations of ACh content and AChE activity. In contrast to increased AChE inhibition, ACh levels were elevated in all brain regions in a dose-dependent manner.