Subject(s)
Agricultural Workers' Diseases/chemically induced , Arm , Hand , Humans , Leg , Protective Clothing , Risk , Skin Absorption , Thorax , Time FactorsABSTRACT
The red blood cell and plasma cholinesterase (ChE) levels of cotton scouts inspecting foliage for insect infestation and damage were monitored. Group means for ChE activity were significantly depressed at one or more time(s) during four of the eight growing seasons studied. Although no symptoms of organophosphate poisoning were confirmed, several scouts exhibited ChE depressions over 50% of pre-exposure levels.
Subject(s)
Agricultural Workers' Diseases/enzymology , Cholinesterases/blood , Insecticides/toxicity , Organophosphorus Compounds , Erythrocytes/enzymology , Gossypium , Humans , North CarolinaABSTRACT
Plasma and red blood cell cholinesterase levels of professional agricultural workers engaged in packing sweet corn and thinning peaches were monitored. Workers with extensive contact with mechanically harvested sweet corn (the corn had been treated one or two days before harvest with a combination of ethyl and methyl parathion) exhibited significant depression of cholinesterase. Gloves, worn by 40% of the workers, provided some protection from absorption of pesticide residues. No significant cholinesterase depression was found in workers thinning peaches which had been previously treated with parathion.
Subject(s)
Agricultural Workers' Diseases/enzymology , Insecticides , Organophosphorus Compounds , Adult , Aged , Erythrocytes/enzymology , Food-Processing Industry , Humans , Insecticides/blood , Middle Aged , Pesticide Residues/analysis , Protective Clothing , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Diets containing equal amounts of Aroclor 1242 contaminated fish meal were fed to chicks and poults from day-old to four weeks. Four levels from 0 to 10% of contaminated fish meal having 1500 p.p.m. PCB's were used, supplying 0, 38, 75 p.p.m. gained 432 g. and had 21% mortality, and 150 p.p.m. gained 338 g. and had 75% mortality. Chicks performed as follows: controls gained 504 g. and had 4% mortality, 38 p.p.m. PCB gained 481 g. and had 2% mortality, 75 P.P.M. gained 432 G. and had 21% mortality, and 150 P.P.M gained 338 G. and had 75% mortality. Chicks receiving 75 and 150 p.p.m. PCB were lighter in weight (P less than 0.05) than the 0 and 38 p.p.m. levels. The 150 p.p.m diet produced higher (P less than 0.05) mortality than the lower levels. Both 75 and 150 p.p.m. diets produced edema and other lesions attributed to PCB toxicity. Poults receiving the same treatment gained 386 g., 386 g., 389 g., and 387 g. respectively . Mortality was heavy due to a possible bacterial infection early in the brooding. No mortality was attributed to PCB toxicity. Post mortem showed no edema, pericarditis, or other lesions due to PCB toxicity. Another trial was run on poults using the 0 and 150 p.p.m. levels. The growth results were almost identical. Mortality was very low. The 0 treatment gained 616 g. and the 150 p.p.m. treatment 613 g. There were no apparent PCB toxicity symptoms or lesions in these poults.
