Strengthening Preventive Culture: Biomedical evaluation of occupational exposure to pesticides using serum cholinesterase

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the serum cholinesterase activity in a population that is occupationally exposed to pesticides during the years 2022 - 2023. Materials and Methods: A descriptive, field, non-experimental, quantitative research was conducted during the years 2022-2023. The population consisted of 144 workers exposed to carbamate and/or organophosphate pesticides, and the sample was of the census type, representing 100% of the population. The cholinesterase activity was determined using the Randa and Limperos method, with modifications by Epson. The analysis was conducted using Lovibond field equipment. A spreadsheet in Excel 2013 software was used for data processing. Results: There was evidence of a predominance of male labor force (95.1%), with workers over 40 years of age (62.5%) and blue-collar workers (80.6%); in terms of exposure time, workers have long exposure to insecticides. Similarly, the average decrease in cholinesterase levels exceeded 7% among the study's population, with older workers experiencing the most significant declines in enzyme activity. Conclusions: exposure to pesticides represents an occupational health problem, since it was found that the average decreases in cholinesterase occupy an important place in the population studied, reflecting potential events that could have a negative impact on the health of these workers. This makes it necessary to consolidate and strengthen the bases where the preventive culture is sustained.