Abstract
The physiologic response of 21 male agricultural field workers exposed to foliage-borne Guthion residues was monitored during routine peach-thinning operations in a northern California orchard. Surveillance included daily venipuncture and urine collection to determine whole blood cholinesterase (CHE) activity and level of dialkylphosphate excretion for 3 baseline (nonexposed) and 5 normal work days. Foliage samples were obtained to measure dislodgeable and total Guthion residues. A decrease in group-mean CHE activity by 15% over the surveillance period was found. Apart from one worker who showed a consistent decrease in CHE activity, reaching a maximum of 30% below baseline at the end of the work week, daily changes in individual CHE activity were erratic. Group-mean dialkylphosphate excretion levels provided a semiquantitative indication of exposure to Guthion. Medical examination before and after the exposure period revealed an absence of clinical signs of organophosphate intoxication.
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Kraus, J.F., Richards, D.M., Borhani, N.O. et al. Physiological response to organophosphate residues in field workers. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 5, 471–485 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02220926
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02220926