Plasma cholinesterase level of Ethiopian farm workers exposed to chemical pesticide

Background Pesticide applications can have unwanted health consequences. Aim To study cholinesterase levels in farm workers with varying exposure to chemical pesticide. Methods Plasma cholinesterase (PChE) was measured in workers at two Ethiopian farms. A standard questionnaire adopted from the British Medical Research Council was used to determine the health status of the subjects. Results A total of 82 farm workers and 47 controls participated in the study. While the mean values of plasma cholinesterase were generally lower in those exposed, this difference was only significant in the sprayers at Birr farm (P < 0.05). In this group, four sprayers had cholinesterase activity lower than 50%. Conclusion The sprayers in both farms were the most affected groups, suggesting that improved controls on workplace exposure to pesticide is required in these groups of workers.