Abstract
To investigate the incidence of pesticide poisoning using serum cholinesterase activity patterns in a horticultural farm, 616 people comprising of 496 pesticide handlers (test group) and a control group of 120 persons participated in the study. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain demographic information, while the activities of serum cholinesterase, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin were estimated using standard commercial kits and absorbance measured using kinetic colorimetric tests. All the pesticide handlers (100%) were males, with majority (80.3%) aged 20 to 35 years old. Of the test population, 6% had significant cholinesterase enzyme depressions with no symptoms of exposure recorded. Significant difference (p 0.05) between the test and control groups based on years of handling pesticides. Use of pesticides in successive spray seasons significantly inhibited cholinesterase activity among the spray team, supervisors and harvesters (p<0.05). Higher cholinesterase activity was observed in the 31 to 40 age group with significant changes in cholinesterase activity (p<0.05) observed among those aged below 40 years. The study indicates that cholinesterase activity can be used effectively as an indicator of exposure to pesticides. Key words: Cholinesterase activity, pesticide handlers, Naivasha, monitoring program.
Highlights
The horticultural sub sector in Kenya is the fastest growing industry within the agricultural sector, and is generally regarded as a success story
To investigate the incidence of pesticide poisoning using serum cholinesterase activity patterns in a horticultural farm, 616 people comprising of 496 pesticide handlers and a control group of 120 persons participated in the study
For the assessment of the effects of pesticide exposure, cholinesterase activity was determined in serum samples taken after a mandatory one month rest from handling of pesticides and comparisons made on pre-spray and post – spray season
Summary
The horticultural sub sector in Kenya is the fastest growing industry within the agricultural sector, and is generally regarded as a success story. It has undergone dramatic growth over the years with several players getting involved in export and sale to local markets. Kenya has one of the most successful cut flower industries in Africa and the largest proportion of flower exports is supplied to Europe. It has surpassed Colombia and Israel as the largest supplier to the European Union, accounting for 58% of all. Previous studies have found pesticides as a major health and environmental problem in Kenya (Mbakaya et al, 1994; Ohayo-Mitoko et al, 1999; Ohayo-Mitoko et al, 2000), the impact of pesticide exposure on cholinesterase activity as a monitoring biomarker under controlled conditions has not been investigated and was the centrepiece of this study among pesticide handlers in a horticultural farm in Kenya
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