Clinical, biochemical and neurobehavioural studies of workers engaged in the manufacture of quinalphos

• Published in: Food and chemical toxicology Vol. 38; no. 1; pp. 65 - 69
• Main Authors: Srivastava, A.K, Gupta, B.N, Bihari, V, Mathur, N, Srivastava, L.P, Pangtey, B.S, Bharti, R.S, Kumar, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 2000; New York, NY Elsevier Science
• Subjects: acetylcholinesterase; Acetylcholinesterase - blood; Adult; adverse effects; analysis; Ankle; Attention; Attention - drug effects; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - analysis; blood; blood chemistry; Chemical Industry; chemically induced; chronic exposure; drug effects; environmental exposure; enzyme activity; factory workers; Foot; hematology; higher nervous function; human studies; Humans; Insecticides; Insecticides - adverse effects; learning; Learning Disabilities; Learning Disorders - chemically induced; Male; Medical sciences; memory; Memory Disorders; Memory Disorders - chemically induced; neurobehavioural; neurophysiology; neurotoxicity; Occupational Exposure; Organothiophosphorus Compounds; Organothiophosphorus Compounds - adverse effects; pesticide; Pesticides, fertilizers and other agrochemicals toxicology; quinalphos; Reflex, Abnormal; reflexes; Sensitivity and Specificity; toxicity; Toxicology; vigilance function; DETCN=diethyl thiaryl phosphorocyanide; QP=quinalphos; neurobehavioural; 2-HQ=2-hydroxyquinoxline; OPD= O-phenylenediamine; GMHA=glyoxalic methyl hemiacetal; pesticide; quinalphos; acetylcholinesterase; OP=organophosphate; AchE-acetylcholinesterase; human studies; Human; Chemical industry; Industrial production; Nervous system diseases; Insecticide; Osteotendineous reflex; Toxicity; Pesticides; Organophosphorus compounds; Behavior; Occupational exposure; Occupational medicine
• ISSN: 0278-6915; 1873-6351
• DOI: 10.1016/S0278-6915(99)00123-4

59 workers exposed to different chemicals during the manufacture of quinalphos, an organophosphate pesticide (OP) and 17 control subjects were studied. Despite similar blood acetylcholinestarase (AChE) levels in both the exposed and control subjects, a significant number of exposed subjects had altered plantar and ankle reflexes. Higher nervous functions such as memory, learning and vigilance were also found to be affected in these subjects. These findings were attributed to chronic low dose combined exposure to different chemicals used/formed in the manufacture of quinalphos. The study raises the doubt that monitoring of AChE alone among subjects engaged in the manufacture of OP pesticides may not be an adequate safeguard as regards to their health.