Evaluation of chronic intoxication by organophosphate insecticides among hygiene workers in the city of Fez, Morocco

Summary Context of the study The use of pesticides in the field of public health involves a risk for both humans and the environment. Objective The purpose of this study, carried out for the first time in the center of Morocco, was to evaluate chronic intoxication by organophosphate insecticides. This was done through the evaluation of cholinesterase activity as a biomarker of pesticide intoxication among a population of hygiene workers who daily handled these products, in six districts of the city of Fez. Method This study is a descriptive cross-sectional study including 30 consenting hygiene workers carried out during a period of 4 months (February-May 2015). The study included a physical examination and biotoxicological measurements: plasma and erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase activity. Erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase activity was determined by spectrophotometric method at ambient laboratory temperature (25 °C) using the kit “Test Mat - model 400”. Results Twenty-nine subjects of the studied population were of male gender with an average age of 48 ± 8 years and a body mass index of 25.67 ± 2.09 kg/m 2 ; and only one subject was of female gender aged 56, and a body mass index of 26.25 kg/m 2 . The somatic clinical examination of the participants in this study revealed neither serious clinical history nor cases of pesticide poisoning. The mode value of erythrocyte cholinesterase activity was 54, and that of plasmatic cholinesterase activity was 65. The measured cholinesterase activity is not correlated with age but it is correlated with the body mass index. Three cases showed a decrease in cholinesterase activity of the order of (35%, 36%, and 25%) compared to 30% as recommended by the World Health Organization. Conclusion These results relating to the determination of cholinesterase activity, although preliminary, should reassure the exposed persons and the authorities concerned without neglecting the systematic control of the three cases detected. The use of organophosphates in the field of public health requires regular checking, precautions, and training of the hygiene workers to avoid any serious health risk.