Effect of pesticide exposure on the cholinesterase activity of the occupationally exposed tea garden workers of northern part of West Bengal, India

Abstract

Context: Pesticide poisoning and related deaths are a global concern, but there is little information about its effect on the occupationally exposed tea garden workers of North Bengal.

Objective: This study investigates the level of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) in the blood of the tea garden workers at risk of exposure to a mixture of pesticides.

Materials and methods: The study sample consisted of pesticide exposed workers, non-exposed (control), smokers and alcoholics. AChE and BuChE activity was measured and tested for significance.

Results: Results showed that AChE activity was half in the pesticide exposed individuals than controls (p≤ 0.001). BuChE activity was also significantly decreased in the pesticide exposed individuals than controls (p≤ 0.001), while AChE and BuChE activity in smokers and alcoholics were not different from that of controls. However, significantly decreased AChE and BuChE activities were recorded in pesticide exposed workers compared to smokers and alcoholics.

Conclusions: The results indicated that the decrease in enzyme activities in tea garden workers was due to mixed pesticides (containing organophosphates) exposure. Age was not found to influence the enzyme activities. However, the gender had little effect on the enzyme activities but the effect was not so prominent.

Keywords:

• Pesticide
• acetylcholinesterase
• butyrylcholinesterase
• biomarker
• health risk assessment

Acknowledgments

Authors are thankful to the Head, Department of Zoology for providing the Departmental Central laboratory facility which is supported by the Fund for Improvement of Science and Technology Infrastructure program (FIST), Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi, India, and the Special Assistance Program of the University Grants Commission, New Delhi. Authors are thankful to the people who had supported this research by providing their blood samples.

Geological information

The study area included tea gardens located in the Terai region of Darjeeling foothill precisely, Upper Bagdogra (26° 68′16.73′′N, 88° 25′83.11′′E) and Matigara (26° 74′00.82′′N, 88° 37′83.69′′E).

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.