Clinical laboratory role in the evaluation of the patient exposed to acetylcholinesterase-inhibiting pesticides.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Ducatman AM ; Moyer TP
• Description:
  The role of the clinical laboratory in evaluating persons to acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibiting pesticides was discussed. The mechanism of organophosphate toxicity in humans was summarized. Studies have indicated that the toxicity of organophosphates is due primarily to inhibition of AChE at nerve synapses as a result of a reaction with a serine residue at the AChE catalytic center. Erythrocyte AChE activity reflects this inhibition directly. Plasma cholinesterase (ChE) activity indirectly parallels AChE activity under most circumstances. Environmental and biological monitoring of organophosphate and carbamate exposures was discussed. Environmental monitoring based on breathing zone sample and plant and soil residue analysis was considered necessary to establish that the work environment is safe. Biological monitoring of human serum or erythrocyte AChE served as a quality control measure for primary safety procedures. Biological monitoring can be used to confirm heavy exposure, to follow the progress of recovery, or to assist in return to work decisions. Determining human AChE should not be used as the primary means of safety assurance. The limitations of biological monitoring were discussed, including problems in establishing baseline levels of enzyme activity, AChE activities not having decreased to steady state values before symptoms of organophosphate poisoning develop, and the inability of AChE monitoring to effectively detect exposure to some ChE inhibiting agents such as carbamates. Handling blood samples for AChE assays was discussed. Methods for determining erythrocyte AChE and plasma ChE were reviewed. The metabolism of organophosphates was discussed. Chronic and subclinical effects of organophosphates and carbamates were considered. Delayed neurotoxicity was described. The authors conclude that biological monitoring of AChE activity has a major role in preventing exposure to organophosphate pesticides. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Cholinesterase Inhibitors Clinical Laboratory Techniques Enzymes Insecticides Occupational Health Organophosphates Safety Staff Development
• Keywords:
  NIOSH-Grant; Training; Clinical-chemistry; Enzyme-activity; Organo-phosphorus-pesticides; Cholinesterase-inhibitors; Biological-monitoring
• Series:
  Grant Final Reports
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Final Grant Report
• Place as Subject:
  Minnesota ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  OEP - Office of Extramural Programs
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-8
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00193357
• Citation:
  Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, T15-OH-007098, 1982 Jul; :1-8
• Contact Point Address:
  Environmental Health University of Minnesota 1158 Mayo Memorial Minneapolis, Minn 55455
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1982
• Performing Organization:
  University of Minnesota of Minneapolis-St Paul
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  19770930
• Source Full Name:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• End Date:
  19940630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:7dc847c09aedf140bc731323e8446b4703641ae07d6ad9e7b7238120dab30b8f7dcaa9b938d34d035f87873a0fe7fec262d5d13dcaf290925445e82b6de3b57d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/246195/cdc_246195_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 168.02 KB ]