Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between population characteristics and behavior related to pesticides application and current illness and plasma cholinesterase level among agricultural workers in Amphur Muang, Chonburi. 129 subjects were interviewed and blood specimens were collected to determine plasma cholinesterase levels using EQM test kit. The majority of the workers were female with the average age of 47.74 years old. Education level was mostly primary school. 82.2% did not drink alcohol and 56.6% did not smoke. Most subjects 70.5% used masks, gloves, work clothes, shoes and caps while applying pesticide. Goggles were used 1/4 of the day 41.1% of blood specimens had plasma cholinesterase below normal range. The result revealed that sex was related to the separation of work clothes and work shoes, from other clothes and shoes (P-value=0.003 and P-value=0.025 at 95% CI) smoking and plasma cholinesterase (P-value=0.017) ling diseases and plasma cholinesterase (P-vaule=0.020) The result also revealed that air temperature difference between field and laboratory environment had no effect on the precision of the test kit (P-value=0.743) In conclusion the kit can be used for field screening of organophosphate and carbamate toxicity. confidence interval) Others were not related to blood plasma cholinesterase level. There was a difference in temperature while testing in the field and in the laboratory (P-value =0.000); however, the levels of the workers, blood plasma cholinesterase were non-significantly different (95% confidence interval ; p =0.743) This study indicates that the high risk from pesticide poisoning of agricultural workers, is occurring in Amphur Muang Chonburi there is the need for primary prevention programs of organophosphate and carbamate pesticides.