TITLE:
Biochemical Changes Associated with Long Term Exposure to Pesticide among Farmers in the Gaza Strip
AUTHORS:
Yasser El- Nahhal
KEYWORDS:
Long Term Exposure, Toxicology of Pesticides, ALT, AST, ALP, ACHE Activities
JOURNAL NAME:
Occupational Diseases and Environmental Medicine,
Vol.4 No.3,
August
30,
2016
ABSTRACT: The study characterized the biochemical changes associated with long term exposure to pesticides.
Practical parameters of pesticides were collected using 500 questionnaires. Farmers having
10 years working period were invited to a private clinic for blood sampling and enzyme analysis.
All participants were male farmers of different age groups, and education levels. Occupational parameters
indicated that majority of farmers used manual methods for pesticide works. About 130
pesticides are currently used in Gaza. Toxicological symptoms indicated that dizziness, headache,
and nausea were dominant among farmers, whereas vomiting abdominal colic and tearing were
less dominant. Acetyl Cholinesterase (ACHE) cumulatively inhibited among farmers after work
whereas Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) and Alkaline Phosphatase
(ALP) activities were above range after long term exposure. It can be concluded that long
term exposure to pesticides may damage liver and kidney cells resulting in hepatic-toxicity and/or
nephrotoxicity.