[Epidemiological studies of the effect of organophosphate pesticides on health].

The subject of study are agricultural workers applying organophosphorus and other pesticides in an area with intensive agriculture and a control group from the same area having no professional contact with pesticides. The studies include: personal and professional anamnesis, a battery of neurobehavioral tests, electroneuromyography, evoked potentials, neurological status, internal status, hematological tests, liver enzymes, variability of the heart rhythm. The level of the exposure is assessed by: measuring the concentration of PhO compounds in the air of the work environment and deposit on the skin. The biological monitoring is carried out by measuring the level of the cholinesterase activity in serum and erythrocytes, neuropathy target esterase in lymphocytes and alkylphosphates in urine. The tests are performed before and after the active season of spraying. The results from the studies show that at continuous exposure to low concentrations of organophosphorus compounds, applicated in agriculture, no significant health disorders occur. Specific deviations are observed after the season of spraying in the neuro-behavioural tests as increasing the number of incorrectly put dots in the Aiming test, the time of reaction and evoked potentials. The interpretation of the results is impeded because of the large number of interfering factors and considerable quantity of alcohol.