Pesticide Residues in Man - Pesticides: Evaluation of Environmental Pollution - page 483

pesticides; and (3) Sick people who metabolize pesticide-bioaccumulated fatty tissues while
ill. The general population can be exposed to low levels of pesticides in three general ways:
(1) Vector control for public health and other nonagricultural purposes; (2) Environmental
residues; and (3) Food residues (WRI 1996).
Karalliedde et al. (2003) have reviewed the literature to identify the variables that need
to be considered following exposure to OPs in humans. These include factors related to
the OPs (physicochemical properties, solvents, and impurities), duration and routes of
exposure, and factors related to the individual(s) exposed. Individual variables include
variations in metabolic, sequestration, and excretory processes and health status (age,
gender, environmental factors, concurrent medications, and cholinergic status). Exposure
to xenobiotics through the environment, occupation, or following therapy is an unavoid-
able aspect of modern life. The assessment of ill-health following exposure is critical
to the development and compliance with guidelines and to the adoption of the best
instrumentation.
It was reported that occupational pesticide poisoning among children less than 18 years
of age is roughly 10%-20% of all poisonings (Henao et al. 1993). In the Philippines, chil-
dren accounted for nearly one in eight poisonings (Rola 1989). Similar conditions were
found in other developing countries (WRI 1996). In California, children of migrant
farm workers living near sprayed fields experienced depressed cholinesterase activity
and symptoms of acute pesticide exposure. Of the children who did field work, 40%
had abnormally low cholinesterase levels due to exposure to pesticide residues in drift
(Richter 1992). Six million children live in poverty in America's inner cities. These chil-
dren are at a high risk of exposure to pesticides that are used in urban schools, homes,
and day-care centers for control of cockroaches, rats, and other vermin. There is grow-
ing evidence that indoor pesticide exposure is of considerable magnitude in the United
States and that pesticide concentrations may be higher in urban than in rural areas. Of
particular concern is exposure of pregnant women and their fetuses to household pesti-
cides (Berkowitz et al. 2003).
Desi et al. (1998) carried out epidemiological examinations on plant protection Hungarian
workers to find early symptoms (biomarkers) of moderate contamination by pesticides.
Measurement of the changes in cholinesterase and γ-glutamyltransferase enzyme activity
did not reveal that the people were affected. Determination of chromosome abnormalities
from peripheral lymphocytes disclosed numerical aberrations at an early stage and lasted
after cessation of work for several months. There were differences in the results among dif-
ferent groups of plant protection workers, as well as among those working in open field or
in glasshouses. Women, who carried out horticultural work in glasshouses after spraying
showed some chromosome abnormalities too.
Adipose tissues of 50 Jordanian human patients (5-96 years old) were taken and analyzed
by gas chromatography equipped with electron capture detector ( 63 Ni) for the determina-
tion of storage levels of HCH isomers, DDTs and their metabolites, and cyclodiene com-
pounds. The data are reported according to age groups and sexes ( Figure 15.6 ). The results
showed relatively moderate concentrations of all studied pesticides and that Jordanian
men are more exposed to DDTs and HCHs than women (Alawi et al. 1999).
Cruz et al. (2003) measured OCP residues in human serum from an urban and two rural
populations in Portugal in an attempt to evaluate the contamination levels of Portuguese
rural and urban populations and to establish a relation with sex and age of the individu-
als. Except total HCH, the other measured OCs were found at higher concentration levels
in urban population than in rural population. Total DDT recorded was 93.5 μg/L in urban
population compared with 43.9 in rural population. Mean total DDT levels were always