Asia Pacific Environmental and Occupational Health Journal

Objective: Widely used for its effectiveness against bagworm outbreak that affect oil palm yield in plantations,acephate can also cause various acute and chronic health effects related to the nervous system. This study aims toinvestigate the changes of cholinesterase level in blood of workers following exposure to acephate, and to correlate it with the factors observed. Method: Fingerprick blood samples collected from 40 workers pre- and post-exposure were analysed with a Lovibond® cholinesterase rapid test kit. Fieldwork observation was conducted and the used personal protective equipment (PPE) were analyzed qualitatively for potential splash of acephate pre-mixed with fluorescent dyes using UV light. Findings: Surprisingly, cholinesterase inhibition of the mixers (off-site) was significantly different (p=0.0582) compared to on-site workers; injectors, drillers and pluggers (p>0.9144), with potential exposure in the sequence of mixer > injector > driller > plugger reflected by their work practices and techniques of doffing and donningused PPE. Conclusion Regardless of the task, the use of PPE should be integrated with precautionary measuresthroughout the work process, to avoid absorption of acephate through skin contact, inhalation or ingestion.

Keywords: acephate, blood, cholinesterase inhibition, organophosphates, PPE