Predictive factors of acetylcholinesterase activity in rice farmers, Phitsanulok province, Northern Thailand

Abstract

Rice is an important economic crop in Thailand, but the risk of pesticide poisoning may unduly put rice farmers at risk. Assessing acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in red blood cells by assay is an effective way to screen for organophosphates and carbamate effecting biomarkers. The aim of this study was to identify predictive relationships between selected factors on AChE activity among rice farmers. The study recruited rice farmers (n=113) aged between 25 and 60 years old, who were considered to have occupational exposure to pesticides. Blood samples were tested for AChE activity and analyzed against different factors such as demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude and pesticide protective behaviors using Pearson and Eta correlation coefficient. Finally, factors that were correlated with AChE were analyzed using multiple linear regression to determine which could predict pesticide exposure. Results: The factor most closely linked to AChE activity was gender. Females had lower levels of AChE activity than males (p = 0.021). Behaviors were also significantly correlated (r = 0.237, p = 0.012) with AChE activity. The prediction equation for this study was: Y = 5,693.0+ 805.7X1 + 282.2X2. Moreover, the knowledge was found almost significant (p = 0.057) with the AChE activity. Conclusions: The predictive factors for AChE activity among rice farmers were gender and behaviors. These factors together predicted 10.2% of the change in AChE activity. These findings highlight the importance of developing effective public health strategies to predict pesticide health risk as the preventive measures for pesticide exposure. Assessments screening for AChE activity in groups at risk, particularly females, are needed. Finally, the health care staff and interested organizations should promote appropriate protective behaviors among rice farmers as there was the strong link between behavior and the inhibition of AChE activity.