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Health profile of workers
exposed to pesticides in two large-scale
formulating plants in Egypt
Mahmoud M. Amr, M. El Batanouni, A. Emara, N. Mansour,
H.H. Zayat, G.A. Atta, and A. Sanad
Kasr El-Aini Faculty of Medicine, University of Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
Large quantities of pesticides used in Egypt are manufactured or formulated
locally. Growing concern about the number of unrecorded cases of
pesticide intoxication prompted a study of 300 workers in the industry.
Cases of both acute and chronic intoxication were found with a direct
relation between the severity of signs and symptoms of chronic intoxication
and exposure. Peripheral neuritis was confirmed by elect romyography
in 25% of the exposed workers compared with 2% of the control
population; pulmonary function was impaired in 30% of the subjects.
Optic-nerve abnormalities, psychiatric disturbances, and respiratory
(including asthmatic) problems, atherosclerosis, hypertension with cardiac
asthma, and enlargement of the liver were also found among workers
exposed to pesticides in the workplace. About 90% of the exposed group
presented with abnormal liver function, and abdominal sonography
revealed a significant number of abnormalities.
Since 1945, some 1 500 compounds and more than 35 000 formulations have
come into use as pesticides. In developing countries, the adverse effects of
pesticides have become a serious public-health problem (Davis et al. 1986).
Workers engaged in pesticide manufacture and formulation are among those
at greatest risk (Levine 1986).
Epidemiological data on the effects of pesticides are limited in most parts of
the world (Hayes 1982). In developing countries, where about 99% of pesticide-related
poisonings occur (Xue 1987), few studies have been conducted
because of financial and technical constraints.
Concern about the environment and health hazards of pesticides has been
expressed in Egypt where 30 000-60 000 t of pesticides are used annually in
agriculture or for public health. Large quantities of these pesticides are
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