With a view of increase the yield of farming and foresting, the consumption of agricultural pesticides has been greatly increased. Among many pesticides, organophosphorus chemicals have been believed to be almost nontoxic because they are not accumulative in tissue or organs. However, some studies have reported quite many cases of farmers, and foresters who have been suffered from the adverse effect of organophosphorus pesticides.
This study was in this relevance attempted to examine the effects of organophosphorus pesticides upon the serum enzyme, and five most commonly used organophosphorus pesticides (EPN, DDVP, phosphamidon, malathion, diazinon) in Korea were selected for the study. For the experiment, the Sprague-Dawley rats weighing around 200 gm were divided into basic diet group (control) and pesticides administered groups of 1) EPN, 2) DDVP, 3) phosphamidon, 4) malathion, and 5) diazinon.
The basic diet composed of adequate solid neutrients was given to each rat orally 15-20 gm per day. A half and a quarter of LDso of organophosphorus pesticides were daily dosed to each rat in the experimental group one time in the former and three times (one time per day for 3days) in the latter.
The serum cholinesterase, GOT, GPT and alkaline phosphatase have been measured.
The results obtained from this experiment are summarized as follows:
1. Cholinesterase is significantly suppressed in groups of DDVP, EPN, phosphamidon, malathion and diazinon in order.
2. GOT is increased in groups of EPN, phosphamidon, malathion, DDVP and diazinon in order, especially in 24 hours group.
3. GPT is increased in groups of EPN, DDVP, diazinon, phosphamidon and malathion in order.
4. Alkaline phosphatase is increased in groups of EPN, DDVP, phosphamidon,
~
malathion and diazinon in order.
|