Impact of Health Practice Towards Cholinesterase Level Among Organophosphate Pesticides Foggers in Kota Kinabalu

Abstract

The foggers of the Vector Unit in the Ministry of Health (MOH) are always at risk of being exposed to danger due to the handling of hazardous chemicals which may cause organophosphate poisoning. Study was performed to study the impact of health practice to the cholinesterase level among the foggers and to determine the association between them. Baseline and periodic blood cholinesterase test from a total of 35 foggers from vector unit of Pejabat Kesihatan Kawasan Kota Kinabalu was taken and a set of questionnaires, (KKM/BKP/OHU/08) that was adapted from the Occupational Safety & Environmental Unit, MOH was distributed to the respondents to determine their health practice. The compliance to personal protective equipment (PPE) during the mixing of pesticide and fogging activity showing higher cholinesterase percentage reduction are among foggers who did not used PPE. It shows that those who used PPE are less exposed to organophosphate (OP) pesticide compared to foggers who did not use PPE. Besides that, foggers who takes bath and change clothes after fogging are less exposed than those who do not as higher percentage of cholinesterase reduction are among those not taking their bath. In addition, fogging against the direction of the wind has higher exposure among foggers towards organophosphate compared to those not fogging against the direction as higher percentage of cholinesterase reduction are among foggers who fog against the wind direction. Hence, level of exposure towards organophosphate pesticide among foggers has strong association with the health practices.