Influence of insecticides on the activity of some enzymes contained in human serum

The object of the investigations described in this paper was to detect changes in enzyme activity in the blood of persons working with insecticides. The investigations were carried out on a group of 51 persons employed in producing chlorinated insecticides, and on a group of 43 employed in spraying plants with organophosphorus insecticides.The results of enzymatic determinations in the first group show that the activity of red blood cell acetylcholinesterase, serum aldolase and alkaline phosphatase was significantly higher in this group than in the control group. No significant differences were observed in the activity of serum aminotransferases, cholinesterase and lactate dehydrogenase isozymes.In the group handling organophosphorus insecticides, a marked decrease of acetylcholinesterase and cholinesterase activity was observed. The activity of asparate aminotransferase, aldolase and alkaline phosphatase showed significantly higher values compared with the control group. There was no important change in alanine aminotransferase activity.