EFECTOS NEUROPSIQUIÁTRICOS DE LA EXPOSICIÓN CRÓNICA A ORGANOFOSFORADOS EN TRABAJADORES DE CONTROL VECTORIAL

Abstract

Organophosphate pesticides due to their low costs and their free sale have become a problem for public health in Ecuador. The Center for Information and Toxicological Advice of the Ministry of Public Health in 2017 reflected an increase in cases of organophosphate poisoning in Guayaquil. In addition to classic acute symptoms such as headaches and fasciculation, chronic exposure leads to psychiatric distress such as anxiety and depression. Through inclusion criteria, a non-probabilistic convenience sample was obtain of 42 workers from Area de Control Vectorial, Ximena 2. The Brief Symptoms Inventory (BSI-18) questionnaire was use for neuropsychiatric assessment through its Global Severity Index and plasmatic cholinesterase measurements as an exposure marker. The BSI -18 presented a Cronbach's α = 0.79, with a mean of 20.57 ± 14.361 for the Global Severity Index. An inversely proportional relationship was obtain between plasmatic acetylcholinesterase values and the Global Severity Index (Spearman's Rho = -0.684, p = 5.9713E-7). The correlation between the neuropsychiatric effects of chronic organophosphate exposure was identified in workers during vector control.