Organophosphorus pesticides are the most commonly used pesticides in Mal and Malihabad areas of Lucknow. The agricultural workers, sprayers, formulators and applicators are exposed to occupational hazards of pesticides directly or indirectly. The present study was aimed to determine the knowledge about using OPs, safety practice and urinary dialkylphosphate metabolites on OP (Organophosphorus pesticides) sprayers in the Malihabad areas of Lucknow. Assessment of urinary biomarkers dialkyl phosphates is a recent development in the field of pesticide toxicology and is considered non-invasive and sensitive tool for early detection of body burden of organophosphates in the exposed workers. Exposure was assessed by measuring six urinary OP metabolites by Gas chromatography using a single flame photometric detector. The sample consisted of 31 men and 2 women aged 20 to 65 years old. 75% of OP pesticide sprayers had at least one urinary DAP metabolite above the limit of detection. The geometric mean (GM) and the geometric standard deviation (GSD) of DMPand DEPwere 5.73 µg/g cr. (GSD 2.51), and 6.08 µg/g cr. (GSD 3.63), respectively. The percentage of sprayers with detectable DMP, DMDTP, and DMTP in urine was 73.72%, 3.03%, and 15.15%, respectively, while the corresponding values for DEP, DETP, and DEDTP were 49.44%, 36.36% and 15.15%, respectively. There was no significant association between the use of protection practices and the absence of urine OPs metabolites suggesting inadequate protection practices. The pesticide sprayers in Malihabad, Lucknow have significant exposure to OP pesticides, probably due to inappropriate protective practices.
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