Biochemical and haematological study in a group of agricultural workers exposed to pesticides

Biochemical and haematological parameters were studied in 68 agricultural workers from the district of 'El Maresme' (Barcelona), occupationally exposed to complex mixtures of pesticides. Simultaneously, 69 age- and habits-matched healthy controls, without previous indication of exposure to pesticides were analyzed. From our study, it appears that a great variety of pesticides (65) was used by the agricultural population studied. The biochemical analysis indicates that there is a weak but significant decrease in the mean value of albumin in the exposed workers, in comparison with the unexposed controls. Concerning the haematological analysis, although the leucocyte levels are similar in both groups, the exposed group shows a significant increase in the percentage of neutrophils and a reduction in the percentage of lymphocytes.