Measurement of the respiratory burst and chemotaxis in polymorphonuclear leukocytes from anti-ChE insecticides-exposed workers

Neutrophil function in 32 workers occupationally exposed to anti-ChE insecticides, as measured by chemotaxis through the leading front method and nitroblue tetrazolium dye reduction, was investigated and compared to those of age- and sex-matched controls. The cholinesterase (ChE) activity was normal in all the workers studied, although decrease of chemotaxis and of nitroblue tetrazolium reduction was observed in the exposed population. These results suggest that the identified functional changes in polymorphonuclear neutrophils might be an early indicator of anti-ChE insecticides toxicity, even in those individuals with no impairment in the ChE activity.