Abstract

SCHOSINSKY NEVERMANN, Karl  and  QUINTANA GUZMAN, Eugenia. Deteccion de plaguicidas en vegetales de costa rica mediante la inhibicion de colinesterasas humanas. ALAN [online]. 2004, vol.54, n.4, pp.444-448. ISSN 0004-0622.

Pesticide detection in Costarican vegetables based on the inhibition of serum and erythrocytic human cholinesterases. A simple and low cost method able to detect the presence of pesticides, organophosphates and carbamates based on the inhibition of serum and erythrocytic cholinesterases, was used in lettuce (Lactuca sativa), cilantro (Coriandum santivum) and celery (Apium graveolens) obtained from the Ferias del Agricultor from Valle Central of Costa Rica. The percentage inhibition of cholinesterases is related to the presence of plaguicide in the vegetable. Thirteen percent of the analyzed samples were positive for plaguicides using serum cholinesterase and 33% for erythrocytic cholinesterase. Washing and cooking the vegetables does not eliminate the presence of plaguicides but they lower slightly the concentration. Statistical evidence (p = 0,0001) indicates that erythrocytic cholinesterase has higher analytical sensitivity than serum cholinesterase. It is very important to establish the degree of contamination with pesticides in these agricultural products because they are exposed to direct contamination by fumigation, soil contamination and irrigation water, and are products that are often consumed without adequate cooking and washing.

Keywords : Serum cholinesterase; erythrocytic cholinesterase; organophosphates; carbamates; pesticides; vegetables,; hortalices.