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5359705 
Journal Article 
Blood cholinesterases, serum parathion concentrations and urine p-nitrophenol concentrations in exposed individuals 
Roan, CC; Morgan, DP; Cook, N; Paschal, EH 
1969 
Yes 
Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
ISSN: 0007-4861
EISSN: 1432-0800 
4 
6 
362-369 
English 
24185629 
HAPAB During an intensive cholinesterase surveillance program ( 1968 ) involving aerial applicators ( pilots, loaders and flaggers ), several individuals with acceptable erythrocyte and / or plasma cholinesterase levels had methyl and ethyl parathion concentrations in their blood which seemed inconsistent with the observed values of cholinesterases. A further study is reported here. The Michel method was used to determine plasma and erythrocyte cholinesterase and the colorimetric method of Elliot, et al., was employed to determine p-nitrophenol concentrations in the urine. Residues ( 1966 ) and were analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography ( GLC ) techniques using an electron-capture detector for initial detection and quantification. The GLC analytical results were confirmed by repeat analyses using a flame photomertic detector, first operating in the phosphorus and then in the sulfur mode. Tabulated data show that no meaningful correlation exists between serum parathions and cholinesterase levels or between cholinesterase levels and urinary p-nitrophenol excretion and that the erythrocyte and / or plasma cholinesterase values are not as sensitive as indices of ethyl or methyl parathion absorption as are the concentration of these compounds in serum. GLC analysis of serum samples gave better analytical results than urine p-nitrophenol measurements. An extreme variation in cholinesterase activity was seen in the individuals studies. Comparison of these experimental results with pervious findings suggest that there are extreme variations in individual susceptibility to the action of organic phosphates and this compromises the usefulness of cholinesterase determinations as absorption indices for evaluation of safe work practices. No oxygen analogs were detected in the cases studied. The described extraction procedures were felt to be inadequate for the isolation of oxygen analogs or other more polar organophosphorus compounds presently in common use. MONITORING AND RESIDUES 70/08/00, 317 1969