Introduction: In 2005, the Sistema de Vigilancia en Salud Pública, the governmental agency responsible for monitoring public health, found that Putumayo Province has the highest incidence of poisoning by pesticides in Colombia.
Objective: Exposure to organophosphorus and carbamate pesticides and carbamates was established in the agricultural population of Putumayo by determining acetylcholinesterase levels.
Materials and methods: A cross-sectional survey was made in 204 occupationally exposed workers in four municipalities of Putumayo. A questionnaire was administered to collect subject information; a blood sample was taken for acetylcholinesterase determination by Michels method. A straightforward analysis of the variables and possible associations were explored. A group of workers was enabled with SARAR (a participative educational strategy that means: S: safety, A: association, R: reaction, A: actualization and R: responsability)methodology for use and handling of pesticides.
Results: The average time of exposure was nine years. Seventy-five percent declared using extremely toxic pesticides and 13% highly toxic. On average, they applied pesticides 7.3 hours/day. Nearly 10% used organochloride pesticides. Furthermore, 17.6% demonstrated inhibition of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase.
Conclusion: A realistic scale of the pesticide use problem in humans was obtained; and the data effectively recommend an educatiional intervention for the workers and their families with SARAR methodology.