Blood enzymes and lipids that might cause fluctuations with organophosphate pesticides were measured before and after spraying mecarbam with the conventional way using the nozzle on 76 farmers (37 males and 39 females) in citrat fluit area of Ehime Prefeture.
1. Serum pseudocholinesterase activity measured by the method of Voss et al. was found to be reduced significantly in the female group after spraying over 2 l mecarbam (P>0.05) and remained to be the control level in other groups after spraying.
2. The values of serum pseudocholinesterase activity measured by the method of Bellino et al. was correlated (γ=0.78) with the values by the method of Voss et al., but erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase activity measured by the method of Bellino et al. did not show any fluctuation after spraying in all the groups.
3. There was no increase in both β-glucronidase and alkaline phosphatase activity in sera.
4. Total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol levels in sera decreased significantly in males (P<0.05), but did not decrease in females after spraying.
Based on these results, we suggested that spraying of mecarbam for 4 hours with wearing protectors might not induced any danger in farmers.

In the present study, we undertook the investigation into health conditions and subjective symptomes by spraying pesticides on farmers in citrus fruit area in Ehime Prefecture.
65 males and 138 females were examined for their health conditions in August, 1981 and the prevalence rate of anemia was 6.2% in males and 37.0% in females, that of hypertension was 20.0% in males and 20.3% in females, and that of the disturbance of liver function was 17.0% in males and 2.8% in females. There was a serious problem in farmers that the subjects taken these diseases usually sprayed pesticides.
The investigation into subjective symptomes by spraying pesticides was performed for 50 males and 54 females from May to July, 1981. The frequency of spraying pesticides was about 2.5 times per sprayer in May and June, but about 5 times in July. Time of spraying was about 5 hours and dithiocarbamates was most frequently used. The tendency of combinational use with several pesticides was recognized in July than in May and June. The wearing rates of waterproof coat and trausers were high but those of dustproof mask and rubber gloves were low. The incidence rate of subjective symptomes by spraying pesticides was 10.4% in males and 17.0% in females in May, 14.3% in males and 27.8% in females in June, and increased to 42.0% in males and 63.0% in females in July. Skin lesion was the most frequent symptome, excessive sweating and general fatigue followed this. Further studies on skin hazards due to pesticides are necessary.