NEUROMUSCULAR ALTERATIONS IN WORKERS EXPOSED TO

ORGANOPHOSPHATES IN FLOWER CROPS IN TOCA - BOYACA

PRELIMINARY DRAFT SUBMITTED TO THE RESEARCH

COMMITTEE OF THE FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES
CAROL MORALES SUÁREZ
RUBY ALBA MARQUEZ SALCEDO
CRISTINA MILLÁN REYES
GERMÁN ARIAS HOLGUÍN
ANDREA WILCHES TORRES

RESEARCH GROUP IN BASIC SCIENCES- NÚCLEO

 Problem

Worldwide there are approximately

one million poisoning cases with
insecticides, from which 200,000
are fatal.
Geiger F, Bengtsson J, Berendse F, Emmerson M, et al. Persistent negative effects of pesticides on biodiversity and biological
control potential on European farmland Environmental Pollution by Pesticides. Basic and Applied Ecology [Internet]. 2010.
[Citado el 24 de marzo de 2017]; 11: pp. 97-105. Disponible desde: http://ac.els-cdn.com/S1439179109001388/1-s2.0-
S1439179109001388-main.pdf?_tid=159555f2-31b1-11e7-a5b2-
00000aab0f6c&acdnat=1494002410_fd9ad82c1736627c3e5e73d1b72bd357

Dawson A, Eddleston M, Senarathna L, Mohamed F, Gawarammana I, Bowe S, Manuweera

G, Buckley N. Acute Human Lethal Toxicity of Agricultural Pesticides: A Prospective Cohort
Study. Plos Medicine [Internet]. 2010, octubre. [Citado el 24 de marzo de 2017]; (10).
Disponible desde:
http://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1000357
 Problem
“Floriculture, with more than 35 cultivated hectares, helps to
reduce unemployment in more than 10 municipalities,
namely: Cerinza, Rondon, Ventaquemada, Duitama and Toca,
the latter, with the highest production and exports to North
America and 89 more countries"

Gobernación de Boyacá, [Internet]. Tunja, Colombia: Gobernación de Boyacá [Citado el 24 de marzo de 2017]. Disponible desde:
http://www.boyaca.gov.co/prensa-publicaciones/fotonoticias/15478-boyacá-florece-en-san-valentín

What are the neuromuscular alterations in

workers exposed to organophosphates in flower
crops in Toca-Boyacá?
Objectives

General
To evaluate the adverse effects of organophosphates used by flower growers
in Toca Boyacá.

Specifics
• To determine organophosphate levels and approximate exposure time that
can cause a cholinergic effect.

• To identify the neuromuscular alterations caused by the use

oforganophosphates in the population of flower crops in Toca-Boyaca.
 Justification
88.88% of the elements supplied are good
quality and they offer an adequate
protection of the workers during the
development of their work activities.

González J. Seguridad social y salud ocupacional en las empresas productoras de flores del departamento de Boyacá. Revista
Colombiana de Ciencias Hortícolas [Internet]. 2013, junio. [citado el 24 de marzo de 2017]; 7(1): pp. 75-88. Disponible desde:
http://revistas.uptc.edu.co/index.php/ciencias_horticolas/article/view/2037/2032

Exposure to organophosphates can cause an intoxication that generates a charactheristic

clinical syndrome, with secondary cholinergic symptoms to the stimulation of acetylcholine
receptors.
 Theoretical framework
BIOCHEMICAL EFFECT

Neurotoxic Esterase

J. A. Timbrell. Taylor & Francis LTD. Principles of Biochemical Toxicology. London 2011
J. A. Timbrell. Taylor & Francis LTD. Principles of Biochemical Toxicology. London 2011
 Metodology
Line of research: Biochemistry

Type of research: Descriptive

 Phase 1:

To identify organophosphates used in the cultivation of flowers of the town in

Toca, with an evaluation and characterization according to the toxicological
category. In Colombia, the Ministry of Social Protection with decreto 1843 de
1991, regulated all issues related to these compounds including the degree of
toxicity.
 Phase 2:

To evaluate the characteristics of the population and to identify the exposed

workers by classifying them according to parameters such as: gender, age and
time of exposure to organophosphates.

 Phase 3:

To perform an electromyographic evaluation of workers exposed to

organophosphates in the selected flower crops in Toca Boyaca.

 Phase 4:

To analyze the results.

 MEASUREMENT
VARIABLE CATEGORY
SCALE
Age Razón Años

Hombre
Gender Nominal
Mujer

Exposure time to organophosphate Intervalo Días

Muscarínica
Cholinergic alteration Razón
Nicotínica
Source: The authors
 Expected results

Expected result Indicator

Neuromuscular alteration produced by the Results report
organophosphates used.
 Budget
HEADING JUSTIFICATION UNIVERSIDAD DE BOYACÁ TOTAL
Valor por Hora: 25000
Docentes:
Germán Arias: 3 horas= 75000
Researcher 6 researchers Andrea Wilches: 3 horas= 75000 $40’800.000
Carol Morales: 4 horas= 100000
Ruby Márquez 4 horas= 100000
Cristina Millán: 3 horas= 75000

Trips Trip to Toca Boyacá $2´000.000 $2´000.000

Operating cost 20 days use of laboratory of Phisiology $1´800.000

$60.000 per day
$3´000.000
Publications In any journal $3’000.000

Requirements for the development of theoretical

Bibliography frameworks and laboratory tests. (Books, journals and $200.000 $200.000
Internet).

Dissemination Participation in events to disseminate results (National

$3’000.000 $3’000.000
session and International)

TOTAL $41’800.000
 Timeline
TIME MONTH/YEAR Month
2018
PHASE

1/Month 2 Month 3 Month 4 Month 5 Month 6 Month 7 Month 8 Month 9 Month 10 Month 11 Month 12

WEEKS
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
ACTIVITIES

Preparation of the
research proposal

Preparation of the
preliminary research
PROJECT PLANNING
project
Analysis and corrections
of the preliminary draft

Delivery and approval

Bioethics Committee

Identification of the
organophosphate used

Characterization of the
population under study
ANALYTICAL PHASE
Electromyography
evaluation

Analysis of results

Consolidation of project
report
PREPARATION OF
FINAL REPORT
Preparation of Final
Report
Cronograma

TIME MONTH/YEAR 2018

FASES

Month 13 Month 14 Month 15 Month 16 Month 17 Month 18

WEEKS
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

ACTIVITIES

Adjustments to the final

report according to the
suggestions made
ELABORATION OF FINAL REPORT

Construction of article and

participation in events
(National and International)
 Bibliography

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toxicológica, 7-10.
• Dominguez, L. (2013). Caracterización epidemiológica de las intoxicaciones por plaguicidad en Colombia. IQEN.
• Fernández, D., & Mancipe, L. (2010). Intoxicación por organofosforados. Revista Médica, 84-92.
• Geiger, F., & Bengtsson, J. (2010). Persistent negative effects of pesticides on biodiversity and biological control potential
on European farmland Environmental Pollution by pesticides. Basic and Applied Ecology, 97-105.
• Idrovo, A. (2008). Vigilancia de las intoxicaciones con Plaguicidas en Colombia. Revista de Salud Pública, 36-46.
• Muñoz, M., & Lucero, B. (2016). Plaguicidad organofosforados y efecto neuropsicológico y motor en la Región de Maule.
Revista Sanitaria, 227-231.
• Murcia, O. (2008). Determinación de plaguicidas organofosforados en vegetales. AgroSur.
• Restrepo, M. (1978). Los plaguicidas organofosforados, revisión de sus aspectos médicos. Acta médica Colombiana.
• Sánchez, Y., & Reyes, R. (2010). Comportamiento clínico epidemiológico de la intoxicación por organofosforados.
Revista de Ciencias Médicas Pinar del Río.
• Yucra, S., & Gasco, M. (2008). Exposición ocupacional a plomo y pesticidas organofosforados. Revista Peru Médica.
• Zamora, A., & Santofimio, D. (2010). Hospital Universitario de Neiva Colombia, entre 2005 y 2010.