Aspects of granulocyte function in workers professionally exposed to pesticides

Abstract

Granulocyte function in 92 workers from a chemical plant for the production of pesticides was tested by means of the nitro-blue tetrazolium test (spontaneous and stimulated) and the phagocytosis test. Two opposite types of change were identified, namely increased and reduced functional activity. No reliable correlation between the studied parameters and length of service was found. In comparison with the routine hematological methods, the identified functional changes in polymorphonuclear neutrophil granulocytes serve as an early indicator of an impact on the leukocytes. The applied methods are accessible and may be used as an objective means of studying the dynamics of the unfavorable effect of zineb and of identifying groups at increased toxicological risk.