The Correlation between Pesticide Exposure and Glutation Peroxidase (GPx) Levels on Onion Farmers in Karanganyar

Pesticides have been widely used in agriculture and its usage is quite prevalent. Pesticides are one of many chemical substances that may induce the formation of free radicals. This study aims to investigate the correlation between previous pesticide exposure and Glutathion Peroxidase (GPx) levels on onion farmers in Karanganyar District. It is an observational analytic study with a cross-sectional design. A sample size of this study is 53 male farmers respondents. Variables were obtained by interviews, questionnaire and blood samples. Approximately 4 ml of venous blood were taken to obtain ± 1,5 ml blood serum each for two variables, including cholinesterase variables measure with Kinetic photometric test in Labkesda Semarang and GPx variable measured with Glutathione peroxidase Elisa Kit in GAKI Lab Semarang. Data were analyzed using Rank Spearman and Mann-Whitney test with α=0,05. Mean cholinesterase level was 6404,85 U/L with reference 4620-11500 U/L whereas mean GPx level was 14,1468 ng/ml with reference 0,5-10 ng/ml. Descriptive test showed 56,6% of farmers were not fully equipped with PPE, 47,1% farmers did not take a shower after spraying and 28,3% did not change their clothes after spraying. Study results showed that there was a negative correlation between cholinesterase level and GPx level (p= 0,024, r= -0,310). There was also a mean difference between PPE usage (p= 0, 027), Showering activity (p =0,042), Clothes change (p =0,042) with cholinesterase levels. This study concluded that the correlation between PPE usage showering and clothes with cholinesterase levels, also cholinesterase levels were negative correlated with GPx levels. The authors suggested that farmers are encouraged to be fully equipped with PPE and maintaining good personal hygiene to reduce pesticide exposure.