Occupational risk for wor kers exposed to temephos on Distrito Federal Dengue`s Vector Control Program

Objective. To know the epidemiologic, clinic and laboratorial aspects of occupational exposure to the organophosphorus insecticide temephos. Method. This is a descriptive, retrospective and cross-sectional study. Data were obtained from outpatient service records of the Distrito Federal dengue's vector control program with suspect of organophosphate temephos poison. Poison diagnosis by temephos was made using acetilcolinesterase activity in the hematias and clinical manifestations. The Fisher test was used for statistical analysis. P less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results. The age average of workers was 42 years-old, being 61.1% men, 48.1% were licensed, with prevailing of 1 or 2 years of occupational license. The majority of expositions were through skin and aerial way. Only 29.6% of workers presented some kind of symptoms and signs. Central nervous system changes were prevalent on 45%, as cephalalgia, dizzyness, amnesia. The individual protection equipment used in adhesion was bigger between men (56.1%) than between women (14.3%). Conclusion. The use of temephos to control the dengue vector is associated with the poisoning of workers involved in the service. It is possible that the low use of protective equipment can contribute to it.