Cardiac toxicity following short-term exposure to methomyl in spraymen and rabbits

A health surveillance study in 22 healthy spraymen showed significant T-wave changes (including inversion) in most of the limb leads and chest leads following 5 d exposure to methomyl, a carbamate pesticide. Significant changes in plasma cholinesterase and lactic dehydrogenase activities were also noticed. The ECG changes could be reproduced in rabbits and were dose dependent. This type of ECG change following exposure to a carbamate compound is reported for the first time in occupationally-exposed subjects. The study results indicate that these changes are probably directly related to methomyl rather than its toxicity through cholinesterase inhibition. The significance of these changes remain to be investigated.