Europe PMC · 2026-05-03
Flower farm workers in Ethiopia who regularly apply pesticides showed measurable liver damage and reduced levels of a key enzyme compared to people in the same region who weren't exposed. The effects were worst in workers with more than 10 years on the job.
Floriculture workers had liver enzyme levels (ALT and AST) roughly 20–37% higher than community controls, indicating liver stress from pesticide exposure.
A key nerve-function enzyme (butyrylcholinesterase) was about 24% lower in workers (5,105 vs. 6,699 U/L), reflecting inhibition commonly caused by organophosphate and carbamate pesticides.
Workers with more than 10 years of exposure showed the most severe liver abnormalities, suggesting cumulative harm that worsens the longer someone works with pesticides.