Introduction. In 2005, the Sistema de Vigilancia en Salud Pública, the governmental agency responsible for monitoring public health, found that Putumayo Province has the highest incidence of poisoning by pesticides in Colombia. Objective. Exposure to organophosphorus and carbamate pesticides and carbamates was established in the agricultural population of Putumayo by determining acetylcholinesterase levels. Materials and methods. A cross-sectional survey was made in 204 occupationally exposed workers in four municipalities of Putumayo. A questionnaire was administered to collect subject information; a blood sample was taken for acetylcholinesterase determination by Michel's method. A straightforward analysis of the variables and possible associations were explored. A group of workers was enabled with SARAR (a participative educational strategy that means: S: safety, A: association, R: reaction, A: actualization and R: responsability)methodology for use and handling of pesticides. Results. The average time of exposure was nine years. Seventy-five percent declared using extremely toxic pesticides and 13percent-flag-change highly toxic. On average, they applied pesticides 7.3 hours/day. Nearly 10percent-flag-change used organochloride pesticides. Furthermore, 17.6percent-flag-change demonstrated inhibition of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase. Conclusion. A realistic scale of the pesticide use problem in humans was obtained; and the data effectively recommend an educatiional intervention for the workers and their families with SARAR methodology.
