Resumen en inglés

In the agricultural sector there is an excessive use of pesticides, and little knowledge about the management and risks of these products, which can affect the health of people, especially agricultural sprayers by altering the operation of the acetylcholinesteras e enzyme. The objective of this study was to evaluate the knowledge and risks caused by the exposure of pesticides in agricultural sprayers of the corregimiento La Doctrina, of the municipality of Santa Cruz de Lorica in the department of Córdoba, Colombia . This through an exploratory study, in which a survey was carried out on fifty agricultural sprayers, whose questions were sociodemographic, occupational; which was applied as an instrument for collecting information. Fifteen participants were also random ly taken for medical studies to determine the activity of the acetylcholinesterase enzyme. Among the results of the survey carried out, it was found that the sprayers presented clinical symptoms related to inadequate handling of pesticides; Since only 2% u se all personal protection elements, this shows us a panorama where an apparent perception of risk due to the use of pesticides prevails. Regarding the analysis of cholinesterase levels, normal ranges of the acetylcholinesterase enzyme were found, with an average level of 146.8, which corresponds to 76.75% toxicity.