Determination of AChE levels and genotoxic effects in farmers occupationally exposed to pesticides

• Published in: Human & experimental toxicology Vol. 26; no. 9; pp. 723 - 731
• Main Authors: Naravaneni, Rambabu, Jamil, Kaiser
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.09.2007; Arnold; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Acetylcholinesterase - blood; Adult; Agricultural Workers' Diseases - blood; Agricultural Workers' Diseases - chemically induced; Agricultural Workers' Diseases - enzymology; Agricultural Workers' Diseases - genetics; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - blood; Case-Control Studies; Chromosome Aberrations - chemically induced; Colorimetry; Comet Assay; DNA Damage; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Down-Regulation; Enzymes; Farmers; Genetics; Human exposure; Humans; India; Lymphocytes - drug effects; Lymphocytes - pathology; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Mutagens - toxicity; Occupational Exposure; Pesticides; Pesticides - toxicity; Pesticides, fertilizers and other agrochemicals toxicology; Risk Assessment; Seasons; Time Factors; Toxicity; Toxicology; India; genotoxicity; acetyl cholinesterase; comet assay; biomarkers; DNA damage; pesticide exposure; chromosomal aberrations; farmers; Chromosomal aberration; Human; Enzyme; Toxicity; Genotoxicity; Pesticides; Biological marker; Esterases; Acetylcholinesterase; Occupational exposure; Comet assay; Carboxylic ester hydrolases; Enzymatic activity; DNA; Hydrolases; Lesion; Farmer; Occupational medicine
• ISSN: 0960-3271; 1477-0903
• DOI: 10.1177/0960327107083450

Pesticides can cause cytogenetic effects and lower the acetyl cholinesterase (AChE) levels in farmers exposed to pesticides. In this study, 210 farmers exposed to pesticides and 160 non-exposed individuals were enrolled for determining the genotoxicity and AChE levels. The AChE levels were determined in plasma and RBC lysate from blood samples collected from farmers and control subjects. AChE (true and pseudo) estimation done by the colorimetric method revealed that there was a progressive fall in both the RBC and plasma AChE levels in exposed individuals compared to unexposed individuals, which correlated with the severity of exposure (253.5 versus 311.1 and 142.3 versus 152.1; P < 0.001). Cytogenetic studies showed an increase in DNA damage and higher chromosomal aberrations (CAs) in exposed farmers compared to the control subjects (26.13 versus 07.61 and 21.37 versus 1.52; P < 0.001). When comparing the AChE levels with DNA damage and structural CA frequencies, there was a negative linear correlation. Therefore based on these findings, it is concluded that genotoxic biomarkers like CA frequencies, DNA damage data along with AChE levels are important parameters for determining farmer's health who are exposed to pesticides in any situation. Human & Experimental Toxicology (2007) 26, 723—731