Biochemical evaluation on rural workers exposed to pesticides

• Published in: Medicina (Buenos Aires) Vol. 70; no. 6; p. 489
• Main Authors: Simoniello, María Fernanda, Kleinsorge, Elisa C, Carballo, Marta A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Argentina 2010
• Subjects: Acetylcholinesterase - blood; Adult; Agricultural Workers' Diseases - blood; Agricultural Workers' Diseases - epidemiology; Argentina - epidemiology; Biomarkers - blood; Catalase - blood; Comet Assay - methods; Cross-Sectional Studies; DNA Damage - physiology; Female; Humans; Life Style; Lipid Peroxidation - drug effects; Lipid Peroxidation - physiology; Male; Models, Statistical; Occupational Exposure - analysis; Occupational Exposure - classification; Occupational Exposure - statistics & numerical data; Pesticides - classification; Pesticides - toxicity; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances - analysis; Argentina
• ISSN: 0025-7680

Pesticides are used in agriculture to protect crops but may represent a potential risk to farmers and the environment. The aim of this work was to evaluate horticultural workers exposed to pesticide, categorized by: direct exposure (n = 45), indirect exposure (n = 50) and controls (n = 50) using exposure and effect biomarkers: cholinesterase (ChE), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), catalase (CAT), lipid peroxidation (TBARS), Damage Index Comet Assay (IDEC) and Damage Index Repair Assay (IDER). Our results show: a) an AChE inhibition in directly and indirectly exposed population (p < 0.001), b) significant increase in the levels of TBARS in direct exposure (p < 0.001), c) the CAT reduction was significant (p < 0.01), d) a significant increase in IDEC and IDER in both exposed groups (p < 0.001). Our results evidence variations in oxidative balance and DNA damage in exposed workers. These findings represent a contribution to the sub-clinical evaluation of subjects exposed to agrochemicals in our country.