title: Evaluation of oxidative stress and genotoxicity in organophosphorus insecticide formulators.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate genotoxicity and oxidative stress in workers who formulate organophosphorus (OP) pesticides. In this survey, blood leukocytes and erythrocytes of a group of 21 pesticide formulating workers and an equal number of control subjects were examined for genotoxicity and oxidative stress parameters. The mean comet tail length and mean comet length were used to measure DNA damage. Lipid peroxidation level, catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase activities in erythrocytes were analysed as biomarkers of oxidative stress. In addition, the acetylcholinesterase activity was measured as a biomarker of toxicity. The average duration of employment of workers in the factory was 97 months. Results indicated that chronic exposure (multiple-dose, greater than or equal to 6 months duration) to OP pesticides was associated with increased activities of catalase, SOD and glutathione peroxidase in erythrocytes. The level of lipid peroxidation and acetylcholinesterase activity did not show any significant differences between the two groups. The results also indicated that chronic exposure to OP pesticides was associated with increased DNA damage. It is concluded that human chronic exposure to OP pesticides may result in stimulated antioxidant enzymes and increased DNA damage in the absence of depressed acetylcholinesterase levels. Routine genotoxicity monitoring concomitant to acetylcholinesterase activity in workers occupationally exposed to OP insecticides is suggested.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Shahin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shadnia
authors.forename: Ebrahim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Azizi
authors.forename: Rohollah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hosseini
authors.forename: Samideh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khoei
authors.forename: Shamileh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fouladdel
authors.forename: Abdolkarim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pajoumand
authors.forename: Nasser
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jalali
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abdollahi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood; D020552:Comet Assay; D004247:DNA / Q000097:blood; D004249:DNA Damage; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007306:Insecticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D004247:DNA; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase