title: [Biochemical evaluation on rural workers exposed to pesticides].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Toxicología, Farmacología y Bioquímica Legal, FBCB, UNL, Ciudad Universitaria, Santa Fe, Argentina. fersimoniello@yahoo.com.ar
authors.forename: María Fernanda
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Simoniello
authors.forename: Elisa C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Kleinsorge
authors.forename: Marta A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Carballo
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood; D020552:Comet Assay / Q000379:methods; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis* / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010575:Pesticides / Q000145:classification / Q000633:toxicity*; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010575:Pesticides; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D002374:Catalase; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase