title: Occupational exposure characterization in professional sprayers: clinical utility of oxidative stress biomarkers.
abstract: The impact of involuntary exposure to pesticides was studied in a group of professional sprayers (S) (25±5 years old) exposed to various agrochemicals for about 10 years. The results were compared with a group of non exposed people (C). S group showed hematological, renal, pancreatic and hepatic biomarkers within the reference values established for the general population, including cholinesterase activity. In spite of that, all the biochemical tests were statistically different compared to C. On the other hand, oxidative stress biomarkers (OSB) such as plasma tocopherol and the total reducing ability of plasma were significantly decreased, while protein carbonyls, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, total glutathione and the sum of nitrites and nitrates were increased in the exposed group. Results demonstrated that screening laboratory tests could not be fully sensitive in detecting sub-clinical exposure to pesticides, and also suggest that OSB could be validated and included in health surveillance protocols.
authors.affiliation: INIBIOLP (Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata), CCT La Plata, CONICET-UNLP, Cátedra de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, 60 y 120 (1900) La Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Astiz
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arnal
authors.forename: María J T
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: de Alaniz
authors.forename: Carlos Alberto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Marra
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods; D001118:Argentina; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D009790:Occupations; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010575:Pesticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D011897:Random Allocation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010575:Pesticides; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase; D005978:Glutathione