title: Genotoxic biomonitoring of tobacco farmers: Biomarkers of exposure, of early biological effects and of susceptibility.
abstract: Tobacco farming presents several hazards to those who cultivate and harvest the plant. The genotoxic and mutagenic effects in tobacco farmers were investigated. In order to verify the relationship between genetic susceptibility and biomarkers GSTT1, GSTM1, GSTP1, CYP2A6, PON, OGG1, RAD51, XRCC1, and XRCC4 genes polymorphism were evaluated. Oxidative stress markers and trace elements content were determined. Peripheral blood cells samples were collected from 111 agricultural workers during pesticides application and leaf harvest, and 56 non-exposed subjects. Results show that farmers are exposed to mixture of substances with genotoxic and cytotoxic potential. Only GSTM1 null and CYP2A6*9 showed significant associations with cytokinesis-blocked micronuclei assay results. In pesticide application an increase in trace elements content was observed. The results indicated that exposure to pesticides and nicotine can influence antioxidant enzymes activity. Our study drives the attention once more to the need for occupational training on safe work environment for farm workers.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. fe992@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Fernanda Rabaioli
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Da Silva
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Da Silva
authors.forename: Mariangela da C
authors.initials: Mda C
authors.lastname: Allgayer
authors.forename: Caroline F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: Johnny F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.forename: Carla E I
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: dos Santos
authors.forename: Mirian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salvador
authors.forename: Catia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Branco
authors.forename: Nayê Balzan
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Vivian
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kahl
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rohr
authors.forename: Kátia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kvitko
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000383:Agriculture; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases / Q000235:genetics; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood; D020552:Comet Assay; D065637:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2A6; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D009538:Nicotine / Q000633:toxicity*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D010575:Pesticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D014026:Nicotiana
chemical_list: D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases; D015415:Biomarkers; D002374:Catalase; D065637:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2A6; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D009538:Nicotine; D010575:Pesticides; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; C585710:CYP2A6 protein, human