title: Immunotoxic damage in floriculturists exposed to pesticide mixtures.
abstract: The aim of the present work was to determine if the use of pesticide mixtures produced alterations in immunotoxicity biomarkers. The study was undertaken in three groups: the first group consisted of 38 floriculturists, the second comprised 38 vendors of the local market, and the last comprised 33 non-exposed persons from another locality. The determinations included haematocrit, mean cellular volume, hemoglobin, number of erythrocytes and leukocytes, immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM, and IgE), percentage of T-lymphocytes, and mitotic index from lymphocyte cultures with and without phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). The obtained results indicated the following: (i) in the level of the studied immunoglobulins, the results were within the reference values; (ii) there was a reduction in the amount of T-lymphocytes in the floriculturists in comparison with the determined in the other two groups; (iii) there was a decrease in the mitotic index of PHA-stimulated lymphocyte cultures of floriculturists and vendors in relation to the value of the control group; (iv) there was an increase in the mitotic index of unstimulated lymphocytes of floriculturists compared with the lymphocytes of the other two groups; and (v) there was no correlation between the results and the personal characteristics of the studied individuals. Our results established an immunotoxic effect in the floriculturists exposed to pesticides.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Genética, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, México. jcastillo_cadena@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Julieta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Castillo-Cadena
authors.forename: Ana Laura
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: González-Mercado
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hernández-Caballero
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ramírez-San Juan
authors.forename: Isela
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Álvarez-González
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Madrigal-Bujaidar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D051639:Gardening; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000276:immunology; D000922:Immunotoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010575:Pesticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D000078329:Workforce; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins; D000922:Immunotoxins; D010575:Pesticides