title: Oxidative stress, hematological and biochemical alterations in farmers exposed to pesticides.
abstract: In this study, a cohort of farmers from the Mateur region in the North of Tunisia, were interviewed and examined for the biochemical effects of pesticides. We studied their haematological profile, lipid parameters, serum markers of nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity. We also evaluated the activities of Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and thiolactonase-paroxonase (PON). Moreover, lipid peroxidation and activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were determined. The duration of pesticide use and the farmers' age were considered in the analysis. Our results revealed significant differences in some haematological parameters, in liver and kidney functions, in the lipidic status of the pesticide-exposed group. We also reported an increase in the index of incidence of cardiovascular risk in farmer populations. A significant decrease in AChE, BChE and PON levels was found among farmers. Lipid peroxidation, however, increased. The activities of SOD and CAT were remarkably elevated in farmer populations. There was a significant relation between changes in biological markers, the duration of pesticide use and the farmers' age. This study indicates that a long-term exposure to pesticides may play an important role in the development of vascular diseases via metabolic disorders of lipoproteins, lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress, inhibition of BChE and decrease in thiolactonase-PON levels.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemistry, UR03/ES-08 Human Nutrition and Metabolic Disorders, Faculty of Medicine, Monastir, Tunisia. tayebwafa2003@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Tayeb
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wafa
authors.forename: Koubaa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nadia
authors.forename: Nakbi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Amel
authors.forename: Chaieb
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ikbal
authors.forename: Tayeb
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Insaf
authors.forename: Kassab
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Asma
authors.forename: Miled Abdel
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hedi
authors.forename: Hammami
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mohamed
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006403:Hematologic Tests; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010575:Pesticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010575:Pesticides; D002374:Catalase; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase