title: Genotoxic assessment in tobacco farmers at different crop times.
abstract: Agricultural workers engaged in tobacco cultivation are constantly exposed to large amounts of pesticides as well as to the nicotine present in raw tobacco leaves. Pesticides have been considered potential chemical mutagens: experimental data revealed that various agrochemicals possess mutagenic properties. Studies have affirmed that nicotine absorbed through the skin results in the characteristic green tobacco sickness (GTS), an occupational illness reported by tobacco workers. This study sought to determine genotoxic effects in farmers occupationally exposed to agrochemicals and nicotine. Peripheral blood samples were collected from 30 agricultural workers, at different crop times (off-season, during pesticides application and leaf harvest), and 30 were non-exposed. We obtained data on DNA damage detected by the Comet assay and Micronucleus test as biomarker of occupational exposure and effect. The serum cholinesterase level, which in general present relation with exposition to organophosphates and carbamates, as well as serum cotinine level, which is a metabolite of nicotine, were also evaluated. The results showed a significant increase in Damage index and frequency in tobacco farmers compared to the non-exposed group, for all different crop times; and a significant increase in micronucleated cells in the off-season group. No correlation was found between age and exposure time in relation to biomarker tests. The DNA damage was greater in males than in females, but with a significant difference only in off-season group. No difference, in cholinesterase activity, was seen among the group of farmers and non-exposed group. Elevated level of cotinine was observed in leaf harvest group. This investigation suggests increased DNA damage in all tobacco crop stages, calling attention to the significant increase during the off-season and tobacco leaf harvest.
authors.affiliation: Centro Universitário La Salle, Mestrado em Avaliação de Impactos Ambientais, Canoas, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: fer.rabaioli@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Fernanda R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Da Silva
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Programme in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Kátia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kvitko
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rohr
authors.affiliation: Toxicology Institute, Catholic Pontificie University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marina B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Abreu
authors.affiliation: Toxicology Institute, Catholic Pontificie University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Flávia V
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Thiesen
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Genetic Toxicology, Postgraduate Programme in Genetic and Applied Toxicology, Lutheran University of Brazil, Canoas, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: juliana.silva@ulbra.br.
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Da Silva
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D016573:Agrochemicals / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D020552:Comet Assay; D003367:Cotinine; D004249:DNA Damage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D009153:Mutagens / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D009538:Nicotine; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010575:Pesticides / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity; D014026:Nicotiana
chemical_list: D016573:Agrochemicals; D015415:Biomarkers; D009153:Mutagens; D010575:Pesticides; D009538:Nicotine; D003367:Cotinine
keywords: Comet assay; Micronucleus test; nicotine; pesticide; tobacco farmers