title: Biomonitoring of agricultural workers exposed to pesticide mixtures in Guerrero state, Mexico, with comet assay and micronucleus test.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the genotoxic effect of pesticides in exfoliated buccal cells of workers occupationally exposed in Guerrero, Mexico, using the comet assay and the micronucleus test. The study compared 111 agricultural workers in three rural communities (Arcelia 62, Ajuchitlan 13, and Tlapehuala 36), with 60 non-exposed individuals. All the participants were males. The presence of DNA damage was investigated in the exfoliated buccal cells of study participants with the comet assay and the micronucleus (MN) test; comet tail length was evaluated in 100 nuclei and 3000 epithelial cells of each individual, respectively; other nuclear anomalies such as nuclear buds, karyolysis, karyorrhexis, and binucleate cells were also evaluated. Study results revealed that the tail migration of DNA and the frequency of MN increased significantly in the exposed group, which also showed nuclear anomalies associated with cytotoxic or genotoxic effect. No positive correlation was noted between exposure time and tail length and micronuclei frequencies. No significant effect on genetic damage was observed as a result of age, smoking, and alcohol consumption. The MN and comet assay in exfoliated buccal cells are useful and minimally invasive methods for monitoring genetic damage in individuals exposed to pesticides. This study provided valuable data for establishing the possible risk to human health associated with pesticide exposure.
authors.affiliation: Unidad Académica de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, Av. Lázaro Cárdenas s/n Ciudad Universitaria, Chilpancingo, Gro, Mexico.
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Carbajal-López
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Genotoxicología Ambiental, Centro de Ciencias de la Atmósfera, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, 04510, D.F., Mexico. slga@atmosfera.unam.mx.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gómez-Arroyo
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Mutagénesis Ambiental, Centro de Ciencias de la Atmósfera, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, 04510, D.F., Mexico.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Villalobos-Pietrini
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Genotoxicología Ambiental, Centro de Ciencias de la Atmósfera, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, 04510, D.F., Mexico.
authors.forename: María Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Calderón-Segura
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Aerosoles Atmosféricos, Centro de Ciencias de la Atmósfera, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, 04510, D.F., Mexico.
authors.forename: Amparo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martínez-Arroyo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002467:Cell Nucleus; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D000067565:Farmers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D010575:Pesticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D012907:Smoking
chemical_list: D010575:Pesticides
keywords: Buccal exfoliated cells; Genotoxicity; Pesticide exposure