title: The association of nuclear abnormalities in exfoliated buccal epithelial cells with the health status of different agricultural activities farmers in Peninsular Malaysia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pesticide exposure possesses risk of genotoxicity to humans, particularly farmers. Despite accumulating evidences linking genotoxicity to pesticide exposure, epidemiological studies to address pesticide toxicity in occupationally exposed farmers in Malaysia remain underreported. Thus, this study was aimed to determine the presence of nuclear abnormalities through the assessment of micronucleus (MN) and binucleus (BNu) frequencies in exfoliated buccal epithelial cells from farmers who were exposed to pesticides. A cross-sectional study of farmers among different agricultural activities farmers in Bachok and Pasir Puteh, Kelantan, North East of Peninsular Malaysia was done to evaluate the presence of nuclear abnormalities and its correlation with their health status and farming activities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analysis of buccal cells revealed that the frequency of MN was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in farmers as compared to controls. In contrast, no significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed for BNu frequency in between groups. Correlation analysis showed that apart from a significant (p < 0.05) and positive correlation between the duration of fertilizers exposure and frequencies of MN (r = 0.42, P = 0.001) and BNu (r = 0.37, P = 0.02), no other correlation of various confounding factors on the formation of MN and BNu were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, pesticide and fertilizers exposure may contribute to the promotion of nuclear anomalies among Malaysian farmers who are engaged in mixed plantation activities. Further assessment of larger populations is important to address and overcome the potential risk of pesticide-induced genotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Science Program, School of Diagnostic and Applied Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM,), Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, 50300 Malaysia.
authors.forename: Zariyantey
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Abdul Hamid
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Science Program, School of Diagnostic and Applied Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM,), Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, 50300 Malaysia ; Center for Neuroscience Services and Research (P3Neuro), Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kota Baru, Kelantan Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mohd Faizal
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Mohd Zulkifly
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Science Program, School of Diagnostic and Applied Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM,), Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, 50300 Malaysia.
authors.forename: Asmah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hamid
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Science Program, School of Diagnostic and Applied Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM,), Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, 50300 Malaysia.
authors.forename: Syarif Husin
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lubis
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Science Program, School of Diagnostic and Applied Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM,), Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, 50300 Malaysia.
authors.forename: Nihayah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mohammad
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Science Program, School of Diagnostic and Applied Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM,), Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, 50300 Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ismarulyusda
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ishak
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Science Program, School of Diagnostic and Applied Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM,), Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, 50300 Malaysia.
authors.forename: Nur Zakiah
authors.initials: NZ
authors.lastname: Mohd Saat
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Science Program, School of Diagnostic and Applied Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM,), Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, 50300 Malaysia.
authors.forename: Hidayatul Fathi
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Othman
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Science Program, School of Diagnostic and Applied Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM,), Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, 50300 Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ahmad Rohi
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Ghazali
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Science Program, School of Diagnostic and Applied Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM,), Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, 50300 Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mohd Jamil
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mohd Rafaai
authors.affiliation: Horticulture Research Centre, MARDI, Persiaran MARDI-UPM, Serdang, 43400 Selangor Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mohamad Roff
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Mohd Noor
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Science Program, School of Diagnostic and Applied Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM,), Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, 50300 Malaysia.
authors.forename: Nor Fadilah
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Rajab
keywords: Binucleus; Buccal cells; Farmers; Micronucleus; Pesticides