Abstract

SIMONIELLO, María Fernanda; KLEINSORGE, Elisa C.  and  CARBALLO, Marta A.. Biochemical evaluation on rural workers exposed to pesticides. Medicina (B. Aires) [online]. 2010, vol.70, n.6, pp.489-498. ISSN 0025-7680.

Pesticides are used in agriculture to protect crops but may represent a potential risk to farmers and the environment. The aim of this work was to evaluate horticultural workers exposed to pesticide, categorized by: direct exposure (n = 45), indirect exposure (n = 50) and controls (n = 50) using exposure and effect biomarkers: cholinesterase (ChE), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), catalase (CAT), lipid peroxidation (TBARS), Damage Index Comet Assay (IDEC) and Damage Index Repair Assay (IDER). Our results show: a) an AChE inhibition in directly and indirectly exposed population (p < 0.001), b) significant increase in the levels of TBARS in direct exposure (p < 0.001), c) the CAT reduction was significant (p < 0.01), d) a significant increase in IDEC and IDER in both exposed groups (p < 0.001). Our results evidence variations in oxidative balance and DNA damage in exposed workers. These findings represent a contribution to the sub-clinical evaluation of subjects exposed to agrochemicals in our country.

Keywords : Oxidative stress; Genotoxicity; Pesticides.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )