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Ladeira C, Møller P, Giovannelli L, Gajski G, Haveric A, Bankoglu EE, Azqueta A, Gerić M, Stopper H, Cabêda J, Tonin FS, Collins A. The Comet Assay as a Tool in Human Biomonitoring Studies of Environmental and Occupational Exposure to Chemicals-A Systematic Scoping Review. TOXICS 2024; 12:270. [PMID: 38668493 PMCID: PMC11054096 DOI: 10.3390/toxics12040270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Biomonitoring of human populations exposed to chemical substances that can act as potential mutagens or carcinogens, may enable the detection of damage and early disease prevention. In recent years, the comet assay has become an important tool for assessing DNA damage, both in environmental and occupational exposure contexts. To evidence the role of the comet assay in human biomonitoring, we have analysed original research studies of environmental or occupational exposure that used the comet assay in their assessments, following the PRISMA-ScR method (preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses extension for scoping reviews). Groups of chemicals were designated according to a broad classification, and the results obtained from over 300 original studies (n = 123 on air pollutants, n = 14 on anaesthetics, n = 18 on antineoplastic drugs, n = 57 on heavy metals, n = 59 on pesticides, and n = 49 on solvents) showed overall higher values of DNA strand breaks in the exposed subjects in comparison with the unexposed. In summary, our systematic scoping review strengthens the relevance of the use of the comet assay in assessing DNA damage in human biomonitoring studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina Ladeira
- H&TRC-Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL-Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, 1990-096 Lisbon, Portugal
- NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1600-560 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Peter Møller
- Department of Public Health, Section of Environmental Health, University of Copenhagen, 1172 Copenhagen, Denmark;
| | - Lisa Giovannelli
- Department NEUROFARBA, Section Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Florence, 50121 Florence, Italy;
| | - Goran Gajski
- Division of Toxicology, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (G.G.); (M.G.)
| | - Anja Haveric
- Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Sarajevo, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina;
| | - Ezgi Eyluel Bankoglu
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, 97078 Würzburg, Germany; (E.E.B.); (H.S.)
| | - Amaya Azqueta
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Navarra, 31009 Pamplona, Spain;
| | - Marko Gerić
- Division of Toxicology, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (G.G.); (M.G.)
| | - Helga Stopper
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, 97078 Würzburg, Germany; (E.E.B.); (H.S.)
| | - José Cabêda
- Guarda Nacional Republicana, Destacamento Territorial de Vila Franca de Xira, Núcleo de Proteção Ambiental, 1500-124 Lisbon, Portugal;
| | - Fernanda S. Tonin
- Pharmaceutical Care Research Group, Universidad de Granada, 18012 Granada, Spain;
| | - Andrew Collins
- Department of Nutrition, University of Oslo, 0316 Oslo, Norway;
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2
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Louati K, Kolsi F, Kallel R, Gdoura Y, Borni M, Hakim LS, Zribi R, Choura S, Maalej A, Sayadi S, Chamkha M, Mnif B, Khemakhem Z, Boudawara TS, Boudawara MZ, Safta F. Research of Pesticide Metabolites in Human Brain Tumor Tissues by Chemometrics-Based Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Analysis for a Hypothetical Correlation between Pesticide Exposure and Risk Factor of Central Nervous System Tumors. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:29812-29835. [PMID: 37599976 PMCID: PMC10433342 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c04592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Pesticides are widely used, resulting in continuing human exposure with potential health impacts. Some exposures related to agricultural works have been associated with neurological disorders. Since the 2000s, the hypothesis of the role of pesticides in the occurrence of central nervous system (CNS) tumors has been better documented in the literature. However, the etiology of childhood brain cancers still remains largely unknown. The major objective of this work was to assess the potential role of pesticide exposure as a risk factor for CNS tumors based on questionnaires and statistical analysis of information collected from patients hospitalized in the Neurosurgery Department of the Habib Bourguiba Hospital Medium in Sfax, Tunisia, during the period from January 1, 2022, to May 31, 2023. It also aimed to develop a simple and rapid analytical method by the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry technique for the research traces of pesticide metabolites in some collected human brain tumor tissues in order to more emphasize our hypothesis for such a correlation between pesticide exposure and brain tumor development. Patients with a history of high-risk exposure were selected to conduct further analysis. Chemometric methods were adapted to discern intrinsic variation between pathological and control groups and ascertain effective separation with the identification of differentially expressed metabolites accountable for such variations. Three samples revealed traces of pesticide metabolites that were mostly detected at an early age. The histopathological diagnosis was medulloblastoma for a 10-year-old child and high-grade gliomas for 27- and 35-year-old adults. The bivariate analyses (odds ratio >1 and P value <5%) confirmed the great probability of developing cancer by an exposure case. The Cox proportional hazards model revealed the risk of carcinogenicity beyond the age of 50 as a long-term effect of pesticide toxicity. Our study supports the correlation between pesticide exposure and the risk of development of human brain tumors, suggesting that preconception pesticide exposure, and possibly exposure during pregnancy, is associated with an increased childhood brain tumor risk. This hypothesis was enhanced in identifying traces of metabolites from the carbamate insecticide class known for their neurotoxicity and others from pyridazinone, organochlorines (OCs), triazole fungicide, and N-nitroso compounds known for their carcinogenicity. The 2D-OXYBLOT analysis confirmed the neurotoxicity effect of insecticides to induce oxidative damage in CNS cells. Aldicarb was implicated in brain carcinogenicity confirmed by the identification of oxime metabolites in a stress degradation study. Revealing "aziridine" metabolites from the OC class may better emphasize the theory of detecting traces of pesticide metabolites at an early age. Overall, our findings lead to the recommendation of limiting the residential use of pesticides and the support of public health policies serving this objective that we need to be vigilant in the postmarketing surveillance of human health impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaouthar Louati
- Faculty
of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Pharmacology, Analytics and Galenic Drug
Development, LR12ES09, University of Monastir, Road Avicenne, 5000 Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Fatma Kolsi
- Department
of Neurosurgery, Habib Bourguiba University
Hospital, Road El Ain km 1.5, Avenue of Ferdaous, 3089 Sfax, Tunisia
- Faculty
of Medicine, University of Sfax, Avenue of Majida Boulila, 3029 Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Rim Kallel
- Laboratory
of Pathological Anatomy and Cytology, Habib
Bourguiba University Hospital, Road El Ain km 1.5, Avenue of Ferdaous, 3089 Sfax, Tunisia
- Faculty
of Medicine, University of Sfax, Avenue of Majida Boulila, 3029 Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Yassine Gdoura
- Department
of Neurosurgery, Habib Bourguiba University
Hospital, Road El Ain km 1.5, Avenue of Ferdaous, 3089 Sfax, Tunisia
- Faculty
of Medicine, University of Sfax, Avenue of Majida Boulila, 3029 Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Mahdi Borni
- Department
of Neurosurgery, Habib Bourguiba University
Hospital, Road El Ain km 1.5, Avenue of Ferdaous, 3089 Sfax, Tunisia
- Faculty
of Medicine, University of Sfax, Avenue of Majida Boulila, 3029 Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Leila Sellami Hakim
- Laboratory
of Pathological Anatomy and Cytology, Habib
Bourguiba University Hospital, Road El Ain km 1.5, Avenue of Ferdaous, 3089 Sfax, Tunisia
- Faculty
of Medicine, University of Sfax, Avenue of Majida Boulila, 3029 Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Rania Zribi
- Higher Institute
of Applied Studies to Humanities of Tunis (ISEAHT), University of Tunis, 11 Road of Jebel Lakdhar, 1005 Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Sirine Choura
- Laboratory
of Environmental Bioprocesses, Centre of
Biotechnology of Sfax, Road of Sidi-Mansour, P.O. Box 1177, 3018 Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Amina Maalej
- Laboratory
of Environmental Bioprocesses, Centre of
Biotechnology of Sfax, Road of Sidi-Mansour, P.O. Box 1177, 3018 Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Sami Sayadi
- Biotechnology
Program, Center for Sustainable Development, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, 2713 Doha, Qatar
| | - Mohamed Chamkha
- Laboratory
of Environmental Bioprocesses, Centre of
Biotechnology of Sfax, Road of Sidi-Mansour, P.O. Box 1177, 3018 Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Basma Mnif
- Faculty
of Medicine, University of Sfax, Avenue of Majida Boulila, 3029 Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Zouheir Khemakhem
- Legal
Medicine Department, Habib Bourguiba University
Hospital, Road El Ain
km 1.5, Avenue of Ferdaous, 3089 Sfax, Tunisia
- Faculty
of Medicine, University of Sfax, Avenue of Majida Boulila, 3029 Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Tahya Sellami Boudawara
- Laboratory
of Pathological Anatomy and Cytology, Habib
Bourguiba University Hospital, Road El Ain km 1.5, Avenue of Ferdaous, 3089 Sfax, Tunisia
- Faculty
of Medicine, University of Sfax, Avenue of Majida Boulila, 3029 Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Mohamed Zaher Boudawara
- Department
of Neurosurgery, Habib Bourguiba University
Hospital, Road El Ain km 1.5, Avenue of Ferdaous, 3089 Sfax, Tunisia
- Faculty
of Medicine, University of Sfax, Avenue of Majida Boulila, 3029 Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Fathi Safta
- Faculty
of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Pharmacology, Analytics and Galenic Drug
Development, LR12ES09, University of Monastir, Road Avicenne, 5000 Monastir, Tunisia
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3
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Mendez SE, Quero AAM, Gorla NBM. Erythrocyte micronucleus cytome assay in Passer domesticus and environmental remote sensing for inferring the quality of wild, rural, and urban areas. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2022; 194:852. [PMID: 36201061 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-022-10488-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The study of biomarkers in free-living birds can help to indicate the degree of contamination in distinct environments. In addition, these environments can be characterized through the information provided by satellite images. The objectives of the present study were to analyze the types and quantity of cytogenetic biomarkers in Passer domesticus (House sparrow) from three different environments, wild, rural, and urban, and to analyze them in the context of land use and anthropogenic actions. Five thousand erythrocytes per bird were analyzed for the following nuclear alterations (NA): micronuclei (MN), nuclear buds, notched nuclei, binucleated cells, nucleoplasmic bridges, nuclear tails, peripheral nuclei, and anucleated cells. In the study, wild birds exhibited five types of NA, seven types were found in rural birds, and all types were encountered in urban birds. The only NA that exceeded a frequency of 2 NA/1000 erythrocytes were peripheral nuclei in birds from the rural and urban sites, the latter environment characterized by 87% urban soil and air pollution. The highest frequencies of MN, peripheral nuclei, and anucleated erythrocytes were recorded in sparrows from the rural site (p ≤ 0.05). This area had been sprayed with chlorpyrifos 48%, the most widely used organophosphate in the region. Sparrows from the wild site, made up of 100% native forest, had higher frequencies of notched nuclei (p ≤ 0.05). A precedent is set for the use of environmental remote sensing in a complementary manner with cytogenetic biomarker studies in birds for a joint analysis in environmental assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nora B M Gorla
- Universidad Juan Agustín Maza, Mendoza, Argentina.
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Zúñiga-Venegas LA, Hyland C, Muñoz-Quezada MT, Quirós-Alcalá L, Butinof M, Buralli R, Cardenas A, Fernandez RA, Foerster C, Gouveia N, Gutiérrez Jara JP, Lucero BA, Muñoz MP, Ramírez-Santana M, Smith AR, Tirado N, van Wendel de Joode B, Calaf GM, Handal AJ, Soares da Silva A, Cortés S, Mora AM. Health Effects of Pesticide Exposure in Latin American and the Caribbean Populations: A Scoping Review. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2022; 130:96002. [PMID: 36173136 PMCID: PMC9521041 DOI: 10.1289/ehp9934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2021] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multiple epidemiological studies have shown that exposure to pesticides is associated with adverse health outcomes. However, the literature on pesticide-related health effects in the Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC) region, an area of intensive agricultural and residential pesticide use, is sparse. We conducted a scoping review to describe the current state of research on the health effects of pesticide exposure in LAC populations with the goal of identifying knowledge gaps and research capacity building needs. METHODS We searched PubMed and SciELO for epidemiological studies on pesticide exposure and human health in LAC populations published between January 2007 and December 2021. We identified 233 publications from 16 countries that met our inclusion criteria and grouped them by health outcome (genotoxicity, neurobehavioral outcomes, placental outcomes and teratogenicity, cancer, thyroid function, reproductive outcomes, birth outcomes and child growth, and others). RESULTS Most published studies were conducted in Brazil (37%, n = 88 ) and Mexico (20%, n = 46 ), were cross-sectional in design (72%, n = 167 ), and focused on farmworkers (45%, n = 105 ) or children (21%, n = 48 ). The most frequently studied health effects included genotoxicity (24%, n = 62 ) and neurobehavioral outcomes (21%, n = 54 ), and organophosphate (OP) pesticides were the most frequently examined (26%, n = 81 ). Forty-seven percent (n = 112 ) of the studies relied only on indirect pesticide exposure assessment methods. Exposure to OP pesticides, carbamates, or to multiple pesticide classes was consistently associated with markers of genotoxicity and adverse neurobehavioral outcomes, particularly among children and farmworkers. DISCUSSION Our scoping review provides some evidence that exposure to pesticides may adversely impact the health of LAC populations, but methodological limitations and inconsistencies undermine the strength of the conclusions. It is critical to increase capacity building, integrate research initiatives, and conduct more rigorous epidemiological studies in the region to address these limitations, better inform public health surveillance systems, and maximize the impact of research on public policies. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP9934.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliana A. Zúñiga-Venegas
- Centro de Investigaciones de Estudios Avanzados del Maule, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile
| | - Carly Hyland
- Center for Environmental Research and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
- School of Public Health and Population Science, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, USA
| | - María Teresa Muñoz-Quezada
- Centro de Investigación en Neuropsicología y Neurociencias Cognitivas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile
| | - Lesliam Quirós-Alcalá
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Maryland Institute of Applied Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Mariana Butinof
- Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Rafael Buralli
- Departamento de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Andres Cardenas
- Center for Environmental Research and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Ricardo A. Fernandez
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Católica de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Claudia Foerster
- Instituto de Ciencias de la Agroalimentarias, Animales y Ambientales, Universidad de O’Higgins, San Fernando, Chile
| | - Nelson Gouveia
- Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Juan P. Gutiérrez Jara
- Centro de Investigaciones de Estudios Avanzados del Maule, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile
| | - Boris A. Lucero
- Centro de Investigación en Neuropsicología y Neurociencias Cognitivas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile
| | - María Pía Muñoz
- Escuela de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Muriel Ramírez-Santana
- Departamento de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Anna R. Smith
- Center for Environmental Research and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Noemi Tirado
- Instituto de Genética, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, Louisiana Paz, Bolivia
| | - Berna van Wendel de Joode
- Infants’ Environmental Health Study, Central American Institute for Studies on Toxic Substances, Universidad Nacional, Heredia, Costa Rica
| | - Gloria M. Calaf
- Instituto de Alta Investigación, Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica, Chile
- Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Alexis J. Handal
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | | | - Sandra Cortés
- Centro Avanzado de Enfermedades Crónicas (ACCDiS), Centro de Desarrollo Urbano Sustentable, Departamento de Salud Pública, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ana M. Mora
- Center for Environmental Research and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
- Infants’ Environmental Health Study, Central American Institute for Studies on Toxic Substances, Universidad Nacional, Heredia, Costa Rica
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5
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Nascimento FDA, Silva DDME, Pedroso TMA, Ramos JSA, Parise MR. Farmers exposed to pesticides have almost five times more DNA damage: a meta-analysis study. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:805-816. [PMID: 34342827 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-15573-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We carried out a meta-analytical review of possible DNA damage resulting from occupational exposure to pesticides in farmers in the scientific literature. After the search, screening, and eligibility criteria steps, we included 42 studies to analyze random effect calculation. DNA damage in farmers occupationally exposed to pesticides represents an effect of SMD 4.63 [CI 95% 3.94-5.32; p <0.001]. We observed a high heterogeneity rate between the studies and an asymmetry of the bias analysis results. We performed a meta-regression on the parameters. The Olive Tail Moment (OTM) was the most effective comet assay parameter in the evaluated studies. The Damage Index (DI) was more conservative and highlighted the variability between studies caused by distinct methodologies that showed more significant effects and greater deviations. An analysis of confounding factors demonstrated a slight DNA damage in smokers who were occupationally exposed to pesticides compared to nonsmokers, indicating genotoxicity but smaller than the pesticide effect. The present study shows the greater risk that occupationally exposed rural workers have of developing related diseases due to pesticides' genotoxic effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe de Araújo Nascimento
- Mutagenesis Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Postgraduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Goiás, ICB I-Room 218/228, Campus Universitário, CEP, Goiânia, GO, 74690-900, Brazil.
| | - Daniela de Melo E Silva
- Mutagenesis Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Postgraduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Goiás, ICB I-Room 218/228, Campus Universitário, CEP, Goiânia, GO, 74690-900, Brazil
| | - Thays Millena Alves Pedroso
- Mutagenesis Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Postgraduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Goiás, ICB I-Room 218/228, Campus Universitário, CEP, Goiânia, GO, 74690-900, Brazil
| | - Jheneffer Sonara Aguiar Ramos
- Mutagenesis Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Postgraduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Goiás, ICB I-Room 218/228, Campus Universitário, CEP, Goiânia, GO, 74690-900, Brazil
| | - Michelle Rocha Parise
- Mutagenesis Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Postgraduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Goiás, ICB I-Room 218/228, Campus Universitário, CEP, Goiânia, GO, 74690-900, Brazil
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Jataí, Jataí, GO, Brazil
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6
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Mañas F, Agost L, Salinero MC, Méndez Á, Aiassa D. Cytogenetic markers and their spatial distribution in a population living in proximity to areas sprayed with pesticides. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2021; 88:103736. [PMID: 34478866 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2021.103736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Human populations are in contact with potentially toxic substances in varying amounts, if the exposure is work-related or direct, generally the amount of toxin is usually greater than if the exposure is environmental through the drifts that occur. It was proposed to determine the existence of genotoxic damage evaluated through Chromosomal Aberrations and Micronuclei assays and their spatial distribution pattern, as well as the possible relationship between that damage and the values found in biochemical biomarkers, in groups of individuals environmental exposure (respiratory exposure) to mixtures of pesticides, in the province of Córdoba-Argentina. Biochemical and hematological determinations were made in each samples. The results reveal that the monitoring of human populations through the analysis of cytogenetic markers enabled the detection of direct damage in man caused by polluting substances and the results were obtained rapidly. The disadvantage of this type of study is the inability to estimate the degree of exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Mañas
- Department of Animal Clinic, National University of Río Cuarto, National Road N°36, km 601. (X5804BYA) Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina; National Council for Scientific and Technical Research CONICET Fellowships, Argentina; GeMA, Department of Natural Sciences, National University of Río Cuarto, National Road N°36, km 601. (X5804BYA) Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Lisandro Agost
- National Council for Scientific and Technical Research CONICET Fellowships, Argentina; Centro de Ecología y Recursos Naturales Renovables (CERNAR), IIByT CONICET, UNC, Argentina
| | - María C Salinero
- National Council for Scientific and Technical Research CONICET Fellowships, Argentina; Centro de Ecología y Recursos Naturales Renovables (CERNAR), IIByT CONICET, UNC, Argentina; GeMA, Department of Natural Sciences, National University of Río Cuarto, National Road N°36, km 601. (X5804BYA) Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina.
| | - Álvaro Méndez
- Department of Animal Clinic, National University of Río Cuarto, National Road N°36, km 601. (X5804BYA) Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina; GeMA, Department of Natural Sciences, National University of Río Cuarto, National Road N°36, km 601. (X5804BYA) Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Delia Aiassa
- Department of Animal Clinic, National University of Río Cuarto, National Road N°36, km 601. (X5804BYA) Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina; GeMA, Department of Natural Sciences, National University of Río Cuarto, National Road N°36, km 601. (X5804BYA) Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina
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7
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Migheli M. Income, wealth and use of personal protection equipment in the Mekong Delta. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:39920-39937. [PMID: 33768455 PMCID: PMC8310476 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-13449-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Both in developing and developed countries, farmers often do not protect themselves adequately, especially when applying agrochemicals that are dangerous for their health. The issue is relevant because insufficient protection is between the causes leading to intoxication of farmers and workers who handle these products. The literature suggests that both lack of training and information and low income may explain why, especially in developing countries, protective equipment is under-used. Using data from the Mekong Delta, this study addresses the issue of whether income and household wealth may help explaining the use of incomplete protections against pesticides. The results suggest that income, more than wealth, is a reason why Vietnamese farmers operating in the Mekong Delta fail in using adequate protections. In particular, the data suggest that they may prefer to divert resources to increasing the production of their fields or to buying goods that may be used both as protection and as everyday garments. This behaviour leads to underinvestment in some important protective goods. Possible public interventions to mitigate the problem are suggested; in particular, the promotion of integrated pest management techniques could be useful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Migheli
- Department of Economics and Statistics "Cognetti de Martiis", University of Torino, Lungo Dora Siena 100, I-10153, Torino, Italy.
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8
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Valencia-Quintana R, López-Durán RM, Milić M, Bonassi S, Ochoa-Ocaña MA, Uriostegui-Acosta MO, Pérez-Flores GA, Gómez-Olivares JL, Sánchez-Alarcón J. Assessment of Cytogenetic Damage and Cholinesterases' Activity in Workers Occupationally Exposed to Pesticides in Zamora-Jacona, Michoacan, Mexico. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18126269. [PMID: 34200547 PMCID: PMC8296030 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18126269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Pesticides have been considered as potential chemical mutagens; however, little is known about toxic and genotoxic effects during pesticide application in Zamora-Jacona, Michoacan State in Mexico. This study sought to determine DNA damage and cholinesterase activities inhibitions in 54 agricultural workers exposed to complex mixtures of pesticides vs. control group (26 individuals) using Comet assay in peripheral whole blood, micronucleus (MN) test in oral mucosa cells, Cytokinesis-blocked MN assay in lymphocytes (L-CBMNcyt) and measuring AChE and BChE activities in whole blood and plasma samples, respectively. Exposed subjects demonstrated significantly elevated levels of primary (Comet assay: tail intensity, tail length, tail moment, Olive tail moment) and permanent DNA damage (MN assay: in blood/buccal cells; frequencies of nuclear buds, binucleated cells, cells with condensed chromatin, karyorrhexis, pyknosis, and karyolysis). However, inhibition of cholinesterase activities (AChE and BChE) was not observed in the workers. Confounding factors including sex, age, BMI, working exposure period, protection level, smoking habit (cigarettes per day units), alcohol consumption (weekly), medication, were considered in the analysis. These combined techniques demonstrated usefulness in the health hazards risks pesticide exposure assessment and suggested the need for periodic monitoring together with the education and the training of occupational workers for the safe application of potentially harmful pesticides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Valencia-Quintana
- Laboratorio “Rafael Villalobos-Pietrini” de Toxicología Genómica y Química Ambiental, Facultad de Agrobiología, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, CA Genética y Ambiente UATLX-CA 223, Red Temática de Toxicología de Plaguicidas, Tlaxcala 90120, Mexico; (R.V.-Q.); (G.A.P.-F.)
| | - Rosa María López-Durán
- Laboratorio de Biomembranas, División de Ciencias Biológicas y de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Ciudad de México 09340, Mexico;
- Correspondence: (R.M.L.-D.); (J.S.-A.)
| | - Mirta Milić
- Mutagenesis Unit, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska Cesta 2, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
| | - Stefano Bonassi
- Department of Human Sciences and Quality of Life Promotion, San Rafaele University, 00166 Rome, Italy;
- Unit of Clinical and Molecular Epidemiology, IRCCS San Rafaele Pisana, 00166 Rome, Italy
| | - Ma. Antonieta Ochoa-Ocaña
- Unidad Académica de Estudios Regionales, Coordinación de Humanidades, UNAM, Jiquilpan 59510, Mexico;
| | | | - Guillermo Alejandro Pérez-Flores
- Laboratorio “Rafael Villalobos-Pietrini” de Toxicología Genómica y Química Ambiental, Facultad de Agrobiología, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, CA Genética y Ambiente UATLX-CA 223, Red Temática de Toxicología de Plaguicidas, Tlaxcala 90120, Mexico; (R.V.-Q.); (G.A.P.-F.)
| | - José Luis Gómez-Olivares
- Laboratorio de Biomembranas, División de Ciencias Biológicas y de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Ciudad de México 09340, Mexico;
| | - Juana Sánchez-Alarcón
- Laboratorio “Rafael Villalobos-Pietrini” de Toxicología Genómica y Química Ambiental, Facultad de Agrobiología, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, CA Genética y Ambiente UATLX-CA 223, Red Temática de Toxicología de Plaguicidas, Tlaxcala 90120, Mexico; (R.V.-Q.); (G.A.P.-F.)
- Correspondence: (R.M.L.-D.); (J.S.-A.)
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9
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Quintana-Sosa M, León-Mejía G, Luna-Carrascal J, De Moya YS, Rodríguez IL, Acosta-Hoyos A, Anaya-Romero M, Trindade C, Narváez DM, Restrepo HGD, Dias J, Niekraszewicz L, Garcia ALH, Rohr P, da Silva J, Henriques JAP. Cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome (CBMN-CYT) assay biomarkers and telomere length analysis in relation to inorganic elements in individuals exposed to welding fumes. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2021; 212:111935. [PMID: 33578128 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.111935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
During the welding activities many compounds are released, several of these cause oxidative stress and inflammation and some are considered carcinogenic, in fact the International Agency for Research on Cancer established that welding fumes are carcinogenic to humans. The aim of the present study was to analyze the cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of exposure to welding fumes and to determine concentrations of metals in blood and urine of occupationally exposed workers. We included 98 welders and 100 non-exposed individuals. Our results show significant increase in the frequency of micronuclei (MN), nucleoplasmic bridges (NPB), nuclear buds (NBUD) and necrotic cells (NECR) in cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome (CBMN-Cyt) assay, as well as in the telomere length (TL) of the exposed individuals with respect to the non-exposed group. In the analysis of the concentrations of inorganic elements using PIXE method, were found higher concentrations of Cr, Fe and Cu in the urine, and Cr, Fe, Mg, Al, S, and Mn in the blood in the exposed group compared to the non-exposed group. A significant correlation was observed between MN and age and between NPB and years of exposure. Additionally, we found a significant correlation for TL in relation to MN, NPB, age and years of exposure in the exposed group. Interestingly, a significant correlation between MN and the increase in the concentration of Mg, S, Fe and Cu in blood samples of the exposed group, and between MN and Cr, Fe, Ni and Cu in urine. Thus, our findings may be associated with oxidative and inflammatory damage processes generated by the components contained in welding fumes, suggesting a high occupational risk in welding workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milton Quintana-Sosa
- Universidad Simón Bolívar, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas y Biomédicas, Barranquilla, Colombia
| | - Grethel León-Mejía
- Universidad Simón Bolívar, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas y Biomédicas, Barranquilla, Colombia.
| | - Jaime Luna-Carrascal
- Universidad Simón Bolívar, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas y Biomédicas, Barranquilla, Colombia
| | - Yurina Sh De Moya
- Universidad Simón Bolívar, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas y Biomédicas, Barranquilla, Colombia
| | - Ibeth Luna Rodríguez
- Universidad Simón Bolívar, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas y Biomédicas, Barranquilla, Colombia
| | - Antonio Acosta-Hoyos
- Universidad Simón Bolívar, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas y Biomédicas, Barranquilla, Colombia
| | - Marco Anaya-Romero
- Universidad Simón Bolívar, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas y Biomédicas, Barranquilla, Colombia
| | - Cristiano Trindade
- Universidad Simón Bolívar, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas y Biomédicas, Barranquilla, Colombia
| | | | | | - Johnny Dias
- Laboratório de Implantação Iônica, Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Liana Niekraszewicz
- Laboratório de Implantação Iônica, Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | | | - Paula Rohr
- Laboratório de Genética Toxicológica, Universidade Luterana do Brasil (ULBRA), Canoas, RS, Brazil
| | - Juliana da Silva
- Laboratório de Genética Toxicológica, Universidade Luterana do Brasil (ULBRA), Canoas, RS, Brazil
| | - João Antonio Pêgas Henriques
- Departamento de Biofísica, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Instituto de Biotecnologia, Universidade de Caxias do Sul (UCS), Caxias do Sul, RS, Brazil.
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10
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Doğanlar O, Doğanlar ZB, Kurtdere AK, Chasan T, Ok ES. Chronic exposure of human glioblastoma tumors to low concentrations of a pesticide mixture induced multidrug resistance against chemotherapy agents. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2020; 202:110940. [PMID: 32800223 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.110940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Recent evidence indicates that chronic, low-dose exposure to mixtures of pesticides can cause adverse responses in a variety of cells, tissues and organs, although interactions between pesticides circulating in the blood and cancer cells remain largely unexplored. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of a mixture of four pesticides to induce multidrug resistance against the chemotherapeutic agents cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil and temozolomide in the human U87 glioblastoma cell line, and to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying this resistance. We found that the repeated administration of the pesticide mixture (containing the insecticides chlorpyrifos-ethyl and deltamethrin, the fungicide metiram, and the herbicide glyphosate) induced a strong drug resistance in U87 cells. The resistance was durable and transferred to subsequent cell generations. In addition, we detected a significant over-expression of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) membrane transporters P-gp/ABCB1 and BRCP/ABCG2 as well as a glutathione-S-transferase (GST)/M1-type cellular detoxification function, known to have important roles in multidrug resistance, thus providing molecular support for the acquired multidrug resistance phenotype and shedding light on the mechanism of resistance. We further determined that there was lower mortality in the resistant brain tumor cells and that the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway was activated at a lower rate after chemotherapy compared to non-resistant control cells. In addition, multidrug-resistant cells were found to have both higher motility and wound-healing properties, suggesting a greater metastatic potential. Our results suggest that the investigation of P-gp, BRCP and GST/M1 multidrug resistance gene expression and/or protein levels in biopsy specimens of brain tumor patients who were at risk of pesticide exposure could be beneficial in determining chemotherapy dose and prolonging patient survival.
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MESH Headings
- ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B
- ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1
- ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2
- ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters/genetics
- Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cisplatin
- Drug Resistance, Multiple/drug effects
- Drug Resistance, Multiple/genetics
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/drug effects
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics
- Glioblastoma/genetics
- Glioblastoma/pathology
- Humans
- Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins/genetics
- Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins/metabolism
- Neoplasm Proteins/genetics
- Neoplasm Proteins/metabolism
- Neoplasm Proteins/pharmacology
- Pesticides/toxicity
- Toxicity Tests, Chronic
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Affiliation(s)
- Oğuzhan Doğanlar
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Trakya University, 22030 Edirne, Turkey.
| | - Zeynep Banu Doğanlar
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Trakya University, 22030 Edirne, Turkey
| | - Ayşe Kardelen Kurtdere
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Trakya University, 22030 Edirne, Turkey
| | - Tourkian Chasan
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Trakya University, 22030 Edirne, Turkey
| | - Esma Seben Ok
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Trakya University, 22030 Edirne, Turkey
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11
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Balderrama-Carmona AP, Valenzuela-Rincón M, Zamora-Álvarez LA, Adan-Bante NP, Leyva-Soto LA, Silva-Beltrán NP, Morán-Palacio EF. Herbicide biomonitoring in agricultural workers in Valle del Mayo, Sonora Mexico. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 27:28480-28489. [PMID: 31832947 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-07087-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Valle del Mayo is an important agricultural area at the northwest of Mexico where up to 20,000 L of a mix composed of glyphosate and tordon is used in drains and canals. This study was carried out in order to evaluate the cellular damage caused by glyphosate, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), and picloram in agricultural workers. Biomonitoring was performed through the quantification of herbicides in urine using HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) to then evaluate the cellular damage in exposed people by means of an evaluation of micronuclei and cellular proliferation in lymphocyte cultures. The urine samples (n = 30) have shown a concentration of up to 10.25 μg/L of picloram and 2.23 μg/L of AMPA; no positive samples for glyphosate were reported. The calculation of the external dose reveals that agricultural workers ingest up to 146 mg/kg/day; however, this concentration does not surpass the limits that are allowed internationally. As for the results for the micronuclei test, 53% of the workers showed cellular damage, and the nuclear division index test reported that there was a significant difference (P < 0.05) between the exposed and the control population, which indicated that the exposure time to pesticides in the people of Valle del Mayo can induce alterations which can cause chronic damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Paola Balderrama-Carmona
- Departamento de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Sonora, Unidad Regional Sur, Blvd. Lázaro Cárdenas 100, Colonia Francisco Villa, 85880, Navojoa, Sonora, Mexico.
| | - Melissa Valenzuela-Rincón
- Departamento de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Sonora, Unidad Regional Sur, Blvd. Lázaro Cárdenas 100, Colonia Francisco Villa, 85880, Navojoa, Sonora, Mexico
| | - Luis Alberto Zamora-Álvarez
- Departamento de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Sonora, Unidad Regional Sur, Blvd. Lázaro Cárdenas 100, Colonia Francisco Villa, 85880, Navojoa, Sonora, Mexico
| | - Norma Patricia Adan-Bante
- Departamento de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Sonora, Unidad Regional Sur, Blvd. Lázaro Cárdenas 100, Colonia Francisco Villa, 85880, Navojoa, Sonora, Mexico
| | - Luis Alonso Leyva-Soto
- Departamento de Biotecnología y Ciencias Alimentarias, Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora, 5 de febrero 818 Sur, Colonia Centro, 85000, Obregon, Sonora, Mexico
| | - Norma Patricia Silva-Beltrán
- Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Sonora, Unidad Cajeme, Blvd. Bordo Nuevo S/N, Ejido Providencia, 85199, Obregon, Sonora, Mexico
| | - Edgar Felipe Morán-Palacio
- Departamento de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Sonora, Unidad Regional Sur, Blvd. Lázaro Cárdenas 100, Colonia Francisco Villa, 85880, Navojoa, Sonora, Mexico
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12
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Kaur K, Kaur R. Polymorphisms in XPC and XPD genes modulate DNA damage in pesticide-exposed agricultural workers of Punjab, North-West India. Mol Biol Rep 2020; 47:5253-5262. [PMID: 32562175 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-020-05600-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The genetic susceptibility of individuals to the genotoxic effect of pesticides may be modulated by variations in genes involved in nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway and therefore plays an important role in the evaluation of occupational risk. We aimed to evaluate the role of xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group C (XPC) Lys939Gln (A2920C, rs2228001), XPC Ala499Val (C2151T, rs2228000), xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group D (XPD) Asp312Asn (G23591A, rs1799793) and XPD Lys751Gln (A35931C, rs13181) in the modulation of DNA damage. A total of 450 subjects (225 pesticide-exposed agricultural workers and 225 age- and sex-matched controls) from Punjab, North-West India were recruited to study DNA damage by alkaline comet assay. Genotyping was carried out by PCR-RFLP using site-specific restriction enzymes. We found significant elevation in DNA damage parameters in pesticide-exposed agricultural workers as compared to the controls (p < 0.01). Association of comet tail length with XPC 939Gln/Gln (CC), XPD 312Asp/Asn (GA) and XPD 312Asn/Asn (AA) genotypes was observed. Frequency of cells showing DNA migration was significantly higher in exposed workers with variant XPC 939Gln/Gln (CC), XPD 312Asp/Asn (GA) and XPD 312Asn/Asn (AA) genotypes. Mean tail length was significantly increased in agricultural workers carrying XPD 312Asn/Asn (AA) genotype. Elevation in total comet DNA migration was also observed in exposed workers carrying variant XPC 939Lys/Gln (AC), XPC 939Gln/Gln (CC), XPC 499Val/Val (TT) and XPD 312Asn/Asn (AA) genotypes. Our results strongly indicate significant positive association of variant XPC and XPD genotypes with higher pesticide-induced DNA damage in North-West Indian agricultural workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karashdeep Kaur
- Department of Biotechnology, Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University, Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab, 140406, India.,Department of Medical Lab Sciences, Gulzar Group of Institutes, Khanna, Punjab, 141401, India
| | - Rupinder Kaur
- Department of Biotechnology, Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University, Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab, 140406, India.
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13
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Bernieri T, Moraes MF, Ardenghi PG, Basso da Silva L. Assessment of DNA damage and cholinesterase activity in soybean farmers in southern Brazil: High versus low pesticide exposure. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND HEALTH. PART. B, PESTICIDES, FOOD CONTAMINANTS, AND AGRICULTURAL WASTES 2019; 55:355-360. [PMID: 31868080 DOI: 10.1080/03601234.2019.1704608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the DNA damage in soybean growers during two agricultural periods of a crop season (high and low exposure) and a control group, as well as butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activity during these exposure periods in order to estimate the degree of BChE inhibition for the exposed group. DNA damage in peripheral whole blood was evaluated by the comet assay and plasma BChE activity was accessed as a measure of exposure to cholinesterase inhibitors. None of the soybean growers reported using full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). BChE was lower in high exposure period than in low exposure period and DNA damage index was significantly increased in the high exposure period than in the low exposure period. In addition, DNA damage in both exposure periods was higher than control group. No correlation was found between exposure time and DNA damage and BChE activity. However, negative correlation was observed between DNA damage in high and low exposure periods. The results indicate that soybean growers are exposed to cholinesterase inhibitors and to pesticides mixtures with genotoxic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanandra Bernieri
- Health Sciences Institute, Feevale University, Novo Hamburgo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
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