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Curl CL, Spivak M, Phinney R, Montrose L. Synthetic Pesticides and Health in Vulnerable Populations: Agricultural Workers. Curr Environ Health Rep 2020; 7:13-29. [PMID: 31960353 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-020-00266-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review aims to summarize epidemiological literature published between May 15, 2018, and May 14, 2019, that examines the relationship between exposure to synthetic pesticides and health of agricultural workers. RECENT FINDINGS Current research suggests that exposure to synthetic pesticides may be associated with adverse health outcomes. Agricultural workers represent a potentially vulnerable population, due to a combination of unique social and cultural risk factors as well as exposure to hazards inherent in agricultural work. Pesticide exposure among agricultural workers has been linked to certain cancers, DNA damage, oxidative stress, neurological disorders, and respiratory, metabolic, and thyroid effects. This review describes literature suggesting that agricultural workers exposed to synthetic pesticides are at an increased risk of certain cancers and neurological disorders. Recent research on respiratory effects is sparse, and more research is warranted regarding DNA damage, oxidative stress, metabolic outcomes, and thyroid effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia L Curl
- Center for Excellence in Environmental Health and Safety, Boise State University, 1910 University Dr., Boise, ID, 83725, USA.
| | - Meredith Spivak
- Center for Excellence in Environmental Health and Safety, Boise State University, 1910 University Dr., Boise, ID, 83725, USA
| | - Rachel Phinney
- Center for Excellence in Environmental Health and Safety, Boise State University, 1910 University Dr., Boise, ID, 83725, USA
| | - Luke Montrose
- Center for Excellence in Environmental Health and Safety, Boise State University, 1910 University Dr., Boise, ID, 83725, USA
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Lerro CC, Koutros S, Andreotti G, Sandler DP, Lynch CF, Louis LM, Blair A, Parks CG, Shrestha S, Lubin JH, Albert PS, Hofmann JN, Beane Freeman LE. Cancer incidence in the Agricultural Health Study after 20 years of follow-up. Cancer Causes Control 2019; 30:311-322. [PMID: 30805813 DOI: 10.1007/s10552-019-01140-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate cancer incidence in the Agricultural Health Study (AHS), a cohort of private pesticide applicators, their spouses, and commercial applicators, based on 12,420 cancers, adding 5,989 cancers, and 9 years of follow-up since last evaluation. METHODS We calculated age, year, sex, and race-adjusted standardized incidence ratios (SIR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for cancer sites in the AHS relative to the general population. RESULTS Overall AHS cancer incidence was lower than the general population (SIRprivate = 0.91, CI 0.89-0.93; SIRspouse = 0.89, CI 0.86-0.92; SIRcommercial = 0.83, CI 0.76-0.92), with notable deficits across applicators and spouses for oral cavity, pancreas, and lung cancers. Cancer excesses included prostate cancer, lip cancer, certain B-cell lymphomas (e.g., multiple myeloma), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), thyroid cancer, testicular cancer, and peritoneal cancer. The lung cancer deficit was strongest among applicators reporting potential exposure to endotoxin at study enrollment (tasks such as raising animals and handling stored grain). CONCLUSIONS Although an overall deficit in cancer was observed, there were notable exceptions, including newly observed excesses for AML, thyroid, testicular, and peritoneal cancers. Furthermore, endotoxin exposure may, in part, account for observed lung cancer incidence deficits. Cancer incidence patterns in the AHS suggest farm exposures' relevance to cancer etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine C Lerro
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, 6E116, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA.
| | - Stella Koutros
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, 6E116, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Gabriella Andreotti
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, 6E116, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Dale P Sandler
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 111 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Charles F Lynch
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Iowa, 145 N. Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - Lydia M Louis
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, 6E116, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Aaron Blair
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, 6E116, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Christine G Parks
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 111 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Srishti Shrestha
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 111 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Jay H Lubin
- Biostatistics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Paul S Albert
- Biostatistics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Jonathan N Hofmann
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, 6E116, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Laura E Beane Freeman
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, 6E116, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
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Collotta M, Bertazzi PA, Bollati V. Epigenetics and pesticides. Toxicology 2013; 307:35-41. [PMID: 23380243 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2013.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 193] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2012] [Revised: 01/08/2013] [Accepted: 01/16/2013] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Pesticides, a wide class of environmental contaminants, may cause both acute and delayed health effects in exposed subjects. These effects can range from simple irritation of the skin and eyes to more severe effects such as affecting the nervous system, the reproductive system and cancer. The molecular mechanisms underlying such effects are still under investigation. Epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in gene expression that occur without a change in the DNA sequence. Several epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone modifications and microRNA expression, can be triggered by environmental factors. We review current evidences indicating that epigenetic modifications may mediate pesticide effects on human health. In vitro, animal, and human investigations have identified several classes of pesticides that modify epigenetic marks, including endocrine disruptors, persistent organic pollutants, arsenic, several herbicides and insecticides. Several investigations have examined the effects of environmental exposures and epigenetic markers, and identified toxicants that modify epigenetic states. These modifications are similar to the ones found in pathological tissue samples. In spite of the current limitations, available evidence supports the concept that epigenetics holds substantial potential for furthering our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of pesticides health effects, as well as for predicting health-related risks due to conditions of environmental exposure and individual susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Collotta
- Center of Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano and Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Mangiagalli e Regina Elena, Via San Barnaba 8, Milan 20122, Italy
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Czerninski R, Zini A, Sgan-Cohen HD. Lip cancer: incidence, trends, histology and survival: 1970-2006. Br J Dermatol 2010; 162:1103-9. [PMID: 20163415 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2010.09698.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND High levels of lip cancer have been reported among Israelis over the last four decades. Epidemiological descriptions and analyses for this region have not previously been presented. OBJECTIVES To establish the incidence, trends and histology of lip cancer and associated demographic variables in Israel over time. METHODS Data for 1970-2006 were derived from the Israel National Cancer Registry. Incidence and trends over time and analyses by lip site, sex, age, origin, histology and 5-year survival were studied. RESULTS Of 4337 new cases, most were found among men (61.4%), people aged over 53 years (75.5%), and those with lighter skin (62.6%). Lip cancer cases were 40 times more prevalent in the external than in the inner lip. The dominant tumour type was squamous cell carcinoma at the external lower lip and intraoral lip mucosa (predominantly in men) and basal cell carcinoma (originating from skin) at the external upper lip (predominantly in women). Minor salivary gland tumours, melanoma and metastases were also reported. Slight increases in the trend of upper lip cancer and decreases for lower lip cancer were reported. CONCLUSIONS Men, fair-skinned individuals and those over 53 years of age were at higher risk for lip cancer. A higher incidence of external lip cancer, compared with internal, may indicate a major role for sun exposure rather than smoking. The effect of public awareness campaigns as well as occupational changes, both related to sun exposure, should be studied carefully as potential factors in the changing incidence of lip tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Czerninski
- Department of Oral Medicine, Hebrew University Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, PO Box 12272, Jerusalem 91120, Israel.
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Halstensen AS. Species-specific fungal DNA in airborne dust as surrogate for occupational mycotoxin exposure? Int J Mol Sci 2008; 9:2543-2558. [PMID: 19330091 PMCID: PMC2635655 DOI: 10.3390/ijms9122543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2008] [Revised: 12/08/2008] [Accepted: 12/10/2008] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Possible health risks associated with occupational inhalation of mycotoxin-containing dust remain largely unknown, partly because methods for mycotoxin detection are not sensitive enough for the small dust masses obtained by personal sampling, which is needed for inhalable exposure measurements. Specific and sensitive PCR detection of fungi with mycotoxin-producing potential seem to be a good surrogate for occupational exposure measurements that include all fungal structures independent of morphology and cultivability. Results should, however, be interpreted with caution due to variable correlations with mycotoxin concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Straumfors Halstensen
- National Institute of Occupational Health, Department of Chemical and Biological Working Environment, Gydasvei 8, Pb. 8149 Dep., N-0033 Oslo, Norway E-Mail:
; Tel. +47-23-19-53-38; Fax: +47-23-19-52-06
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