1
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Áfio NDS, Forte ACFDMES, Sanzana CES, Aguiar IWO. [Rural labor associated with lymphohematopoietic cancers in a public reference hospital: a case-control study, Ceará, Brazil, 2019-2021]. CAD SAUDE PUBLICA 2022; 38:e00286121. [PMID: 35976348 DOI: 10.1590/0102-311xpt286121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
This is a paired case-control study that sought to verify the association between professions and lymphohematopoietic cancers in a public reference hospital in the State of Ceará, Brazil, during 2019-2021. Case group consisted of hematological patients with multiple myeloma, leukemias or non-Hodgkin lymphomas, monitored by the social service of a bone marrow transplant hospital unit (n = 114), whereas comparable individuals from a different hospital unit made up the control group (n = 114), forming 1:1 pairs. Diagnosis was performed by a medical team and the variables were measured by accessing hospital records. Group comparison was conducted using bivariate conditional logistic regression and adjusted by region of residence. Results show that multiple myeloma (43.9%), leukemias (43%) and non-Hodgkin lymphomas (13.2%) were the cancer with the highest prevalence in the case group. Proportions of jobs, area of residence, water supply and Regional Superintendence of Health showed statistically significant difference between the case and control groups. Rural workers were more likely to present the cancers studied (ORraw = 5.00, 95%CI: 1.91; 13.06 and ORadjusted = 3.38, 95%CI: 1.20; 9.54), whereas trade workers had lower odds (ORraw = 0.26, 95%CI: 0.10; 0.70 and ORadjusted = 0.30, 95%CI: 0.10; 0.88). The findings allow us to reflect on the process of illness among rural workers and illustrate the potential of health services to contribute to investigations on occupational exposures.
Collapse
|
3
|
Lopes-Ferreira M, Maleski ALA, Balan-Lima L, Bernardo JTG, Hipolito LM, Seni-Silva AC, Batista-Filho J, Falcao MAP, Lima C. Impact of Pesticides on Human Health in the Last Six Years in Brazil. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19063198. [PMID: 35328887 PMCID: PMC8951416 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19063198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Every year, Brazil intensifies its activity in agriculture and, as a result, it has become one of the biggest consumers of pesticides in the world. The high rate of these substances raises environmental and human health concerns. Therefore, we collected papers from PubMed, Scopus, Scielo, and Web of Science databases, from 2015 to 2021. After a blind selection using the software Rayyan QCRI by two authors, 51 studies were included. Researchers from the South and the Southeast Brazilian regions contributed to most publications, from areas that concentrate agricultural commodity complexes. Among the pesticides described in the studies, insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides were the most frequent. The articles reported multiple toxic effects, particularly in rural workers. The results obtained can be used to direct policies to reduce the use of pesticides, and to protect the health of the population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monica Lopes-Ferreira
- Immunoregulation Unit of the Laboratory of Applied Toxinology (CeTICs/FAPESP), Butantan Institute, Vital Brazil Avenue, 1500, Butantan, São Paulo 05503-009, Brazil; (A.L.A.M.); (L.B.-L.); (J.T.G.B.); (L.M.H.); (A.C.S.-S.); (J.B.-F.); (M.A.P.F.); (C.L.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Adolfo Luis Almeida Maleski
- Immunoregulation Unit of the Laboratory of Applied Toxinology (CeTICs/FAPESP), Butantan Institute, Vital Brazil Avenue, 1500, Butantan, São Paulo 05503-009, Brazil; (A.L.A.M.); (L.B.-L.); (J.T.G.B.); (L.M.H.); (A.C.S.-S.); (J.B.-F.); (M.A.P.F.); (C.L.)
- Post-Graduation Program of Toxinology, Butantan Institute, São Paulo 05503-009, Brazil
| | - Leticia Balan-Lima
- Immunoregulation Unit of the Laboratory of Applied Toxinology (CeTICs/FAPESP), Butantan Institute, Vital Brazil Avenue, 1500, Butantan, São Paulo 05503-009, Brazil; (A.L.A.M.); (L.B.-L.); (J.T.G.B.); (L.M.H.); (A.C.S.-S.); (J.B.-F.); (M.A.P.F.); (C.L.)
| | - Jefferson Thiago Gonçalves Bernardo
- Immunoregulation Unit of the Laboratory of Applied Toxinology (CeTICs/FAPESP), Butantan Institute, Vital Brazil Avenue, 1500, Butantan, São Paulo 05503-009, Brazil; (A.L.A.M.); (L.B.-L.); (J.T.G.B.); (L.M.H.); (A.C.S.-S.); (J.B.-F.); (M.A.P.F.); (C.L.)
| | - Lucas Marques Hipolito
- Immunoregulation Unit of the Laboratory of Applied Toxinology (CeTICs/FAPESP), Butantan Institute, Vital Brazil Avenue, 1500, Butantan, São Paulo 05503-009, Brazil; (A.L.A.M.); (L.B.-L.); (J.T.G.B.); (L.M.H.); (A.C.S.-S.); (J.B.-F.); (M.A.P.F.); (C.L.)
| | - Ana Carolina Seni-Silva
- Immunoregulation Unit of the Laboratory of Applied Toxinology (CeTICs/FAPESP), Butantan Institute, Vital Brazil Avenue, 1500, Butantan, São Paulo 05503-009, Brazil; (A.L.A.M.); (L.B.-L.); (J.T.G.B.); (L.M.H.); (A.C.S.-S.); (J.B.-F.); (M.A.P.F.); (C.L.)
- Post-Graduation Program of Toxinology, Butantan Institute, São Paulo 05503-009, Brazil
| | - Joao Batista-Filho
- Immunoregulation Unit of the Laboratory of Applied Toxinology (CeTICs/FAPESP), Butantan Institute, Vital Brazil Avenue, 1500, Butantan, São Paulo 05503-009, Brazil; (A.L.A.M.); (L.B.-L.); (J.T.G.B.); (L.M.H.); (A.C.S.-S.); (J.B.-F.); (M.A.P.F.); (C.L.)
- Post-Graduation Program of Toxinology, Butantan Institute, São Paulo 05503-009, Brazil
| | - Maria Alice Pimentel Falcao
- Immunoregulation Unit of the Laboratory of Applied Toxinology (CeTICs/FAPESP), Butantan Institute, Vital Brazil Avenue, 1500, Butantan, São Paulo 05503-009, Brazil; (A.L.A.M.); (L.B.-L.); (J.T.G.B.); (L.M.H.); (A.C.S.-S.); (J.B.-F.); (M.A.P.F.); (C.L.)
| | - Carla Lima
- Immunoregulation Unit of the Laboratory of Applied Toxinology (CeTICs/FAPESP), Butantan Institute, Vital Brazil Avenue, 1500, Butantan, São Paulo 05503-009, Brazil; (A.L.A.M.); (L.B.-L.); (J.T.G.B.); (L.M.H.); (A.C.S.-S.); (J.B.-F.); (M.A.P.F.); (C.L.)
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Mohamed YA, Meabed MH, Abougaba KM, Sayed FA, Welson NN, Ibrahim RE. A comparative study: rural versus urban children as regard exposure to organophosphorus pesticides using cholinesterase enzyme activity. BENI-SUEF UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF BASIC AND APPLIED SCIENCES 2022. [DOI: 10.1186/s43088-021-00190-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
The uncontrolled long-term exposure to organophosphorus (OP) pesticides is hazardous to health especially in children. The present study aimed to determine the acetyl cholinesterase enzyme serum level in exposure and non-exposure children groups, to explore other clinical and laboratory outcomes of organophosphorus pesticides exposure on children living in rural versus urban areas, and to establish the hemotoxic alterations as a result of the exposure. A ninety clinically free children—forty-five from rural areas and forty-five children from urban areas—were assessed, and the clinical and laboratory effects of their exposure to organophosphorus pesticides were evaluated via measuring acetyl cholinesterase (AChE) enzyme activity.
Results
Significant differences between the two areas of residence were found in weight %, visits to the field, eating vegetables without washing, presence of insecticides at home, and previous organophosphorus pesticides toxicity of the patients and their families. Eye, respiratory, cardiac, nervous, muscle, gastrointestinal, and urinary symptoms were more common in the rural residence group which shows more exposure to pesticides. The mean level of the AChE enzyme was less in the rural residence group than the other one, and it showed significant correlations with the anemia indicating parameters. A weak positive correlation was found with platelets count.
Conclusions
Chronic organophosphorus toxicity that is more prevalent in rural areas may result in many transient neglected symptoms, unrevealed acetyl cholinesterase (AChE) enzyme deficiency, anemia, and thrombocytopenia. Acetyl cholinesterase enzyme serum level can be used as a screening test for organophosphorus pesticides exposure.
Collapse
|
5
|
Suwannarin N, Prapamontol T, Isobe T, Nishihama Y, Mangklabruks A, Pantasri T, Chantara S, Naksen W, Nakayama SF. Association between Haematological Parameters and Exposure to a Mixture of Organophosphate and Neonicotinoid Insecticides among Male Farmworkers in Northern Thailand. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:10849. [PMID: 34682593 PMCID: PMC8535230 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182010849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to insecticides may result in various health problems. This study investigated the association between haematological parameters and exposure to a mixture of organophosphate (OP) and neonicotinoid (NEO) insecticides among male farmworkers in Fang district, Chiang Mai province, northern Thailand. Concentrations of urinary dialkylphosphates, non-specific metabolites of OPs, and NEOs and their metabolites and haematological parameters were measured in 143 male farmworkers. The Bayesian kernel machine regression model was employed to evaluate the associations. Exposure to a mixture of insecticides was significantly associated with the mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) when the concentrations of all the compounds and their metabolites were at the 60th percentile or higher compared with the 50th percentile. Furthermore, exposure to clothianidin (CLO) showed a decreasing association with MCHC when all the other insecticides were at their mean concentrations. CLO was the most likely compound to reduce MCHC, and this was confirmed by sensitivity analysis. These findings suggest that exposure to NEO insecticides, especially CLO, affects the haematological status relating to haemoglobin parameters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Neeranuch Suwannarin
- Ph.D. Degree Program in Environmental Science, Environmental Science Research Center, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand;
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences and Non-Communicable Diseases Center of Excellence, Research Institute for Health Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
- Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba 305-8506, Japan; (T.I.); (Y.N.)
| | - Tippawan Prapamontol
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences and Non-Communicable Diseases Center of Excellence, Research Institute for Health Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Tomohiko Isobe
- Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba 305-8506, Japan; (T.I.); (Y.N.)
| | - Yukiko Nishihama
- Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba 305-8506, Japan; (T.I.); (Y.N.)
| | - Ampica Mangklabruks
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand;
| | - Tawiwan Pantasri
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand;
| | - Somporn Chantara
- Environmental Science Research Center, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand;
| | - Warangkana Naksen
- Faculty of Public Health, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand;
| | - Shoji F. Nakayama
- Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba 305-8506, Japan; (T.I.); (Y.N.)
| |
Collapse
|