RESUMO
This study explored the potential association between chronic exposure to pesticide mixtures including paraquat and respiratory outcomes among Colombian farmers. Sociodemographic and occupational data, respiratory symptoms and spirometric data were collected. Paraquat in spot urine samples were quantified with solid-phase extraction high-performance liquid chromatography. Multiple Poisson regressions with robust variance were used to determine factors associated with respiratory outcomes. Profiles of pesticide mixtures used were identified among 217 farmworkers, but profenofos and methamidophos-based mixtures were more frequent. Chronic paraquat exposure was slightly associated with self-reported asthma (PR: 1.06; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.13). Different pesticide mixtures were associated with flu, thoracic pain, allergic rhinitis, and obstructive pattern in spirometry. Although acute exposure to paraquat is low among Colombian farmers participating in the study, associations between respiratory outcomes and chronic pesticide mixtures exposure including profenofos, methamidophos or glyphosate require further specific studies.
Assuntos
Fazendeiros , Exposição Ocupacional/efeitos adversos , Paraquat/efeitos adversos , Praguicidas/efeitos adversos , Doenças Respiratórias/epidemiologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Dor no Peito/epidemiologia , Colômbia/epidemiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Organotiofosfatos/efeitos adversos , Compostos Organotiofosforados/efeitos adversos , Paraquat/urina , Rinite Alérgica , EspirometriaRESUMO
To investigate pesticide residue concentrations and potential human health risk, a study was conducted in 118 leafy vegetable samples collected in 2014-2015 from the North Central agricultural areas of Chile. The pesticide residues were determined using the multiresidue QuEChERS method by gas chromatography as well as high-performance liquid chromatography. The results indicated that 27% of the total samples contained pesticide residues above the maximum residue limits of each active ingredient. The maximum estimated daily intake obtained for carbon disulphide (CS2), methamidophos, azoxystrobin and cypermethrin were 0.57, 0.07, 0.06 and 0.05 mg kg-1, respectively, which was higher than their acceptable daily intake. It is concluded that inhabitants of the North Central agricultural area of Chile are not exposed to health risks through the consumption of leafy vegetables with the exception of methamidophos. Nevertheless, the high levels of methamidophos detected in leafy vegetables could be considered a potential chronic health risk.
Assuntos
Agricultura/métodos , Contaminação de Alimentos/análise , Resíduos de Praguicidas/análise , Verduras/química , Chile , Cromatografia Gasosa , Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Pressão , Análise de Alimentos/métodos , Humanos , Inseticidas/análise , Concentração Máxima Permitida , Compostos Organotiofosforados/efeitos adversos , Compostos Organotiofosforados/análise , Resíduos de Praguicidas/efeitos adversos , Folhas de Planta/química , Medição de RiscoRESUMO
In Costa Rica, thousands of tones of agricultural pesticides have been used for decades and their use is continuously increasing due to intensive and expanding production of coffee, pineapple, rice, ornamental plants and bananas. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether choline esterase (ChE) activity could be used as a biomarker of exposure to pesticides in the Costa Rican native fish Astyanax aeneus (characidae). Three methods used in order to evaluate the ChE biomarker were as follows: Laboratory studies where A. aeneus was exposed to organophosphate pesticide (ethoprophos); In situ 48 hr exposure assessment using caging experiments with fish exposed upstream and downstream of banana plantations and ChE activity estimation of in fish captured directly at sites with different degrees of pesticide exposure. Results from the laboratory studies showed that ChE activity in both brain and muscle tissue was significantly lower in fish exposed to ethoprophos than in controls. Fish from the caging experiments showed no difference in ChE activity neither in brain nor in muscle tissue between the four tested sites and was attributed to the short duration of the exposure. Asignificant difference in ChE activity was determined in muscle of fish captured from Laguna Madre de Dios compared to fish from Canal Batán. Although our laboratory results revealed that ChE activity in A. aeneus was highly responsive to ethoprophos, results from field experiments were less conclusive and showed that the captured fish showed large variability in ChE activity and that more research is needed before ChE activity can be used as reliable biomarker of pesticide exposure.
Assuntos
Characidae/metabolismo , Colinesterases/metabolismo , Exposição Ambiental/efeitos adversos , Compostos Organotiofosforados/efeitos adversos , Praguicidas/efeitos adversos , Animais , Biomarcadores/metabolismo , Costa Rica , Musa , OrganotiofosfatosRESUMO
It has been suggested that, in some cases, exposure to environmental contaminants affects children more profoundly than adults. It is important to evaluate adverse health outcomes in children, a population susceptible to toxic chemicals and mixtures. We examined the effects that maternal exposure to two pesticides had on maturational aspects of offspring development during the nursing period. Nursing female rats were exposed to 1-4mg/kg of intraperitoneal methamidophos, 200-800mg/kg of chlorothalonil, or both. The higher doses of methamidophos affected pup viability by day 21 of life. Both pesticides, alone or together, affected body weight gain of dams and offspring. Developmental milestones evaluated in the pups were incisor eruption, ear unfolding, eye opening and testis descent. Although no clear dose-response relationship was established between these milestones and exposure to methamidophos or chlorothalonil, incisor eruption was accelerated in many groups, and the majority of rat offspring exposed to methamidophos presented later ear unfolding and eye opening than did the control group offspring. Sexual maturation (testis descent) was significantly delayed in some groups. For dams and pups alike, simultaneous exposure to both pesticides was not found to have a greater toxic effect than that resulting from exposure to only one of the two. Taken together, these results demonstrate exposure-related influences on several developmental measures. Detection of more subtle effects may be improved through the use of the developmental temporal response protocols utilized in this study.
Assuntos
Animais Lactentes/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Inseticidas/efeitos adversos , Nitrilas/efeitos adversos , Compostos Organotiofosforados/efeitos adversos , Efeitos Tardios da Exposição Pré-Natal , Animais , Feminino , Masculino , Exposição Materna/efeitos adversos , Gravidez , RatosRESUMO
Organophosphorous pesticides (OPs) are suspected of altering reproductive function by reducing brain acetylcholinesterase activity and monoamine levels, thus impairing hypothalamic and/or pituitary endocrine functions and gonadal processes. Our objective was to evaluate in a longitudinal study the association between OP exposure and serum levels of pituitary and sex hormones. Urinary OP metabolite levels were measured by gas-liquid chromatography, and serum pituitary and sex hormone levels by enzymatic immunoassay and radioimmunoassay in 64 men. A total of 147 urine and blood samples were analyzed for each parameter. More than 80% of the participants had at least one OP metabolite in their urine samples. The most frequent metabolite found was diethylthiophosphate (DETP; 55%), followed by diethylphosphate (DEP; 46%), dimethylthiophosphate (DMTP; 32%), and dimethyldithiophosphate (DMDTP; 31%). However, the metabolites detected at higher concentrations were DMTP, DEP, DMDTP, and dimethylphosphate. There was a high proportion of individuals with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) concentrations outside the range of normality (48%). The average FSH serum levels were higher during the heavy pesticide spraying season. However, a multivariate analysis of data collected in all periods showed that serum FSH levels were negatively associated with urinary concentrations of both DMTP and DMDTP, whereas luteinizing hormone (LH) was negatively associated with DMTP. We observed no significant associations between estradiol or testosterone serum levels with OP metabolites. The hormonal disruption in agricultural workers presented here, together with results from experimental animal studies, suggests that OP exposure disrupts the hypothalamic-pituitary endocrine function and also indicates that FSH and LH are the hormones most affected.
Assuntos
Hormônio Foliculoestimulante/sangue , Hormônio Luteinizante/sangue , Exposição Ocupacional , Compostos Organotiofosforados/efeitos adversos , Praguicidas/efeitos adversos , Adolescente , Adulto , Agricultura , Poluentes Ocupacionais do Ar/efeitos adversos , Poluentes Ocupacionais do Ar/urina , Monitoramento Ambiental , Humanos , Masculino , México , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Compostos Organotiofosforados/urina , Praguicidas/urinaRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship between the chronic exposure (EC) to organophosphated insecticides (IOF) with the presence of peripheral neuropathy (NP) and the deterioration of cognitive functions (DFC). DESIGN OF THE STUDY: Cross-section, comparative and observational. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Workers with more than three months of seniority, who participated in any stage of the process of production of IOF were included, and those with alterations in the neurological function were excluded. Two control groups were made up: the first one, without direct exposure to IOF, and the second one, without any exposure whatsoever to IOF. A physical examination was practiced on inferior limbs and a motor neuroconduction of the fibular nerves was carried out. The Minimum Exam of the Mental State was set (Mental Mini). The sampling was not random. RESULTS: It was found that the presence of DFC and the clinical data for NP were greater in the exposed group than in the controls, (p < 0.05). Besides, data with a tendency to the continuation in the parameters of latencies, widths and waves F for the motor neuroconduction of inferior limbs were presented. CONCLUSIONS: The long term exposure to IOF is related to deterioration in the cognitive function; as well as to the neurological manifestations in inferior limbs that condition an injury in the peripheral nerve, without being conclusive about the loss of its function.
Assuntos
Transtornos Cognitivos/induzido quimicamente , Exposição Ocupacional/efeitos adversos , Compostos Organotiofosforados/efeitos adversos , Doenças do Sistema Nervoso Periférico/induzido quimicamente , Adulto , Doença Crônica , Transtornos Cognitivos/diagnóstico , Transtornos Cognitivos/epidemiologia , Estudos Transversais , Eletromiografia , Humanos , Masculino , Testes Neuropsicológicos , Doenças Profissionais/induzido quimicamente , Doenças Profissionais/diagnóstico , Doenças Profissionais/epidemiologia , Doenças do Sistema Nervoso Periférico/diagnóstico , Doenças do Sistema Nervoso Periférico/epidemiologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) are frequent among agricultural workers and require targeted interventions. Patch testing is necessary for differential diagnosis, but patch testing with pesticides is uncommon. OBJECTIVE: This study explores the frequency of ACD and sensitization to pesticides among highly exposed banana plantation workers. METHODS: Frequently and recently used pesticides on banana plantations in Divala, Panama, were documented. A pesticide patch test tray specific for this population was prepared. A structured interview was administered to 366 participants, followed by a complete skin examination. The pesticide patch test series, as well as a standard patch test series, was applied to 37 workers with dermatoses likely to be pesticide related and to 23 control workers without dermatoses. RESULTS: The pesticide patch tests identified 15 cases (41%) of ACD (20 positive reactions) among the 37 workers diagnosed with pesticide dermatosis. Three controls had allergic reactions to pesticides (4 positive reactions). The pesticides were carbaryl (5 cases), benomyl (4 cases), ethoprophos (3), chlorothalonil (2), imazalil (2), glyphosate (2), thiabendazole (2), chlorpyrifos (1), oxyfluorfen (1), propiconazole (1), and tridemorph (1). Ethoprophos and tridemorph had not been previously identified as sensitizers. Thus, the prevalence of ACD was 0.03 (15 of 366). On the basis of observed prevalences of positive patch-test reactions among the subgroups with and without dermatoses, we estimated that > or = 16% of the entire population may be sensitized to pesticides. CONCLUSION: Sensitization to pesticides among banana plantation workers is a frequent occupational health problem. Pesticide patch test trays should be used in assessing skin diseases in highly exposed workers.