Occupational exposure to pesticides and hematological alterations: A survey of farm residents in the South of Brazil

Abstract

This study sought to investigate the association of exposure to organochlorine (OC) and non-persistent pesticides with hematological parameters in an agricultural population in Southern Brazil. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a random sample of 275 farm workers and their families in Farroupilha-RS. A questionnaire was used to collect information on sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, duration, frequency and type of pesticide used, among others. Blood samples were collected and analyzed for serum concentration of 24 OC pesticides and hematological parameters. Associations were explored through linear regression, controlling for confounders. Lifetime use of chemical classes other than organophosphates and dithiocarbamates were associated with decreased number of lymphocytes, while subjects sampled in the high pesticide use season showed higher number of erythrocytes and hemoglobin level. Detectable serum levels of many OC pesticides were associated with lower counts of white blood cells, particularly eosinophils. Although mostly null associations were observed between pesticide use and hematological parameters, findings may suggest that OC pesticides could lead to hematological alterations among agricultural workers.

Association of CYP2D6 (G1934A) gene and hematological disturbances in chronic pesticide exposures

“…In our study, biochemical parameters in rice farmers were not significantly different; however, lower levels of total protein and albumin in Thai orchid farmers had been report (Aroonvilairat et al, 2015). Other biochemical parameters were also disturbed by chronic pesticide exposure, such as blood glucose and lipid profiles (Patil et al, 2009;Pothu et al, 2019;Ramirez-Vargas et al, 2018). Subclinical change in hematological parameter attracts little attention on pesticide exposure rather than cancer, neurological disorders, epigenetic interaction, oxidative stress, and gene polymorphism (Karami-Mohajeri and Abdollahi, 2011;Neghab et al, 2018;Teodoro et al, 2019).…”

“…In previous studies, abnormal blood indices were found, and the impairment of liver and kidney functions were apparent in pesticide sprayers and agricultural workers (Cortés-Iza et al, 2017;Patil et al, 2009;Sudjaroen and Suwannahong, 2017). Life-long and high-season pesticide use are also associated with lower number of RBC and WBC, particularly lymphocyte and eosinophil (Piccoli et al, 2019). Lower count of B lymphocyte with increments of IgE level in chronic pesticide exposures was also reported and had implication on immunological disturbance (Aroonvilairat et al, 2015).…”

Os agrotóxicos mais vendidos no Brasil: Implicações em meio ambiente e saúde

“…Os resultados da sistematização das buscas dos produtos, considerando seus ingredientes ativos, mais vendidos desde 2009 (Tabela 1) mostram que, devido ao pequeno número e até inexistência de trabalhos específicos sobre a biodegradação de cada um destes compostos nas plataformas de busca consultadas pode existir uma lacuna do conhecimento, demonstrando haver espaço para pesquisas na área. Já para agrotóxicos e saúde foram encontrados 63 trabalhos, dos quais apenas 30 foram utilizados para análise (Bochner & Freire, 2020;Brust et al, 2019;Corcino et al, 2019;Cunha & Soares, 2020, 2020Dutra & Ferreira, 2019;Ferreira et al, 2020;França et al, 2020;Freire et al, 2020;Freitas & Garibotti, 2020;García, 2019;Ismael & Rocha, 2019;Lima et al, 2020;Magalhães & Caldas, 2019;Miranda & Oliveira, 2019;Moura et al, 2020;Nascimento et al, 2019;Neves et al, 2020;Nogueira et al, 2020;Oliveira et al, 2020;Petarli et al, 2019;Piccoli et al, 2019;Pluth et al, 2019;Queiroz et al, 2019b;Ristow et al, 2020;Sena et al, 2019;Silva et al, 2019;Silvério et al, 2019;Soares et al, 2019;Vasconcellos et al, 2020).…”

Evaluation of residues of pesticides on humans from medium plant of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

“…Results suggest that chronic exposure to organochlori-nes are associated with immunosuppression. 7 Although this is a study also performed in Rio Grande do Sul, it only evaluated the presence of organochlorines, which have been gradually replaced to safer and non-persistent alternatives.…”