Pesticide use and cholinesterase inhibition in small-scale agricultural workers in southern Brazil

Abstract

A controlled cross-sectional study of family growers of fruit and vegetables was conducted between October 2009 and October 2010 to characterize the use of pesticides, establish the socio-demographic profile, and analyze cholinesterase activity in small-scale agricultural workers in Southern Brazil. Data was collected for 173 workers and 179 controls. A structured questionnaire was applied collecting socio-demographic information and determining knowledge and work practices in relation to pesticide use. The benchmarks for total cholinesterase (ChEs) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) were obtained from the average enzymatic activity of the occupationally unexposed group (control). The mean age of the exposed population was 40.0 ± 11.2 years. The symptoms differed significantly (p<0.05) between the exposed and unexposed populations. Forty (23.1%) workers showed symptoms associated with exposure to pesticides. The average value of enzymatic activity in the occupationally unexposed group for ChEs was 6.3 μmol/mL/min among males and 5.6 μmol/mL/min among females while for BuChE was 2.4 μmol/mL/min among males and 2.0 μmol/mL/min among females. Eight (4.6%) workers had high inhibition (>30%) of ChEs activity, whereas no workers showed high inhibition (>50%) of BuChE. Potential factors involved include gender, education, pesticide orientation, exposure, and hygiene measures.Uniterms: Pesticides/use. Pesticides/occupational exposure. Cholinesterase/evaluation/exposure to pesticides. Agricultural workers/exposure to pesticides. Environmental health. Brazil/southern/ environmental health.Realizou-se um estudo transversal controlado, com hortifruticultores, durante o período de outubro de 2009 a outubro de 2010, a fim de caracterizar o uso de praguicidas, estabelecer o perfil sócio demográfico e analisar a atividade das colinesterases em trabalhadores rurais do sul do Brasil. Os dados foram obtidos de 173 trabalhadores e 179 controles. Um formulário estruturado foi aplicado obtendo informações sócio demográficas, conhecimento e práticas de trabalho relacionadas com o uso de praguicidas. Os valores de referência para colinesterases totais (ChEs) e butirilcolinesterase (BuChE) foram obtidos a partir da média da atividade enzimática do grupo controle. A idade média da população exposta foi de 40,0±11,2 anos. Os sinais/sintomas foram significativamente diferentes (p<0,05) entre a população exposta e não exposta. Quarenta trabalhadores (23,1%) apresentaram sinais/sintomas relacionados com a exposição aos praguicidas. O valor médio do grupo controle foi de 6,3 μmol/mL/min para o gênero masculino e 5,6 μmol/mL/min para o gênero feminino na ChEs; 2,4 μmol/mL/min para o gênero masculino e 2,0 μmol/mL/min para o gênero feminino na BuChE. Do total de trabalhadores (n=173), 08 (4,6%) apresentaram inibição elevada (>30%) das atividades das ChEs, e para BuChE nenhum trabalhador apresentou alta inibição (>50%). Dentre os fatores que poderiam estar envolvidos destacam-se o gênero, escolaridade, orientação para trabalhar com praguicidas, e...

Implicações do uso de agrotóxicos:Percepções de familiares de crianças portadoras de neoplasia Implications of pesticide use: perceptions of families of children with cancer

“…It is also emphasized that the level of education of certain populations interfere in the understanding of the terms contained in pesticide labels. 29 Participants' perceptions corroborate with the findings of a study, 30 by showing that the pesticides registered in Brazil were classified as highly or extremely toxic to humans. In this context, it is reiterated that the repercussions on the health of rural workers and the surrounding community exposed to pesticides represent a public health problem.31 However, according to the following statements, the participants demonstrate uncertainty regarding the factors that triggered the onset of the disease in the child.…”

Occupational exposure and poisoning by chemical products in the Federal District

“…However, only one of the 60 farmers assessed had enzyme inhibition greater than 50%, which can indicate disease and be associated with an effect or a dysfunction of the system, according to NR-7 (34) . None of the 173 truck farmer from Paraná State assessed by Nerilo et al (25) had BChE activity inhibited by more than 50% in relation to the control.…”

“…In the Federal District, 44.4% of the farmers from the Federal District reported to use full PPE (13) , while more than 80% of farmers in Mato Grosso do Sul stated that they did not use PPE (14) , although they knew about this equipment and considered that they should use them, but they mentioned the discomfort and their own "sloppiness" in not using them (23) . The non-regular use of PPE was also identified by 70% of farmworkers evaluated in Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro State (24) , 40% in Paraná State (25) , but only by 10% of the family fruit farmers in Rio Grande do Sul State (26) . It is likely that warmer temperatures, found in some regions of the country, may detract from the use of PPE in workers, due to the discomfort they cause, mainly related to the use of waterproof boots and visor, mask, shirt, pant and apron.…”

“…In addition, most other studies assessed the levels of erythrocyte cholinesterase (acetylcholinesterase, AChE) (13,22,25) , biological indicator of effect of organophosphates and carbamates more specific than the BChE. The AChE dosage is also foreseen in the Brazilian legislation (34) , and should be included in the future evaluations of workers assisted by the outpatient care to help to identify cases of poisoning.…”

Neuroprotective effect of dietary black seed flour on key enzymes linked with neuronal signaling molecules in rats exposed to mixture of environmental metals

“…Sub-chronic exposure (60 days) via oral administration proposed that marked elevation of this enzymatic neurotransmitter in the cerebrum was implicated in AD (Akintunde & Oboh, 2015). Further study by Nerilo et al (2014) also reported that high activity of BuChE was found among occupational workers exposed to inimical agents. As indicated in this study, dietary treatment with BSF markedly prevented this effect by depleting the activity of BuChE.…”