Immunological and genotoxic effects of occupational exposure to α-cypermethrin pesticide

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this work has been to find out the occupational oxidative stress, immunological and genotoxic health hazards among α-cypermethrin (CYP) pesticide-exposed workers. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed including 200 workers divided into 3 groups according to the level of exposure: highly exposed group (50 workers), moderately exposed group (50 workers) and unexposed group (100 workers). All workers were subjected to detailed laboratory investigation for gene P53 mutations, immunological parameters as a cluster of differentiation into 3 percentage (CD3%), CD4% and CD8% in addition to peripheral blood total leukocytic and platelet counts that were measured. Spectrophotometer technique was used for detection of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Air samples were collected with a High Volume Small Surface Sampler for measurement of α-cypermethrin level. Results: A highly exposed group to the α-cypermethrin had lower CD4/CD8 as compared to an unexposed group with statistically significant difference. As regards gene mutation, exons 5a and 6 were more frequent among the highly exposed group as compared to no mutation among moderately exposed and unexposed groups with significant difference. As regards antioxidants; SOD, CAT, GSH and GPx were higher among the unexposed group as compared to the highly and moderately exposed group with statistically significant difference. Significant negative correlation was found between working years and antioxidant parameters. Conclusions: Repeated exposure to α-CYP may lead to gene mutations, immunological disturbances and oxidative stress. Strict safety precautions are required not only for workers but also for public users. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2017;30(4):603-615

Current Research on the Safety of Pyrethroids Used as Insecticides

“…Alpha-cypermethrin, an enantiomeric isomer pair, belongs to type II pyrethroids because of its cyano group ( Figure 1 C) [ 8 , 28 , 68 ]. It occurs in the form of crystalline powder and as a dense yellow mass [ 69 ].…”

“…The pyrethroid is present in the form of two stereoisomers. The LD50 values for cypermethrin to acute oral exposure range from 150 to 500 mg/kg in rats and 2000 mg/kg after 48 h for dermal exposure in rabbits [ 68 , 69 ].…”

“…It has moderately high toxicity to rats and mice, with the LD50 value of 80 mg/kg body weight. Rats were fed with a diet containing 25, 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg [ 68 ]. At the dose of 400 and 800 mg/kg, an abnormal gait, weight loss and diminished food intake, decreased blood protein levels, and increased urine output were observed.…”

“…Research among workers exposed to pesticides is very important. Two-hundred workers exposed to alpha-cypermethrin from an Egyptian company were tested [ 68 ]. The study subjects were divided according to the degree of exposure, into three groups: Workers most vulnerable to exposure to alpha-cypermethrin (weighing and production departments), workers with moderate risk to alpha-cypermethrin exposure (packing and storage), and employers not exposed to alpha-cypermethrin (administrative department).…”

Environmental Health Research in Africa: Important Progress and Promising Opportunities

“…Aflatoxin adducts are known to be carcinogenic and mutagenic and have been associated with induction of the arginine to serine mutation in p53, and act synergistically with the hepatitis B virus to cause liver cancer (Kew, 2013). Repeated exposure to alpha-CYP pesticides appears to lead to p53 gene mutations (El Okda et al, 2017). A genotoxic impact for occupationally exposed antimony trioxide individuals was also reported with DNA damage detected in the form of increased apurinic/apyrimidic sites (El Shanawany et al, 2017).…”