Mixture of Organophosphates Chronic Exposure and Pancreatic Dysregulations in Two Different Population Samples

Abstract

Organophosphates (OP) are a major agrochemical. The application of OP pesticides is expected to increase multifold in the coming decades. The etiology of diabetic diseases is attributed to multiple factors including OP pesticide exposure. The present study investigates pancreatic dysregulation with respect to exocrine enzymes and diabesity in groups of Pakistani and Cameroonian people exposed to a mixture of OP pesticides. Nine hundred and four OP exposed individuals were enrolled for this cross-sectional study after due consent and approval from an ethical review committee. Pesticides' residues were measured by GC-MS spectrometry. Cholinergic enzymes were measured by Elman's method. Serum glucose, insulin, serum amylase, lipase, and triglyceride were measured by spectrophotometry and ELISA; HOMA-IR was determined in OP exposed and non-exposed participants. Stata 15 and R 3.2.0 software were used for statistical analysis of the data. Malathion, chlorpyrifos, and parathion residues were evident in plasma samples. RBC-acetylcholinesterase was significantly depressed in OP exposed groups. In both population samples, investigated pancreatic functions were found to be statistically significantly more dysregulated than non-exposed. OP exposure indicated risk of diabetes and insulin, glycaemia, adiponectin, triglycerides, and TNF-α dysregulations. The study concludes that both OP exposed population groups exhibited a mixture of OP residues and pancreatic dysregulation, although the effect was more pronounced in the Cameroonian population. In addition, serum lipase has a positive correlation with OP exposure and diabetes and may be suggested as an alternate/additional diagnostic marker for diabesity under OP exposure. However, screening of other environmental co-factors with OP for pancreatic dysregulation is suggested.

The Associations between Organophosphate Pesticides (OPs) and Respiratory Disease, Diabetes Mellitus, and Cardiovascular Disease: A Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

“…A study conducted by Panda et al proved that OP exposure in the general population has a potential link with a higher level of insulin resistance and plasma glycated hemoglobin [ 58 ]. A clinical study reported that, in an OP-exposed group, the activity of AChE was decreased in red blood cells, whereas the concentration of lipase/amylase and insulin in plasma was increased, demonstrating direct damage to the pancreatic cells due to OP exposure [ 59 ]. In addition, after OP poisoning, the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase were elevated and reduced glutathione was depleted, indicating the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) [ 60 ].…”

Organophosphate pesticides and new-onset diabetes mellitus: From molecular mechanisms to a possible therapeutic perspective

“…From the clinical study, acute organophosphate exposure was associated with hyperglycemia and then regressed after atropine treatment. From the study published by Leonel Javeres et al [ 16 ], red blood cell acetylcholinesterase activity decreased within the organophosphate exposure group, and the plasma concentrations of lipase/amylase and insulin increased in the organophosphate-exposed group. Such evidence demonstrated the effect of organophosphate on insulin resistance and direct damage to pancreatic cells in clinical investigations.…”