Validation of exposure indexes to pesticides through the analysis of exposure and effect biomarkers in ground pesticide applicators from Argentina

Abstract

The characterization of the population exposed to pesticides and the use of effective biomarkers to evaluate potential health effects are determinant to identify vulnerable groups, understanding the causality of diverse pathologies and propose prevention policies. This is particularly important in countries where intensive agricultural practices had an explosive expansion in last decades.The aim of this study was assessing the usefulness of two exposure indexes questionnaire-based: Intensity Level of the pesticide Exposure (ILE) and Cumulative Exposure Index (CEI) and their scales, in terrestrial applicators of pesticide from the Province of C ordoba (Argentina). The analysis was performed contrasting ILE and CEI results with perceived symptomatology, in addition to effect and exposure biomarkers. A cross-sectional study was designed to compare pesticides body burdens and effect biomarkers between subjects occupationally (OE) and non-occupationally exposed (NOE) to pesticides. Prevalence of perceived symptomatology and genotoxicity damage was higher in the OE group. The exposure condition was the only variable explaining these differences. Significant associations were found between CEI and neurologic symptomatology (p < 0.05) and between ILE and plasmatic cholinesterase (p < 0.1). However, residues of HCB, β-HCH, α-endosulfan, pp'DDE, endrin, β-endosulfan, pp'DDT, endosulfan sulfate and mirex were found in blood samples from both groups. To our knowledge, this is the first report on pesticides body burdens in occupational exposure settings in Argentina. So far, our current results indicate that the occupational condition affects the health of the workers. Significant associations found between symptomatology and biomarkers with scales of CEI and ILE suggest their usefulness to verify different levels of exposure. Further research is necessary to propose these indexes as an affordable tool for occupational health surveillance in areas with difficult access to health care centres.

First Report of the Joint Exposure to Glyphosate and Glufosinate of a Male Population in the Province of Córdoba (Argentina)

“…The environmental methodology previously developed for the analysis of water samples [ 10 , 25 ] was adapted to the analysis of plasma samples. Results of the analytical quality parameters assessed for the purpose methodology showed good reliability of the method and no further trials were needed ( Table 3 ).…”

“…Indeed, before the derivatization, conditioning steps are needed to obtain the appropriate sample for derivatization. Generally, the first step consists of strong acidification of the sample to release a stable complex that the herbicides could form with multivalent cations due to its amphoteric characteristic [ 17 , 25 ]. Our developed methodology involved an acidification step, for both plasma and urine samples, with HCl to reach pH = 1 (for urine samples, methodology A).…”

“…A pre-column derivatization step was performed, as described in several analytical procedures already published, using FMOC-Cl [ 10 , 25 ]. The concentration of 6.5 mM FMOC-Cl derives good performance for both plasma and urine samples, without the need to increase the concentration of the derivatizer (methodology D).…”

“…Pre-treatment of the samples consisted of obtaining protein-free plasma by adding 100 µL of ACN to 100 µL of plasma followed by vortexing and centrifugation at 20 °C (10 min-1699 g). After acidification with 0.3 M HCl to reach pH = 1, samples were agitated (1 h) and neutralized with NaOH 3 M to reach pH = 7 [ 25 ]. Derivatization of the samples was performed using FMOC-Cl [ 10 , 25 ].…”

“…After acidification with 0.3 M HCl to reach pH = 1, samples were agitated (1 h) and neutralized with NaOH 3 M to reach pH = 7 [ 25 ]. Derivatization of the samples was performed using FMOC-Cl [ 10 , 25 ]. First, the volume was adjusted to 0.8 mL with HPLC-grade water.…”