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Hematological, Biochemical Effects, and Self-reported Symptoms in Pesticide Retailers. J Occup Environ Med 2011; 53:517-21. [DOI: 10.1097/jom.0b013e318215fbf2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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Ali T, Bhalli JA, Rana SM, Khan QM. Cytogenetic damage in female Pakistani agricultural workers exposed to pesticides. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS 2008; 49:374-380. [PMID: 18418870 DOI: 10.1002/em.20395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Bhawalpur is a major cotton-growing area in Pakistan. Cotton picking in Pakistan is carried out by females and as a result of the intensive use of pesticides during the growing season these females are exposed to pesticide residues in the picking season. In the present study, peripheral blood was obtained from 69 cotton pickers and 69 unexposed females and used to assess the effect of pesticide exposure on genetic damage as well as on hepatic enzymes and serum cholinesterase. The subjects were of similar average age in workers and control groups (37.55 +/- 12.75 vs. 37.52 +/- 13.47, P > 0.05). Average exposure time of the picker females was 10.26 +/- 6.14 years. Subjects from the exposed group did not use any protective measures during their work activities. Levels of serum cholinesterase were lower, and levels of alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase were higher in the exposed workers as compared with the control group (P < 0.001). The exposed group exhibited significantly increased frequencies of binucleated cells with micronuclei (12.72 +/- 3.48 vs. 4.35 +/- 2.44, P < 0.001) and total number of micronuclei in binucleated lymphocytes (16.51 +/- 4.27 vs. 5.86 +/- 3.09, P < 0.001) in comparison with subjects of the control group. The binucleated cells with micronuclei frequency also seemed to increase with age in both the groups, however, the magnitude of increase was greater in exposed group than the control. Results from the present study indicate that occupational exposure to pesticide mixtures results in cytogenetic damage in exposed females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tayyaba Ali
- Environmental Toxicology Lab, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Faisalabad, Pakistan
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Tomei F, Biagi M, Baccolo TP, Tomao E, Giuntoli P, Rosati MV. Liver Damage among Environmental Disinfestation Workers. J Occup Health 2006. [DOI: 10.1539/joh.40.193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Tomei
- Occupational Medicine Department‟La Sapienza” UniversityRome Viale Regina Elena336‐00161RomeItaly
| | - Marco Biagi
- Occupational Medicine Department‟La Sapienza” UniversityRome Viale Regina Elena336‐00161RomeItaly
| | - Tiziana Paola Baccolo
- Occupational Medicine Department‟La Sapienza” UniversityRome Viale Regina Elena336‐00161RomeItaly
| | - Enrico Tomao
- Occupational Medicine Department‟La Sapienza” UniversityRome Viale Regina Elena336‐00161RomeItaly
| | - Paola Giuntoli
- Occupational Medicine Department‟La Sapienza” UniversityRome Viale Regina Elena336‐00161RomeItaly
| | - Maria Valeria Rosati
- Occupational Medicine Department‟La Sapienza” UniversityRome Viale Regina Elena336‐00161RomeItaly
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Bhalli JA, Khan QM, Haq MA, Khalid AM, Nasim A. Cytogenetic analysis of Pakistani individuals occupationally exposed to pesticides in a pesticide production industry. Mutagenesis 2006; 21:143-8. [PMID: 16540494 DOI: 10.1093/mutage/gel009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Although several cytogenetic biomonitoring studies on workers exposed to pesticides have been reported, there is only limited information on this topic from developing countries where pesticides have been widely used over the years. People in developing countries are at higher risk from exposure, due to poor working conditions and a lack of awareness of the potential hazards during manufacturing and application of the pesticides. The present study has assessed the genotoxic effects of pesticides on workers involved in the pesticide manufacturing industry. Subjects in the exposed group (29) were drawn from workers at a pesticide production plant in district Multan (Pakistan). The control group (unexposed) composed of 35 individuals from the same area but was not involved in pesticide production. Liver enzymes, serum cholinesterase (SChE), micronucleus assay and some haematological parameters were used as biomarkers in this study. A statistically significant (P < 0.001) increase in levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase was detected in exposed workers with respect to the control group. There was a significant (P < 0.001) decrease in the level of SChE in the exposed group. Exposed individuals exhibited cytogenetic damage with increased frequencies (P < 0.001) of binucleated cells with micronuclei and total number of micronuclei in binucleated lymphocytes in comparison with subjects of the control group. A decrease (P < 0.001) in cytokinesis block proliferation index similarly demonstrates a genotoxic effect due to pesticide exposure. The results indicate that the pesticide industry workers have experienced significant genotoxic exposure. This study highlights the risk to workers in the pesticide manufacturing industries of developing countries such as Pakistan and the need for implementation of suitable safety measures to prevent/limit exposure to harmful toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javed A Bhalli
- Environmental Toxicology Laboratory, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, NIBGE, PO Box 577, Jhang Road, Faisalabad, Pakistan
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Tochigi M, Umekage T, Otani T, Kato T, Iwanami A, Asukai N, Sasaki T, Kato N. Serum cholesterol, uric acid and cholinesterase in victims of the Tokyo subway sarin poisoning: a relation with post-traumatic stress disorder. Neurosci Res 2002; 44:267-72. [PMID: 12413655 DOI: 10.1016/s0168-0102(02)00146-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Cholesterol and uric acid, which might correlate with steroidogenesis and monoamine functions, may change under emotionally stressful conditions and in mental disturbances. Among anxiety disorders, an increase of serum cholesterol has been observed in panic disorder. However, the issue has not been adequately investigated in other anxiety disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The present study investigated serum cholesterols, uric acid and cholinesterase in victims of the Tokyo subway sarin poisoning, 1995, in a series of 5-year follow-ups. Cholinesterase was studied, in relevance with serum lipid changes and symptoms of PTSD, and also in light of a biological effect of sarin. Out of 34 victims, eight developed PTSD and two were currently diagnosed with PTSD using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS). No significant relationship was observed between PTSD and serum cholesterols or uric acid. Several factors including co-occurrence of other mental disturbances with PTSD, in addition to the limited sample size, might have affected the result. In contrast, serum cholinesterase level was significantly reduced in the victims with the development of PTSD, compared with the matched controls (P<0.02, t-test). This might partly reflect a long-term remnant effect of sarin intoxication, although an effect of the psychological experience could not be totally excluded.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mamoru Tochigi
- Department of Psychiatry, Haryugaoka Hospital, Fukushima, Japan.
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Bhatnagar VK, Karnik AB, Suthar AM, Zaidi SSA, Kashyap R, Shah MP, Kulkarni PK, Saiyed HN. Biological indices in formulators exposed to a combination of pesticides. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2002; 68:22-28. [PMID: 11731827 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-001-0214-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2001] [Accepted: 09/18/2001] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- V K Bhatnagar
- National Institute of Occupational Health, Indian Council of Medical Research, Meghani Nagar, Ahmedabad, 380 016, India
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Carbonell E, Valbuena A, Xamena N, Creus A, Marcos R. Temporary variations in chromosomal aberrations in a group of agricultural workers exposed to pesticides. Mutat Res 1995; 344:127-34. [PMID: 7491130 DOI: 10.1016/0165-1218(95)00051-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The induction of chromosomal aberrations (CA) was studied in the peripheral lymphocytes of 29 male agricultural workers occupationally exposed to several pesticides. To investigate possible exposure-related changes in the frequency of CA, a longitudinal study has been conducted. Two blood samples were taken from each individual: one in a period of high exposure (spring-summer) and the other in a period of lower exposure (autumn-winter). Simultaneously, two matched control groups constituted by 29 and 24 healthy men, without indication of exposure to pesticides, were analysed. During the period of major exposure, the group of agricultural workers showed a significant increase in the frequency of CA, mainly of chromatid-type, when compared to the unexposed control group; nevertheless, this increase in the expression of CA was not found in the period of minor exposure. This finding could indicate that the frequency of CA is related to the intensity of the pesticide exposure, and that CA have a relatively short-life, recovering the control value a few months later. In addition to the cytogenetic analysis, biochemical and haemotological blood parameters were also analysed and no significant variations were detected.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Carbonell
- Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Edifici Cn, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
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Peedicayil J, Ernest K, Thomas M, Kanagasabapathy AS, Stephen PM. The effect of organophosphorus compounds on serum pseudocholinesterase levels in a group of industrial workers. Hum Exp Toxicol 1991; 10:275-8. [PMID: 1679650 DOI: 10.1177/096032719101000406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
This paper presents the findings of a study of serum pseudocholinesterase activity in a group of 36 industrial workers chronically exposed to organophosphorus (OP) compounds. The mean pseudocholinesterase level of the workers was significantly lower than that of 36 other workers without a history of similar exposure. Although there was a high incidence of clinical features suggestive of OP compound toxicity in the exposed workers, no significant correlation between serum pseudocholinesterase levels and clinical symptoms and signs was found. Six exposed workers, found to have low serum pseudocholinesterase levels, were transferred for 6 months to work areas which did not involve OP exposure, whereupon their levels rose significantly back to the normal range.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Peedicayil
- Department of Pharmacology & Clinical Pharmacology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
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Srivastava AK, Gupta BN, Mathur AK, Mathur N, Mahendra PN, Bharti RS. The clinical and biochemical study of pesticide sprayers. Hum Exp Toxicol 1991; 10:279-83. [PMID: 1679651 DOI: 10.1177/096032719101000407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Clinical, haematological and biochemical studies of 34 subjects, occupationally exposed to different types of pesticides, were conducted. The findings have been compared with those observed in 14 control subjects. Inhibition of cholinesterase activity was observed in the exposed group. Serum alkaline phosphatase was also found to be raised. Radiological examination revealed pneumonitic patches in the chest skiagrams of three exposed subjects. Paraesthesia with hyporeflexia was also found in 8.8% of exposed subjects. The findings suggest that exposure to multiple pesticides over many years affects the normal functioning of different organ systems and may produce characteristic clinical effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- A K Srivastava
- Epidemiology Division, Industrial Toxicology Research Centre, Luchnow, India
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Wu YQ, Wang JD, Chen JS, Chung SC, Hwang SY. Occupational risk of decreased plasma cholinesterase among pesticide production workers in Taiwan. Am J Ind Med 1989; 16:659-66. [PMID: 2596487 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.4700160605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
To determine the influence of ventilation control and work practices on the health of workers potentially exposed to organophosphate and carbamate compounds, we examined a total of 989 employees from pesticide factories in Taiwan during 1986-1987. Each employee was examined by a physician, and a blood sample was drawn for plasma cholinesterase, complete blood count, and liver and renal function tests. Forty-one employees with medical conditions that might alter the plasma cholinesterase were excluded. Results showed that 43 of 515 production employees had decreased plasma cholinesterase as compared with four of 340 non-production employees. Production employees working under adequate ventilation control seemed to have a lower prevalence of decreased plasma cholinesterase than those under inadequate ventilation control, although the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.242). There was a significant association between the level of housekeeping and work practices and the prevalence of decreased plasma cholinesterase (p = 0.022). We conclude that inadequate ventilation control and poor work practices may create a potential danger of pesticide poisoning among production employees in Taiwan and should be corrected immediately.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Q Wu
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University, College of Medicine, Taipei, R.O.C
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Misra UK, Nag D, Khan WA, Ray PK. A study of nerve conduction velocity, late responses and neuromuscular synapse functions in organophosphate workers in India. Arch Toxicol 1988; 61:496-500. [PMID: 3190448 DOI: 10.1007/bf00293697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
To study the effect of occupational organophosphate exposure on neuromuscular function, 24 workers exposed to fenthion [0,0-dimethyl-0(4-methyl mercapto-3 methyl phenyl)phosphorothioate], whose mean age was 31.7 years (range 22-50) and mean duration of exposure to fenthion 8.5 years (range 1-19) were subjected to detailed clinical and neurophysiological evaluation after spraying. The neurophysiological tests included motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity; F response, H reflex and electromyographic neuromuscular synapse testing. Fenthion exposure was monitored by serum acetyl cholinesterase (AchE) levels. The observations were repeated after withdrawing the workers from fenthion exposure for 3 weeks to study the reversibility of the observed changes. There was no clinical evidence of peripheral neuropathy or muscle weakness. However, peroneal motor conduction velocity (p less than 0.05) terminal motor latency of median (p less than 0.1), and peroneal nerve (p less than 0.05); F minimal latency and H reflex latency (p less than 0.01) were significantly affected. Twenty-nine per cent of workers had repetitive muscle activity. Serum AchE levels also showed significant changes (p less than 0.01). The clinical significance of these subtle neurophysiological changes requires further investigation and follow-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- U K Misra
- Department of Neurology, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
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Duncan RC, Griffith J, Konefal J. Comparison of plasma cholinesterase depression among workers occupationally exposed to organophosphorus pesticides as reported by various studies. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 1986; 18:1-11. [PMID: 3701875 DOI: 10.1080/15287398609530843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
A number of studies have reported on the inhibitory effects of organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) on the enzyme cholinesterase (ChE) among agricultural workers. With the increasing use of OPs, surveys of blood ChE activity on exposed workers may help to identify workers at greatest risk and to provide insight into the use history--e.g., mixing, loading, application, and harvesting--that might lead to a hazardous situation. Although it does appear that measurements of ChE activity are valuable in worker surveillance programs, it is difficult to interpret findings from various studies since they are dependent on the method of assay and the emphasis is usually placed on statistical tests (i.e., p values) that depend on the number of subjects studied. In the present paper a method is presented to compare ChE values reported in several studies utilizing various methods and units of measurement, and to assess the impact of OP exposure as a percentage of subjects with ChE values depressed below normal limits.
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Misra UK, Nag D, Bhushan V, Ray PK. Clinical and biochemical changes in chronically exposed organophosphate workers. Toxicol Lett 1985; 24:187-93. [PMID: 3983971 DOI: 10.1016/0378-4274(85)90056-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Health effects of occupational organophosphate exposure were investigated by subjecting 22 workers chronically exposed to an organophosphate pesticide, fenthion (O,O-dimethyl-O-(4-methylmercapto-3-methylphenyl)-phosphorothioate) to clinical evaluation, estimation of serum cholinesterase, serum alkaline phosphatase (SAP), serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT). The mean age of the workers was 31 years and the mean duration of fenthion exposure 8.2 years. Headache (59%), giddiness (50%), ocular symptoms (27%) and paresthesia (18%) were the commonest symptoms. Serum acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase levels were significantly lower than in controls. After withdrawing the workers from organophosphate exposure for 3 weeks, the follow-up study revealed absence of transient symptoms. There was no change in their neurological status, and serum acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase levels were raised significantly, whereas the other serum enzymes showed no significant change. For monitoring of occupational organophosphate exposure, the importance of both clinical and biochemical parameters is emphasised.
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