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Mueller W, Jones K, Fuhrimann S, Ahmad ZNBS, Sams C, Harding AH, Povey A, Atuhaire A, Basinas I, van Tongeren M, Kromhout H, Galea KS. Factors influencing occupational exposure to pyrethroids and glyphosate: An analysis of urinary biomarkers in Malaysia, Uganda and the United Kingdom. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 242:117651. [PMID: 37996007 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long-term exposure to pesticides is often assessed using semi-quantitative models. To improve these models, a better understanding of how occupational factors determine exposure (e.g., as estimated by biomonitoring) would be valuable. METHODS Urine samples were collected from pesticide applicators in Malaysia, Uganda, and the UK during mixing/application days (and also during non-application days in Uganda). Samples were collected pre- and post-activity on the same day and analysed for biomarkers of active ingredients (AIs), including synthetic pyrethroids (via the metabolite 3-phenoxybenzoic acid [3-PBA]) and glyphosate, as well as creatinine. We performed multilevel Tobit regression models for each study to assess the relationship between exposure modifying factors (e.g., mixing/application of AI, duration of activity, personal protective equipment [PPE]) and urinary biomarkers of exposure. RESULTS From the Malaysia, Uganda, and UK studies, 81, 84, and 106 study participants provided 162, 384 and 212 urine samples, respectively. Pyrethroid use on the sampling day was most common in Malaysia (n = 38; 47%), and glyphosate use was most prevalent in the UK (n = 93; 88%). Median pre- and post-activity 3-PBA concentrations were similar, with higher median concentrations post-compared to pre-activity for glyphosate samples in the UK (1.7 to 0.5 μg/L) and Uganda (7.6 to 0.8 μg/L) (glyphosate was not used in the Malaysia study). There was evidence from individual studies that higher urinary biomarker concentrations were associated with mixing/application of the AI on the day of urine sampling, longer duration of mixing/application, lower PPE protection, and less education/literacy, but no factor was consistently associated with exposure across biomarkers in the three studies. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest a need for AI-specific interpretation of exposure modifying factors as the relevance of exposure routes, levels of detection, and farming systems/practices may be very context and AI-specific.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Mueller
- Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
| | - Kate Jones
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Buxton, United Kingdom
| | - Samuel Fuhrimann
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Zulkhairul Naim Bin Sidek Ahmad
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom; Department Medical Education and Department Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Craig Sams
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Buxton, United Kingdom
| | | | - Andrew Povey
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Aggrey Atuhaire
- Uganda National Association of Community and Occupational Health (UNACOH), Kampala, Uganda
| | - Ioannis Basinas
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Martie van Tongeren
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Hans Kromhout
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Karen S Galea
- Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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Costa C, Teodoro M, Giambò F, Catania S, Vivarelli S, Fenga C. Assessment of Mancozeb Exposure, Absorbed Dose, and Oxidative Damage in Greenhouse Farmers. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph191710486. [PMID: 36078202 PMCID: PMC9518406 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191710486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/20/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Mancozeb (MNZ) is a fungicide commonly employed in many countries worldwide. This study assesses MNZ absorption dynamics in 19 greenhouse farmers, specifically following dermal exposure, aiming to verify the efficacy of both preventive actions and protective equipment. For data collection, a multi-assessment approach was used, which included a survey to record study population features. MNZ exposure was assessed through the indirect measurement of ethylene thiourea (ETU), widely employed as an MNZ biomarker. The ETU concentration was measured with the patch method, detecting environmental ETU trapped in filter paper pads, applied both on skin and working clothes, during the 8 h work shift. Urine and serum end-of-shift samples were also collected to measure ETU concentrations and well-known oxidative stress biomarkers, respectively, namely reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs), and biological antioxidant potential (BAP). It was observed that levels of ETU absorbed and ETU excreted were positively correlated. Additionally, working clothes effectively protected workers from MNZ exposure. Moreover, following stratification of the samples based on the specific working duty (i.e., preparation and spreading of MNZ and manipulation of MNZ-treated seedlings), it was found that the spreading group had higher ETU-related risk, despite lower chronic exposure levels. AOPP and ROM serum levels were higher in MNZ-exposed subjects compared with non-exposed controls, whereas BAP levels were significantly lower. Such results support an increase in the oxidative stress upon 8 h MNZ exposure at work. In particular, AOPP levels demonstrated a potential predictive role, as suggested by the contingency analysis results. Overall, this study, although conducted in a small group, confirms that ETU detection in pads, as well as in urine, might enable assessment of the risk associated with MNZ exposure in greenhouse workers. Additionally, the measurement of circulating oxidative stress biomarkers might help to stratify exposed workers based on their sensitivity to MNZ. Pivotally, the combination of both ETU measurement and biological monitoring might represent a novel valuable combined approach for risk assessment in farmhouse workers exposed to pesticides. In the future, these observations will help to implement effective preventive strategies in the workplace for workers at higher risk, including greenhouse farmers who are exposed to pesticides daily, as well as to clarify the occupational exposure levels to ETU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Costa
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy
| | - Michele Teodoro
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences, Morphological and Functional Imaging, Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy
| | - Federica Giambò
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences, Morphological and Functional Imaging, Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy
| | - Stefania Catania
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences, Morphological and Functional Imaging, Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy
| | - Silvia Vivarelli
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences, Morphological and Functional Imaging, Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy
| | - Concettina Fenga
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences, Morphological and Functional Imaging, Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy
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Khan AH, Lee LK, Smith DJ. Single-cell analysis of gene expression in the substantia nigra pars compacta of a pesticide-induced mouse model of Parkinson's disease. Transl Neurosci 2022; 13:255-269. [PMID: 36117858 PMCID: PMC9438968 DOI: 10.1515/tnsci-2022-0237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to pesticides in humans increases the risk of Parkinson’s disease (PD), but the mechanisms remain poorly understood. To elucidate these pathways, we dosed C57BL/6J mice with a combination of the pesticides maneb and paraquat. Behavioral analysis revealed motor deficits consistent with PD. Single-cell RNA sequencing of substantia nigra pars compacta revealed both cell-type-specific genes and genes expressed differentially between pesticide and control, including Fam241b, Emx2os, Bivm, Gm1439, Prdm15, and Rai2. Neurons had the largest number of significant differentially expressed genes, but comparable numbers were found in astrocytes and less so in oligodendrocytes. In addition, network analysis revealed enrichment in functions related to the extracellular matrix. These findings emphasize the importance of support cells in pesticide-induced PD and refocus our attention away from neurons as the sole agent of this disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arshad H. Khan
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Box 951735, 23-151 A CHS, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1735, United States of America
| | - Lydia K. Lee
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-6928, United States of America
| | - Desmond J. Smith
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Box 951735, 23-151 A CHS, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1735, United States of America
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Mandic-Rajcevic S, Rubino FM, Ariano E, Cottica D, Neri S, Colosio C. Environmental and biological monitoring for the identification of main exposure determinants in vineyard mancozeb applicators. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2018; 28:289-296. [PMID: 28901326 DOI: 10.1038/jes.2017.14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2016] [Accepted: 03/30/2017] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Grapevine is a vulnerable crop to several fungal diseases often requiring the use of ethylenebisdithiocarbamate (EBDC) fungicides, such as mancozeb. This fungicide has been reported to have goitrogenic, endocrine disrupting, and possibly immunotoxic effects. The aim of this study was to assess workers' exposure in two scenarios of mancozeb application and analyse the main determinants of exposure in order to better understand their mechanism of influence. Environmental monitoring was performed using a modified Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) "patch" methodology and by hand-wash collection, while mancozeb's metabolite, ethylenethiourea (ETU), was measured in 24-h preexposure and postexposure urine samples. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used for determination of mancozeb and ETU in different kinds of samples. Closed tractor use resulted in 40 times lower potential exposure compared with open tractor. Coveralls reduced skin exposure 4 and 10 times in case of open and closed tractors, respectively. Gloves used during application resulted in 10 times lower hand exposure in open but increased exposure in closed tractors. This study has demonstrated that exposure to mancozeb is low if safe occupational hygiene procedures are adopted. ETU is confirmed as suitable biological marker of occupational exposure to mancozeb, but the absence of biological exposure limits significantly reduces the possibility to interpret biological monitoring results in occupationally exposed workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Mandic-Rajcevic
- Department of Health Sciences of the University of Milan and International Centre for Rural Health of the San Paolo Hospital, Via San Vigilio 43, 20142 Milan, Italy
| | - Federico M Rubino
- Department of Health Sciences of the University of Milan and International Centre for Rural Health of the San Paolo Hospital, Via San Vigilio 43, 20142 Milan, Italy
| | - Eugenio Ariano
- Working Group for Prevention in Agriculture of the Region of Lombardy, Milan, Italy
| | - Danilo Cottica
- Centre for Environmental Research, Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri, Pavia, Italy
| | - Sara Neri
- Centre for Environmental Research, Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri, Pavia, Italy
| | - Claudio Colosio
- Department of Health Sciences of the University of Milan and International Centre for Rural Health of the San Paolo Hospital, Via San Vigilio 43, 20142 Milan, Italy
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Panganiban L, Cortes-Maramba N, Dioquino C, Suplido ML, Ho H, Francisco-Rivera A, Manglicmot-Yabes A. Correlation between blood ethylenethiourea and thyroid gland disorders among banana plantation workers in the Philippines. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2004; 112:42-5. [PMID: 14698929 PMCID: PMC1241795 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.6499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Ethylenebisdithiocarbamates (EBDCs) are metabolized into ethylenethiourea (ETU), a possible human carcinogen and an antithyroid compound. In this study our goal was to correlate ETU levels with the incidence of thyroid gland disorders among banana plantation workers exposed to EBDC. We randomly selected 57 directly exposed workers and 31 indirectly exposed workers from four banana plantations and 43 workers from an organic farm; all subjects underwent complete medical examinations and laboratory tests. Results showed a higher mean thyroid-stimulating hormone measurement among exposed workers compared with the control group, although the levels were well within normal range. Nine of the exposed farmers had abnormal thyroid ultrasound findings, consisting mostly of solitary nodules, compared with three among the control group. Analysis of variance showed significantly different blood ETU levels among the directly exposed, indirectly exposed, and control groups (p < 0.001), but ETU levels in urine were not significantly different (p = 0.10). Environmental ETU levels were below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency remediation levels. Among farmers with solitary thyroid nodules, we found a very good direct correlation between the size of the nodule and blood ETU level. In this study we showed that blood ETU is a more reliable biomarker for EBDC exposure than urinary ETU; therefore, the determination of blood ETU should be part of medical surveillance efforts among workers exposed to EBDC to detect occurrences of thyroid gland disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynn Panganiban
- National Poison Control and Information Service, Ward 14-A, Room 100, Philippine General Hospital, Taft Avenue, Manila 1000, Philippines.
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Steenland K, Cedillo L, Tucker J, Hines C, Sorensen K, Deddens J, Cruz V. Thyroid hormones and cytogenetic outcomes in backpack sprayers using ethylenebis(dithiocarbamate) (EBDC) fungicides in Mexico. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 1997; 105:1126-30. [PMID: 9349837 PMCID: PMC1470391 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.971051126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Ethylenebis(dithiocarbamate) (EBDC) fungicides are used heavily in the United States. EBDCs (e.g., mancozeb, maneb) are metabolized to ethylene thiourea (ETU). The EPA classifies ETU as a carcinogen, based on thyroid and other cancers in rodents, and has restricted the use of EBDCs, while requiring workers to use protective equipment. There are no data on the potential carcinogenicity of EBDCs in humans, and there is only one study on human genotoxicity. ETU is known to cause decreases of thyroxine (T4) and increases in thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in rodents. We have studied cytogenetic outcomes and serum thyroid hormone levels among 49 heavily exposed workers without protective equipment spraying EBDC on tomatoes in Mexico. We also studied 14 lightly exposed landowners and 31 nonexposed controls. Urinary ETU was used to compare exposure between groups. We found an increase in TSH (p = 0.05) among applicators compared to controls, but no decrease in thyroid hormone (T4). We found increases in sister chromatid exchange (p = 0.03) and in chromosome translocations (chromosome aberrations that persist through cell division) for applicators compared to controls (p = 0.05). However, the subset of reciprocal translocations showed a lesser increase (p = 0.24). Our data suggest that EBDCs affect the thyroid gland and the lymphocyte genome among heavily exposed workers. However, our data are limited to subclinical outcomes, are of borderline statistical significance, and should be interpreted with caution.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Steenland
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA
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