Occupational exposure to pesticides and hematological alterations: A survey of farm residents in the South of Brazil / Exposição ocupacional a agrotóxicos e alterações hematológicas: Estudo transversal em moradores rurais do Sul do Brasil

Abstract This study sought to investigate the association of exposure to organochlorine (OC) and non-persistent pesticides with hematological parameters in an agricultural population in Southern Brazil. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a random sample of 275 farm workers and their families in Farroupilha-RS. A questionnaire was used to collect information on sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, duration, frequency and type of pesticide used, among others. Blood samples were collected and analyzed for serum concentration of 24 OC pesticides and hematological parameters. Associations were explored through linear regression, controlling for confounders. Lifetime use of chemical classes other than organophosphates and dithiocarbamates were associated with decreased number of lymphocytes, while subjects sampled in the high pesticide use season showed higher number of erythrocytes and hemoglobin level. Detectable serum levels of many OC pesticides were associated with lower counts of white blood cells, particularly eosinophils. Although mostly null associations were observed between pesticide use and hematological parameters, findings may suggest that OC pesticides could lead to hematological alterations among agricultural workers.

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a associação entre a exposição a organoclorados (OC) e agrotóxicos não persistentes e os parâmetros hematológicos em uma população agrícola de Farroupilha-RS. Foi utilizado um questionário para coletar informações sobre fatores sociodemográficos e de estilo de vida, duração, frequência e tipo de pesticidas utilizados, entre outros. Amostras sanguíneas foram coletadas e analisadas quanto a concentração sérica de 24 pesticidas OC e parâmetros hematológicos. As associações foram exploradas através de regressão linear, controlando por confundidores. O uso cumulativo de classes químicas diferentes de organofosforados e ditiocarbamatos associou-se com diminuição do número de linfócitos enquanto indivíduos que tiveram suas coletas sanguíneas realizadas na estação de maior uso de agrotóxicos tinham contagem de eritrócitos e hemoglobina maiores. Níveis séricos de diversos pesticidas organoclorados foram associados com contagens mais baixas de células brancas do sangue, particularmente eosinófilos. Embora as associações com o uso de agrotóxicos tenham sido, em geral, nulas, os resultados podem sugerir que os pesticidas OCs poderiam levar a alterações hematológicas entre os trabalhadores agrícolas.

Contamination index. A novel parameter for metal and pesticide analyses in maternal blood and umbilical cord

ABSTRACT PURPOSE: To evaluate the contamination index of metals and pesticides in pregnant women, and to relate this to perinatal outcomes. METHODS: Descriptive, retrospective, exploratory study, developed from existing secondary data analyses at Level III maternity center. A total of 40 mothers with their newborns (NB), living in a rural area in Botucatu- Brazil and surrounding region. Blood samples from mothers and newborn were collected to determine the total contamination index for metals and pesticides. The concentrations of each metal and each pesticide were determined in blood samples of mothers and their newborns by Rudge's results. After obtaining these concentrations, the total contamination index in mother and NB was calculated, along with its correlation with clinical parameters of NB. RESULTS: There was no correlation (p> 0.05) between maternal contamination index with NB clinical parameters, and NB contamination index versus NB clinical parameters. CONCLUSION: The maternal contamination index of metals and pesticides was not related to perinatal outcomes, but it could be used as baseline parameter in future toxicological studies, regarding to long-term toxic characteristics as persistent organic pollutants, its long half-lives, bioacumulative, and expected to impose serious health effects on humans.

Analysis of pesticides in blood specimen by GC/MS with accelerated solvent extraction / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To develop the accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) for determining pesticides present in blood samples.@*METHODS@#Pesticides were extracted by ASE with optimized parameters to study recovery rate affected by extraction temperature, time and agent. GC/MS was used to perform quantitative analysis.@*RESULTS@#The recovery rates of eight pesticides were 70.6%-92.4%. The coefficient of variation was less than 5.0%. A good linear relationship was obtained at the concentration range of 0.5-5.0 microg/mL.@*CONCLUSION@#The method was fast and simple with high recovery rate and good repeatability. It can be applied to analyze pesticides present in the blood specimen.

Determinación de residuos de plaguicidas en trabajadores agrícolas del municipio de Barcelona, Quindío, Colombia / Determination of pesticide levels in farmers working in the Barcelona municipality, Quindio, Colombia

Objetivos: En este trabajo se determinaron los niveles de residualidad de plaguicidas organoclorados y organofosforados en muestras de sangre periférica de trabajadores agrícolas –fumigadores– en el municipio de Barcelona, Quindío, Colombia. Método: Los trabajadores fueron escogidos al azar dentro de los principales cultivos abastecedores de frutas y verduras de la región. Para la extracción y determinación de los analitos en sangre, se usó la técnica de micro-extracción en fase sólida en modo head space y cromatografía de gases capilar dotado con un detector de micro captura de electrones. Resultados: Como resultado se encontraron residuos de 21 plaguicidas de tipo organoclorados y organofosforados; la mayoría de estos en alta concentración (>0.01 ppm) y prohibidos por la legislación nacional e internacional, sugiriendo que aún siguen siendo utilizados ilegalmente. De la residualidad encontrada, los plaguicidas más representativos fueron: beta-BHC y endosulfan, hallados en el 50 por ciento de las personas evaluadas. Asimismo, se descubrió que entre el 20 y 40 por ciento de las personas tenían residuos de endrin aldehído, forato, sulfotep, disulfoton y thionazin, en circunstancia que la mayoría de estos son de categoría toxicología I y II, comprobando el alto riesgo al que se exponen constantemente los individuos que aplican estos compuestos y la falta de atención e información por parte de las entidades responsables de autorización y fiscalización de su uso. Conclusiones: En este sentido, los resultados encontrados en este trabajo demuestran la importancia de continuar con los estudios de monitoreo y control de calidad de los principales alimentos, fuentes hídricas y trabajadores agrícolas, para así informar a la población acerca de los riesgos a los que está expuesta.

Aim: To determine the levels of organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticide residues in peripheral blood samples of farm-workers in Barcelona, Quindío, Colombia. Methods: Farm-workers were randomly chosen to cover the major suppliers of fruits and vegetables crops in the region. Solid phase micro extraction in head space mode and capillary gas chromatography with a micro electron capture detector were used for extraction and determination of analytes from blood. Results: Twenty-one pesticides residues among organochlorine and organophosphorusclasses were found. Most of these pesticides were at high concentrations (>0.01 ppm) and represented concentrations forbidden by national and international legislation. Beta-BHC and endosulfan were found in 50 percent of persons tested. Residues of endrinaldehyde, phorate, sulfotep, disulfoton and thionazinwere found amongst 20-40 percent of the persons tested. Conclusions: These results demonstrate the high risks that farm-workers are exposed to, suggesting poor attention and provision of information by entities responsible for permits and supervision. Furthermore, we highlight the need for monitoring and quality control of food, water sources and farm-workers, and the necessity to inform workers and the community of the risks to which they are exposed.

Associations between Cigarette Smoking and Total Mortality Differ Depending on Serum Concentrations of Persistent Organic Pollutants among the Elderly

There are substantial variations of relative risks (RR) in smoking-related mortality by country and time. We hypothesized the RRs in smoking-related mortality might differ depending on serum concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). We evaluated the associations of cigarette smoking with total mortality in 610 elderly (aged > or = 70 yr) (702 elderly for organochlorine pesticides [OCPs]) after stratification by serum concentration of POPs, in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2004 followed through 2006. Summary measures of POPs subclasses showed significant or marginally significant interaction with cigarette smoking on the risk of total mortality. P values for interaction were 0.069 for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), 0.008 for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and 0.024 for OCPs. The effect of smoking on total mortality showed different patterns according to the serum concentration of some POPs. Former or current smokers had 1.4 to 2.9 times higher mortality rates compared with never smokers among participants with higher serum concentrations of POPs (2nd or 3rd tertiles). However, when the level of PCBs or OCPs were low (1st tertile), there were little positive associations between smoking and mortality. Our study suggests that the background exposure to several POPs may be related to variability in smoking-related total mortality.

Associations between Cigarette Smoking and Total Mortality Differ Depending on Serum Concentrations of Persistent Organic Pollutants among the Elderly

There are substantial variations of relative risks (RR) in smoking-related mortality by country and time. We hypothesized the RRs in smoking-related mortality might differ depending on serum concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). We evaluated the associations of cigarette smoking with total mortality in 610 elderly (aged > or = 70 yr) (702 elderly for organochlorine pesticides [OCPs]) after stratification by serum concentration of POPs, in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2004 followed through 2006. Summary measures of POPs subclasses showed significant or marginally significant interaction with cigarette smoking on the risk of total mortality. P values for interaction were 0.069 for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), 0.008 for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and 0.024 for OCPs. The effect of smoking on total mortality showed different patterns according to the serum concentration of some POPs. Former or current smokers had 1.4 to 2.9 times higher mortality rates compared with never smokers among participants with higher serum concentrations of POPs (2nd or 3rd tertiles). However, when the level of PCBs or OCPs were low (1st tertile), there were little positive associations between smoking and mortality. Our study suggests that the background exposure to several POPs may be related to variability in smoking-related total mortality.

Pesticidas e câncer de mama: um estudo caso-controle no Rio de Janeiro

O câncer de mama é uma importante causa de morbidade e mortalidade entre as mulheres no Brasil. Em anos recentes, alguns estudos têm procurado avaliar o possível papel etiológico dos pesticidas organoclorados no desenvolvimento desta neoplasia. Estas substâncias foram amplamente utilizadas na agricultura e no controle de vetores no país. Um estudo caso-controle foi conduzido no principal hospital de Câncer do Instituto Nacional de Câncer no Rio de Janeiro para investigar a relação entrepesticidas organoclorados e câncer de mama. Foram incluídos 180 casos incidentes, com diagnóstico confirmado por exame histopatológico, e 377controles recrutados entre mulheres que visitavampacientes internados no mesmo hospital. Além deinformações obtidas em entrevistas individuais, foram coletadas amostras de sangue dos casos e controles para investigação de resíduos depesticidas por cromatografia gasosa. Odiclorodifenildicloro etileno (DDE) foi detectado em amostras de 486 mulheres das 557 participantes e o hexacloro benzeno (HCB), em apenas 11 amostras do total examinado. Não se encontrou associação estatisticamente significante entre nível sanguíneo de DDE, ou história de exposição a pesticidas, e câncer de mama. A distribuição dos níveis sorológicos de DDE (ug/dl) foi semelhante entre os casos (mediana=0,31, média=0,52) e os controles (mediana=0,31 , média=0,48) (Kruskal-Wallis=0,06 , p=0,81). O Odds Ratio (OR) de câncer de mama ajustado por idade associado ao último quintil, tendo como referência o primeiro, foi 0,95 (IC 95% 0,50-1,82). Quando os dados foram ajustados por outras possíveis variáveis de confusão, os resultados pouco se alteraram (OR último quintil=0,87 , IC95% 0,43-1,76). No presente estudo, a exposição a pesticidas organoclorados não constituiu um fator de risco para câncer de mama.

Breast cancer is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in Brazil. Recently, some studies are analysing the potential role of organochlorinated pesticides in breast cancer etiology. These chemical compounds were largely used in agriculture and in vector-control programs in Brazil. A case-control study was carried out in the main cancer hospital from the National Cancer Institute in Rio de Janeiro to investigate exposure to organochlorinated pesticides as a risk factor for breast cancer. The study included 180 cases and 377 controls selected among women visiting patients from the same hospital. In addition to information obtained from interview, blood samples were taken to analyse pesticides residual level by gas chromatography. Dichlorobichlorophenyl ethylene (DDE) was detected in blood samples form 486 womem from the total of 557 participants and hexachloro benzene (HCB) was found only amomg 11 womem. No statistically significant association was found between blood level of DDE or history of exposure to pesticides and breast cancer. Blood level distribution of DDE (mg/dl) was similar between cases (median = 0,31, mean = 52,2) and controls (median = 0,31, mean = 0,48) (Kruskal-Wallis=0,06, p=0,81). The ageadjusted Odds Ratio (OR) of breast cancer of women at upper quintile compared to the lowest quintile was 0,95 (95% CI 0,50-1,82). When data were adjusted for other possible confounding variables, the results did not change (upper quintile OR = 0,87, (95% IC 0,43-1,76). In this study exposure to organochlorinated pesticides was not a risk factor for breast cancer.

Pesticidas e câncer de mama: um estudo caso-controle no Rio de Janeiro / Pesticides and breast neoplasms

Afirma que o câncer de mama é uma importante causa de morbidade e mortalidade entre as mulheres no Brasil. Cita estudos que têm procurado avaliar o possível papel etiológico dos pesticidas organoclorados no desenvolvimento desta neoplasia. Discorre acerca de um estudo de caso-controle que foi conduzido no principal hospital de Câncer do Instituto Nacional de Câncer do Rio de Janeiro para investigar a relaçäo entre pesticidas organoclorados e câncer de mama.