ABSTRACT
Recent evidence suggests that pesticides may play a role in chronic kidney disease. However, little is known about associations with acute kidney failure (AKF). We investigated trends in AKF and pesticide expenditures and associations with agricultural work in two Brazilian regions with intense use of pesticides, in the south and midwest. Using death certificate data, we investigated trends in AKF mortality (1980-2014). We used joinpoint regression to calculate annual percent changes in AKF mortality rates by urban/rural status and, in rural municipalities, by tertiles of per capita pesticide expenditures. We then compared AKF mortality in farmers and population controls from 2006 to 2014 using logistic regression to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals adjusted by age, sex, region, education, and race. AKF mortality increased in both regions regardless of urban/rural status; trends were steeper from the mid-1990s to 2000s, and in rural municipalities, they were higher by tertiles of pesticide expenditures. Agricultural workers were more likely to die from AKF than from other causes, especially at younger ages, among females, and in the southern municipalities. We observed increasing AKF mortality in rural areas with greater pesticide expenditures and an association of AKF mortality with agricultural work, especially among younger workers.
Subject(s)
Acute Kidney Injury , Agricultural Workers' Diseases , Occupational Exposure , Pesticides , Acute Kidney Injury/complications , Agricultural Workers' Diseases/etiology , Brazil/epidemiology , Case-Control Studies , Farmers , Female , HumansABSTRACT
Abstract Background Few studies have evaluated the role played by pesticide exposure in the development of Parkinson's disease (PD) in Brazil. Objective This study aimed to investigate the association between pesticide use and PD hospitalization in Brazilian micro-regions. Method Pesticide expenditure per capita in 1985 and PD hospitalization rates (HR) from 1997 to 2007 were calculated for all 552 Brazilian micro-regions. The Spearman's correlation test was used to compare pesticide expenditure and PD HR by sex, age, and urban and non-urban micro-regions. Micro-regions were grouped according to the quintiles of pesticide expenditure. PD HR ratios (HRR) were calculated to compare PD HR across the quintiles of pesticide expenditure. Results Moderate correlation (r=0.518; p<0.001) between PD HR in non-urban micro-regions and pesticide expenditure was observed. In non-urban areas, compared with micro-regions of the first quintile of pesticide use, PD HRR ranged from 1.70 to 5.90 in micro-regions of higher pesticide use. In general, regardless of sex and age, the higher the use of pesticides, the greater the magnitude of PD HRR. Conclusion Our results suggest that pesticide use is associated with PD in Brazil, especially in non-urban areas where pesticides are used more intensively.
Resumo Introdução Poucos estudos avaliaram os efeitos da exposição a agrotóxicos sobre a doença de Parkinson (DP) no Brasil. Objetivo Este estudo teve por objetivo investigar essa associação em microrregiões brasileiras. Método As taxas de hospitalização (TH) por DP de 1997 a 2007 e os gastos per capita com agrotóxicos em 1985 foram calculados para todas as 552 microrregiões brasileiras. O coeficiente de correlação de Spearman foi utilizado para verificar relação entre as variáveis. Foi calculada a razão de TH (RTH) por DP entre quintis de gastos com agrotóxicos em microrregiões urbanas e não urbanas, usando o 1o quintil como referência. Resultados Uma moderada correlação (r = 0,518; p < 0,001) foi observada entre as TH por DP em microrregiões não urbanas e gastos com agrotóxicos. As associações entre gastos com agrotóxicos e RTH por PD foram maiores nas microrregiões não urbanas. Comparadas às microrregiões do 1o quintil, as TH por DP foram de 1,70 a 5,90 vezes maiores nas demais microrregiões. Foi observada uma relação dose-reposta entre as TH por PD e os quintis de uso de agrotóxicos, independentemente de sexo e idade. Conclusão Nossos resultados sugerem que o uso de agrotóxicos pode estar associado à DP no Brasil, especialmente em áreas não urbanas, onde o uso é mais intenso.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress may be an important mechanism linking pesticide exposure to several diseases. We evaluated the association between pesticide exposures and oxidative stress biomarkers in Brazilian agricultural workers. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in healthy agricultural (N = 52) and non-agricultural workers (N = 68) in a rural community in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Regular pesticide use, sociodemographic, and lifestyle information was obtained by questionnaire. Oxidative stress biomarkers (N = 7) were measured in serum and plasma. We calculated percent differences and 95% confidence intervals (CI) in oxidative stress biomarkers for use of pesticides adjusted for sex, age, education, smoking, and alcohol consumption, using multiple linear regression. RESULTS: Living close to or in the fields was associated with glutathione peroxidase activity but not with any other markers. We observed significant positive associations between 8-isoprostane levels and activities of glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione-S-transferase with reported use of certain insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides. Our results also indicate a significant and negative association between glutathione-S-transferase activity and insecticide use. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that use of pesticides may be associated with differences in oxidative stress biomarkers.
