Nephrotoxic Effects Caused by Occupational Exposure to Agrochemicals in a Region of Northeastern Brazil: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the renal function of rural workers in a city of northeastern Brazil. A cross-sectional study was carried out with 208 workers in Boquim, Sergipe, Brazil. Renal function markers and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) were evaluated and the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was determined. The sample consisted mainly of illiterate males with a low usage of personal protective equipment and no training. Approximately 40% had some level of renal failure. Relative risk (1.59) of GFR alteration was higher in workers with more than 5 yr of exposure, mainly to organophosphates. Workers more than 60 yr of age presented a 17.06 greater risk for manifesting acute intoxication. Butyrylcholinesterase reduction was associated with reports of intoxication (relative risk of 11.36). We concluded that exposure to pesticides represented a risk factor for the development of nephrotoxic effects and alteration of renal function, which reinforced the need to implement measures to protect rural workers. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:1132-1138. © 2020 SETAC.

Evidence of risks of renal function reduction due to occupational exposure to agrochemicals: A systematic review.

Agriculture accountsfor an important economic activity worldwide and the search for the increased productivity incorporated the use of pesticides in this practice. Such compounds have significant environmental and human health effects, especially for workers exposed to them. Among the main health problems caused by pesticides are the renal alterations, which in more advanced stages comprise an important public health problem. For this reason, this systematic review aimed at gathering evidence of the risk of renal changes induced by occupational exposure to pesticides. The search was made in PubMed, Scopus, Lilacs and Scielo in December 2017, using keywords as pesticides, poisoning, kidney, renal insufficiency. After the application of inclusion criteria, 11 studies were selected. It was possible to gather evidence on the prevalence and risk (3.12-6.71) of renal injury from the occupational exposure of agricultural workers and its association with the exposure to agrichemicals, as organophosphates and herbicides.