Adverse Health Effects in Women Farmers Indirectly Exposed to Pesticides

Abstract

Farmers are among the most vulnerable populations because of the exposure to low levels of pesticides. Acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase activities are considered as biomarkers of pesticides poisoning. However, biomarkers of oxidative stress are also playing an important role in toxicity of these contaminants. Further, increased activities of gamma-glutamyltransferase, alanine aminotransferase, urea and creatinine have been linked with hepatic and nephrotoxic cell damage, respectively. The aim of this study was to ascertain if the indirect exposure to pesticides leads to some biochemical parameter changes. Thus, cholinesterase activities, oxidative stress status (lipid and protein oxidation), hepatic function (AST and ALT levels), hormonal function (TSH, T4, FSH, LH and AMH), renal function (serum creatinine and urea), as well as possible subclinical kidney damage (urinary proteins and biomarkers of early kidney damage) were evaluated in farmer women who collect fruits and vegetables comparing with a group of women non-occupational exposed to pesticides but living in the same rural environment. Samples were taken periodically along one year to relate the observed effects to a chronic exposure. Our main results showed for the first time a subclinical kidney damage in a rural setting with indirect chronic exposure to pesticides.

Keywords: cholinesterase; early kidney damage; oxidative stress; pesticides; women farmers.

Figure 1

Activities of AChE in erythrocyte and BuChE in serum evaluated at different sampling times. Data are expressed as the mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM). * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01 versus farmers (October17). AChE: acetylcholinesterase; BuChE: butyrylcholinesterase; NOE: non-occupational exposed.

Figure 2

Activity of the biomarkers of oxidative stress at different sampling times. Data are expressed as the mean ± SEM; ** p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001 versus NOE group. NOE: non-occupational exposed.

Figure 3

Urinary levels of the biomarkers of early kidney damage evaluated at different sampling times. Data are expressed as the mean ± SEM. * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001 versus control group. # p < 0.05; ### p < 0.001 versus farmers group. CrU: urinary creatinine; KIM-1: kidney injury molecule 1; NAG: N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase; NGAL: neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin; NOE: non-occupational exposed.