β-glucuronidase as a biomarker for assessing the exposure to anticholinergic pesticides: A meta-analysis

Abstract

Introduction: The human exposure to anticholinergic pesticides has been associated with the development of various diseases. Therefore, several biomarkers have been proposed for biomonitoring human exposure to anticholinergic pesticides.

Objective: This work evaluated the effect of human exposure to anticholinergic pesticides on β-glucuronidase (GUSB) levels.

Methods: A systematic review was performed using PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and EBSCO databases up to December 2021. The statistical analysis employed standardized mean differences and meta-regression. And the trial sequential analysis was performed.

Results: Nine studies were included. A monotonic relationship was observed between poisoning severity and GUSB. Furthermore, BuChE levels were correlated with GUSB levels.

Conclusions: The results indicated that GUSB levels could be used as a possible diagnosis biomarker in poisoning related to anticholinergic pesticide exposure. However, the use of GUSB to assess the chronic exposure to anticholinergic pesticides could be only performed in recent exposure (≈ 7 days after last exposure).

Keywords: Carbamates; Human biomonitoring; Occupational exposure; Organophosphates; Pesticide poisoning; β-glucuronidase.