Occupational exposure to pesticides in family agriculture and the oxidative, biochemical and hematological profile in this agricultural model

Abstract

AimsFamily agriculture represents 80% of the Brazilian rural population, and rural workers linked to this agricultural model are also occupationally exposed to pesticides, which causes health risks for this part of the population. Thus, assessing health conditions becomes important and necessary as a form of biomonitoring of markers that can be used in effective health programs for agricultural workers. Materials and methodsA total of 152 farmers, with an average age of 52 years, who answered the questionnaire and performed anthropometric, blood pressure, and blood dosages to determine the biochemical profile, hematological, markers of oxidative stress and mutagenicity. The sample was divided according to the interview report in two groups: volunteers who use pesticides in agricultural work (n = 84), and volunteers who do not use pesticides (n = 68). Key findingsThe group that uses pesticides presented higher values for measuring the circumference of the neck, and significant changes for the markers of oxidative stress, TBARS and Carbonyl, as well as significant reduction of antioxidant enzymes SOD, GPx e GSH, and in the dosages of total cholesterol, alkaline phosphatase, albumin, total leukocytes, monocytes and platelets. No mutagenic damage was verified according to the micronucleus test (MN). SignificanceThe parameters that presented changes for the group that uses pesticides prove that even the low exposure can cause alteration of biomarkers, likely to compromise the health of the rural population. The results indicate the need for biomonitoring, and evaluation of its long-term impacts on farmers' health.