Study on the effect of occupational exposure to glyphosate on blood routine

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect of glyphosate on blood routine of occupational exposure population. Methods: The workers who were occupationally exposed to glyphosate were selected as exposure group, and administrative staffs who were not exposed to glyphosate were selected as control group. Occupational health examination was conducted on all the subjects, and personal monitoring was applied to detect the concentration of glyphosate in the air of workplace. Time weighted average (TWA) concentration was calculated by the result of determination. Statistical methods were employed to compare the difference of blood routine results between the contact group and the control group, as well as between different posts. Results: 178 glyphosate workers were included in the contact group, and 203 non-contact persons were included in the control group. There was no statistically significant difference in the equilibrium test between the two groups(P>0.05). The abnormal rate of blood routine in the exposure group and the control group were 70.8% and 69.0%, respectively, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the red blood cell count and platelet distribution width difference (P<0.05) were significant difference. There was no significant difference between different positions (P>0.05). Conclusion: When TWA value is below 9.40 mg/m(3), glyphosate has effect on the results of platelet distribution width and red blood cell count, but has no effect on the abnormal rate of blood routine.