Oxidative stress and genetic damage among workers exposed primarily to organophosphate and pyrethroid pesticides |
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| Authors: | Rigoberto Zepeda‐Arce Aurora Elizabeth Rojas‐García Alma Benitez‐Trinidad José Francisco Herrera‐Moreno Irma Martha Medina‐Díaz Briscia S. Barrón‐Vivanco Germán Pier Villegas Isabel Hernández‐Ochoa María de Jesús Sólis Heredia Yael Y. Bernal‐Hernández |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Laboratorio de Contaminación y Toxicología Ambiental, Secretaría de Investigación y Posgrado, Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit, Nayarit, México;2. Posgrado en Ciencias Biológico Agropecuarias, Unidad Académica de Agricultura, Nayarit, México;3. Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad Zacatenco (CINVESTAV), Departamento de Toxicología, Ciudad de México, México |
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| Abstract: | The indiscriminate use of pesticides in agriculture and public health campaigns has been associated with an increase of oxidative stress and DNA damage, resulting in health outcomes. Some defense mechanisms against free radical‐induced oxidative damage include the antioxidant enzyme systems. The aim of this study was to determine the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), and the relationship of antioxidant enzyme levels with DNA damage among sprayers (workers) occupationally exposed to pesticides. The determinations of MDA and antioxidant enzymes were performed spectrophotometrically. The genotoxic effects were evaluated using the comet assay. The results showed a marginally significant decrease in SOD and CAT activities in the high exposure group compared to the control group. For MDA, statistically significant differences were found among people working long term vs. those working temporarily (P = 0.02) as sprayers. In the moderate exposure group, a positive correlation was observed between MDA levels and GPx activity. In the high exposure group, a negative correlation was observed between GR and CAT activities, and between MDA levels and GPx activities. Furthermore, in the high exposure group, a positive correlation between DNA damage parameters and MDA levels was observed. The results suggest an important role of antioxidant enzymes for the protection of DNA damage caused by occupational exposure to pesticides. |
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| Keywords: | genetic damage oxidative stress pesticides |
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