Farmers exposed to pesticides have almost five times more DNA damage: a meta-analysis study.

We carried out a meta-analytical review of possible DNA damage resulting from occupational exposure to pesticides in farmers in the scientific literature. After the search, screening, and eligibility criteria steps, we included 42 studies to analyze random effect calculation. DNA damage in farmers occupationally exposed to pesticides represents an effect of SMD 4.63 [CI 95% 3.94-5.32; p <0.001]. We observed a high heterogeneity rate between the studies and an asymmetry of the bias analysis results. We performed a meta-regression on the parameters. The Olive Tail Moment (OTM) was the most effective comet assay parameter in the evaluated studies. The Damage Index (DI) was more conservative and highlighted the variability between studies caused by distinct methodologies that showed more significant effects and greater deviations. An analysis of confounding factors demonstrated a slight DNA damage in smokers who were occupationally exposed to pesticides compared to nonsmokers, indicating genotoxicity but smaller than the pesticide effect. The present study shows the greater risk that occupationally exposed rural workers have of developing related diseases due to pesticides' genotoxic effect.

Multi-biomarker responses to pesticides in an agricultural population from Central Brazil.

We evaluated farmworkers exposed to pesticides and individuals with no history of occupational exposure to pesticides. It was performed the comet assay to evaluate DNA damage. The immunophenotyping of TCD4+ lymphocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood was performed by flow cytometry. The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in PON1, XRCC1, IL6, IL6R, TNF-α, and MIR137 genes were evaluated by real-time PCR. The exposed group was composed mostly by males (69.44%), with direct exposure to pesticides (56%) and with an average age range of 46 ± 13.89 years, being that 58.3% of farmworkers directly exposed to pesticides and reported the full use of personal protective equipment (PPE). DNA damage was greater in the exposed group (p < 0.05), reinforced by the use of PPE to denote a lower degree of DNA damage (p = 0.002). In this context, in the exposed group, we demonstrated that the use of PPE, age, gender and intoxication events were the variables that most contributed to increase DNA damage (p < 0.0001). Besides, the exposed group showed a significant increase in the subpopulations of T lymphocytes CD3+CD4+ (p < 0.05) and CD3+CD4+CD25+ (p < 0.0001) and a significant decrease in CD3+CD4+CD25-FOXP3+ (p < 0.05). SNPs in the TNF-α (rs361525) gene presented a difference in the genotype distribution between the groups (p = 0.002). The genotype distribution of TNF-α (rs361525) was also positively correlated with the DNA damage of the exposed group (r = 0.19; p = 0.01), demonstrating a higher risk of DNA damage in the farmworkers presenting the A mutated allele. Our findings demonstrate that pesticides can exert various deleterious effects on human health by damaging the DNA as well as by influencing the immune system in the case of both direct or indirect exposure and these issues are associated to age, gender, intoxication and the nonuse of PPE.

Evaluating the OGG1 rs1052133 and rs293795 polymorphisms in a sample of rural workers from Central Brazil population: a comparative approach with the 1000 Genomes Project.

Brazilian population is one of the largest consumers of pesticides in the world, especially the Central Brazil population. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of genotypes, alleles, haplotypes, and the linkage disequilibrium (DL) of the OGG1 gene in rural workers from Central Brazil, comparing with the populations of the 1000 genome. Three hundred thirty healthy individuals not related and randomly selected were included in this study. We obtained genomic DNA from peripheral blood lymphocytes. The 748-bp OGG1 gene was amplified by PCR and sequenced. Of the 330 individuals, 215 (65%) were males and 115 (35%) were females. There were no differences in the distribution of the rs1052133 and rs293795 with age and sexes. Haplotypes containing only conserved T/C alleles were the most common in our population. The frequency of the mutant alleles of rs1052133 and rs293795, in our population, was 20% and 30%, respectively, and it is noteworthy, worldwide, that mutant alleles are commonly associated to an increased risk for the development of cancer, specially due to direct or indirect contact to pesticides, as occurs in rural workers of Central Brazil population.

Unraveling CYP2E1 haplotypes in alcoholics from Central Brazil: A comparative study with 1000 genomes population.

We evaluated genetic variability of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) situated in the CYP2E1 gene promoter in alcoholics. We also compared 1000 Genomes Project of CYP2E1 polymorphisms with frequencies of genotypes and haplotypes. Eight variation points were exclusively found in Brazilians. The allelic distributions of the rs3813867, rs2031920 and rs2031921 polymorphisms in the CYP2E1 showed that the wild alleles (G, C, T, respectively) had higher frequencies in both groups, alcoholic (96%, 96%, 96%) and a control group (95.8%, 94.9%, 94.9%), when compared to the mutated allele (C, T, C, respectively). The variation points, rs3813867, rs2031920 and rs2031921 showed strong linkage disequilibrium (LOD ≥ 2, D ' = 1). South Asian populations presented larger LD blocks compared to the other populations. Our results showed that the allelic frequencies were markedly different among ethnicities and have contributed to the knowledge regarding the distribution among ethnic groups, being associated to alcohol consumption worldwide.

DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes and association with polymorphisms in the promoter region of the CYP2E1 gene in alcoholics from Central Brazil.

DNA damage caused by the accumulation of bio-products generated in the biotransformation of ethanol to acetaldehyde mediated by the CYP2E1 enzyme has been studied. To evaluate DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes and the possible association with polymorphisms in the promoter region of the CYP2E1 gene, we performed a case-control study including 75 alcoholics and 59 individuals who consume alcohol socially. Alcoholics were previously diagnosed by the Psychosocial Care Center - Alcohol and Drugs (CAPS A/D) in the city of Goiania, Goias state, Central Brazil. DNA damage was evaluated by comet assay. The analysis of the rs3813867, rs2031920, and rs2031921 polymorphisms in the promoter region of CYP2E1 gene was performed by Sanger sequencing. Men older than 35 years old were the most common alcoholics. We found increased DNA damage in the case group, compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Alcoholics who were heterozygous in the rs3813867, rs2031920, and rs2031921 polymorphisms showed higher DNA damage (tail length and olive tail moment), compared to individuals with the homozygous non-mutated allele. Previous studies have shown that polymorphisms in the promoter region of the CYP2E1 gene could cause higher CYP2E1 transcriptional activity, increasing enzyme activity compared with nondrinkers, indicating that the presence of the mutated allele (heterozygous or homozygous) may be associated with higher alcohol metabolic rates and therefore show increased acetaldehyde levels after alcohol consumption, which then can exert its carcinogenic effect.

Condições socioeconômicas, de saúde e hábitos de vida dos catadores de material reciclável / Socio-economic, health and lifestyle conditions of recycled materials collectors

O presente estudo objetivou analisar as condições socioeconômicas, de saúde e hábitos de vida dos catadores de material reciclável em duas cooperativas no município de Guanambi - Bahia, Brasil. Trata-se de uma pesquisa de natureza descritiva, analítica e exploratória e todos os catadores foram entrevistados por meio de um questionário semiestruturado. Houve predominância da faixa etária entre 30 a 58 anos (80%) (p = 0,007), pardos (55%) (p = 0,02), casados (45%) (p = 0,02), com 2 a 3 filhos (55%) (p = 0,03). Os catadores informaram que começaram a trabalhar com menos de 18 anos (85%) (p = 0,002), e recebem uma renda mensal de até 1 salário mínimo com o trabalho de reciclagem (75%) (p = 0,02). Em relação às condições de saúde, 75% afirmaram que possuem Equipamentos de Proteção Individual (EPI) (p = 0,02), no entanto 80% (p = 0,02) não utilizaram o EPI e não consideram que seu trabalho pode provocar problema de saúde (75%) (p = 0,02). Percebe-se que os catadores de material reciclável precisam intensificar o uso dos EPI's, visando minimizar os danos com a saúde, além de melhorias na renda e na qualidade de vida.

The social, economic, health and lifestyle conditions of collectors of recyclable material from two coops in Guanambi, Brazil, are analyzed through a descriptive, analytic and exploratory research. All collectors were interviewed by a half-structured questionnaire. Predominant age bracket lay between 30 and 58 years (80%) (p= 0.007), brown colored (55%) (p= 0.02), married (45%) (p= 0.02), with 2 - 3 children (55%) (p= 0.03). Collectors informed that they started work when they were under 18 years old and received a month wage of up to one minimum wage, by collecting recycling material (75%) (p= 0.02). With regard to health conditions, 75% stated that had individual protection equipment (EPI) (p= 0.02), but 80% (p= 0.02) failed to use it, insisting that their work does not cause health problems (75%) (p= 0.02). It should be underscored that collectors should improve their earnings and life quality and use their equipments to minimize health risks.