ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The evaluation of the association between different exposure to pesticides and different types of comet images among a group of 26 recruited subject. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have recruited 26 subjects (farmers and not farmers). They were submitted to a blood drawing of 10 mL and a questionnaire was administered to investigate personal habits and work history. By means of the comet assay it was assessed the oxidative DNA damage of peripheral lymphocytes by pesticides in the exposed and non-exposed workers. RESULT: The data measured by means of the comet were log transformed and the associations (odds ratios - ORs) with the single pesticides were calculated. The regression analysis shows a significant dose effects relationships between the Intensity Score of pesticides exposures tail moment (TM) and other measured parameters. Insecticides TM OR = 17.00 [1.47 - 196.41]. This relationship is independent from the smoking habits. CONCLUSIONS: TM values higher than the 75° percentile were significantly associated with the exposure to particular insecticides such as chlorpyriphos, deltamethrin and with other pesticides (near the statistical significance).
Subject(s)
DNA Damage/drug effects , Lymphocytes/drug effects , Occupational Exposure , Pesticides/toxicity , Adult , Aged , Chlorpyrifos/toxicity , Copper/toxicity , DNA Damage/genetics , Farmers , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Nitriles/toxicity , Oxidative Stress/drug effects , Pyrethrins/toxicity , Surveys and Questionnaires , Triazoles/toxicityABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To assess the predictive power of the comet assay in the context of occupational exposure to pesticides. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The recruited subjects completed a structured questionnaire and gave a blood sample. Exposure to pesticides was measured by means of an algorithm based on Dosemeci's work (Agricultural Health Study). Approximately 50 images were analyzed for each sample via fluorescence microscopy. The extent of DNA damage was estimated by tail moment (TM) and is the product of tail DNA (%) and tail Length. RESULTS: Crude significant risks (odds ratios, ORs) for values higher than the 75th percentile of TM were observed among the exposed subjects (score > 1). The frequency of some confounding factors (sex, age and smoking) was significantly higher among the exposed workers. A significant dose-effect relationship was observed between TM and exposure score. Significant high-risk estimates (ORs), adjusted by the studied confounding factors, among exposure to pesticides and TM, % tail DNA and tail length were confirmed using unconditional logistic regression models. CONCLUSIONS: The adjusted associations (ORs) between the comet parameters and exposure to pesticides were significant. The sensitivity of the comet test was low (41%), the specificity (89%) and the predictive positive value (0.77) were found acceptable.