Effect of pesticide exposure on total antioxidant capacity and biochemical parameters in Brazilian soybean farmers.

Farmers represent a population highly vulnerable to the toxic effects of pesticide exposure. Antioxidant capacity and biochemical parameters have been used as biomarkers of occupational exposure to pesticides. The aim of this study was to evaluate hepatic and renal parameters as well as butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activity and ferric-reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) considering high and low exposure periods in soybean farmers in southern Brazil. The exposed group consisted of 50 soybean farmers. Two control groups were used, composed by 35 (Novo Hamburgo control group) and 28 (Sertão control group) subjects not exposed to pesticides. Farmers blood samples were collected during the high and low pesticide exposure periods. BChE, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), urea, and creatinine levels were determined. The FRAP assay was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant potential in the exposed group. Considering the exposed group, significantly lower BChE and increased AST activity were observed during high pesticide exposure period as well as higher FRAP, urea and creatinine levels; however, ALT and GGT did not differ between the two periods. When compared with the control groups, only urea and creatinine were higher in the exposed group. The present results indicate that occupational exposure to mixtures of pesticides might elicit adverse effects at the biochemical level. In addition, the study highlights the importance in considering periods of a same crop season with different degree of pesticide exposure during biologic monitoring of these biochemical parameters.

Occupational exposure to pesticides and thyroid function in Brazilian soybean farmers.

INTRODUCTION: Agriculture production has been supported especially by the use of pesticides for crop protection and pest control. Although the agricultural production has been increased by pesticides use, these substances also reach non-target organisms and may become a risk to the health of farmers. Several epidemiological studies in human have investigated the association between exposure to pesticides and altered serum levels of thyroid hormones, reporting both positive and negative results. Overall, the impact of pesticides on human thyroid function is still limited. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to access serum levels of free thyroxin (FT4), total triiodothyronine (TT3), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) in soybean farmers in southern Brazil. METHODS: The exposed group was composed by 46 rural workers and 27 subjects not exposed to pesticides composed the control group. All subjects had blood samples collected by venipuncture in order to analyze the serum levels of FT4, TT3, TSH and BChE. RESULTS: The results showed a significant decreasing in TSH and increasing in TT3 and FT4 in rural workers, compared to control group. BChE levels were lower in exposed group than in control group. The results suggest that farmers are exposed to mixtures of pesticides with endocrine disruptor properties.