Efeitos dos agrotóxicos na saúde do agricultor familiar dos municípios de Capitólio e Pimenta - Minas Gerais: avaliação de biomarcadores colinesterase eritrocitárias e plasmática / Effects of pesticides on the health of family farmers in the cities of Capitólio and Pimenta - Minas Gerais: evaluation of erythrocyte and plasma cholinesterase biomarkers

portuguêsO Brasil é o maior consumidor global de agrotóxico tendo como consequência intoxicações de um grande número de trabalhadores, com altos gastos com a saúde e prejuízos ambientais. Objetivo geral: avaliar os efeitos do uso de agrotóxicos sobre a saúde de trabalhadores atuantes na agricultura familiar. Método: estudo transversal, analítico e comparativo entre o Grupo (1) composto por 80 trabalhadores rurais atuantes na agricultura familiar, expostos diretamente a agrotóxicos e o Grupo (2) composto por 60 usuários dos Programas de Saúde da Família (PSF) dos municípios de Capitólio e Pimenta - Minas Gerais - não diretamente expostos a agrotóxicos sendo o grupo controle por meio da análise de biomarcadores colinesterase eritrocitária e plasmática. Resultados: dos 140 participantes deste estudo, a maioria (51,2%) não referiu problemas de saúde e tratamento medicamentoso, 6,3% deles, expostos a agrotóxicos, referiram intoxicações e 42,5% relataram terem algum sinal e/ou sintoma de intoxicação com predominância (33,8%) para a dor de cabeça. O biomarcador colinesterase eritrocitária apresentou normalidade em 63,8% dos trabalhadores rurais e 36,2% com alteração na butirilcolinesterase. Conclusão: a butirilcolinesterase encontrada em 1/3 dos participantes expostos a agrotóxicos correlacionam-se à presença dos sintomas dor de cabeça e irritabilidade/nervosismo. Existe, portanto, a necessidade da educação e capacitação dos agricultores no uso de agrotóxicos para limitar níveis de exposição e efeitos nocivos à saúde para prevenir, diagnosticar e tratar possíveis disfunções causadas por esses produtos químicos

Brazil is the largest global consumer of pesticides, resulting in the intoxication of a large number of workers, with high expenditures on health and environmental damage. General objective: to evaluate the effects of the use of pesticides on the health of rural workers working in family farming in terms of intoxication through the evaluation of the erythrocyte and plasma cholinesterase biomarkers. Method: cross-sectional, analytical and comparative study between Group (1) of rural workers working in family farming, directly exposed to pesticides and Group (2) of users of Family Health Programs (PSF), in the municipalities of Capitólio and Pimenta - Minas Gerais State (Brazil) - not directly exposed to pesticides, being a control group through the analysis of biomarkers. Results: in this study of 140 participants, the most of them did not report health problems and drug treatment, 6.3% of participants, exposed to pesticides, reported poisoning and 42.5% reported having any signs and/or symptoms of intoxication with predominance for headache. The erythrocyte cholinesterase biomarker showed normality in 63.8% rural workers and 36.2% with alteration in butyrylcholinesterase. Conclusion: butyrylcholinesterase alteration was proven in 36.2% of participants exposed to pesticides and these results correlate with the presence of headache and irritability/nervousness symptoms. There is, therefore, a need for education and training of farmers to limit levels of exposure and harmful health effects to prevent, diagnose and treat possible dysfunctions caused by these chemicals applied to agriculture

Evaluation of genetic damage in pesticides applicators from the province of Córdoba, Argentina.

The impact evaluation of pesticide exposure is conducted using combined data from biomonitoring and environmental monitoring. Damage to the human genome is, probably, the leading cause of chronic-degenerative disorders, reproductive toxicology, and developmental problems. Although the general population is exposed to pesticides, workers in the agrochemical industry and farmers represent a high-risk group due to the occupational and environmental exposure. The aim of this study is to determine whether occupational exposure to agrochemicals in Córdoba (Argentina) constitute a factor of genotoxic damage. The study was conducted in 30 pesticide applicators from the province of Córdoba. Chromosomal aberrations (CAs), micronuclei (MN), and comet assays (CO) were performed. The current study shows that occupational exposure to pesticides increases values of CAs, MN, and DNA fragmentation biomarkers, all indicators of damage to the genetic material. Evidence suggests that chronic exposure to pesticides is a potential risk to workers health.

Comparación de tres métodos de determinación de la actividad colinesterasa plasmática en perro / Comparison of three methods for the determination of plasma cholinesterase activity in dog

La determinación de la actividad colinesterasa es un elemento importante en el diagnóstico y monitorización de las intoxicaciones por plaguicidas anticolinesterásicos (organofosforados y carbamatos). El objetivo de este trabajo es determinar en plasma de perro la influencia que tiene sobre los valores fisiológicos de esta enzima el uso de diferentes metodologías para su determinación. El plasma de 141 perros fue analizado para la actividad butirilcolinesterasa (BChE) para comprobar la influencia del cromóforo usado en la reacción y la diferencia entre el uso de kits comerciales o la preparación de los reactivos en el laboratorio. Los resultados no difirieron mucho entre los métodos y usando DTNB (5,5'-ditio-bis-(2-ácido nitrobenzoico)) como cromóforo los valores fueron de 3276 ± 845 UI/L preparando los reactivos en el laboratorio y 3013 ± 1081 UI/L utilizando un kit comercial. Con hexacianoferrato III como cromóforo el resultado fue de 3330 ± 1184 UI/L. Se comprueba que las concentraciones de tampón, de sustrato, el pH del medio y el cromóforo utilizado no influyen decisivamente en el resultado. Se concluye la conveniencia de obtención de valores de referencia propios en cada laboratorio y la ventaja de la preparación de los reactivos frente a la compra de kits comerciales (AU)

The determination of cholinesterase activity is important in the diagnosis and monitoring of poisoning by anticholinesterase pesticides (organophosphates and carbamates). The aim of this work was to study the influence of different methodologies in the determination of normal activity values of this enzyme in canine plasma. Samples from 141 dogs were analyzed for butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activity to test the influence of the chromophore in the reaction and the differences in the results by using commercial kits or reagents prepared in the laboratory. The results were similar for the different methods. With DTNB as chromophore mean values were 3276 ± 845 UI/L using reagents prepared in the lab and 3013 ± 1081 UI/L using a commercial kit. With hexacyanoferrate III as chromophore mean value was 3330 ± 1184 UI/L. The buffer concentration, the pH of the medium and the chromophore used did not significantly influenced the final value. In conclusion, for the interpretation of ChE values it is important to get reference values in each laboratory and it is advantageous to prepare the reagents in the laboratory instead of purchasing commercial kits (AU)

Intoxicaciones por productos agroquímicos en España (1996) / Agrochemical product intoxications in Spain during 1996

Se estudian 718 casos de intoxicaciones agudas por productos agroquímicos atendidas por el Servicio de Información Toxicológica durante 1996. Se consideran diversos parámetros epidemiológicos, así como la incidencia en los ámbitos provincial y autonómico. El prototipo de paciente intoxicado, según este estudio, es un varón entre 20 y 40 años que durante la jornada laboral inhala o ingiere un insecticida inhibidor de la colinesterasa y que, tras recibir asistencia médica, se recupera clínicamente. Está justificado llevar a cabo programas de control de factores de riesgo y de vigilancia del estado de salud de la población expuesta (AU)