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Biological monitoring studies were performed on pesticide exposed farmers in Colombia in an attempt to detect genotoxic effects such as chromosomal aberrations (CA) and sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) in lymphocytes. Thirty individuals were selected for study based on several criteria: pesticide exposure as a full time farmer for over 5 years, no previous or current exposure to radiotherapy or chemotherapy, and no recent illness. The subjects were matched with 30 unexposed referents. Demographic data on age, gender, marital status, residential and working histories, lifestyle, and medical history were collected. Blood samples were obtained and peripheral cell cultures were rapidly established. The cultures were then harvested and prepared for cytogenetic assays, which involved the screening of complete metaphase cells for CAs and SCEs. The mean age for the exposed subjects was 33.6+/-10.2 years, and mean occupational exposure time to fungicides or pesticides was 16.5+/-8.8 years. The majority of aberrations were chromatid breaks and isochromatid breaks. No significant differences were noted between exposed and unexposed groups for CA frequencies as indicated by chromatid breaks/100 cells or total chromatid breaks/100 cells. The same trend was also observed between the two groups for SCE frequencies. Statistical analysis revealed that the data were not affected by age, smoking, or alcohol consumption of the subjects. The authors conclude that exposure of Indian farmers to pesticides did not cause detectable increases of genotoxic damage using typical assays, which suggests the absence of serious chronic health problems. Periodic monitoring using the same or more sensitive methods, as well as the monitoring of other populations that are also exposed to various pesticides in Colombia, is suggested.
Environmental Health Perspectives, 104(3):535-538, 1996. (11 references)
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