Exposure in the tobacco fields: Genetic damage and oxidative stress in tobacco farmers occupationally exposed during harvest and grading seasons

• Published in: Mutation research. Genetic toxicology and environmental mutagenesis 2022-06, Vol.878, p.503485, Article 503485
• Main Authors: Dalberto, Daiana, Alves, Jodel, Garcia, Ana Letícia Hilário, de Souza, Melissa Rosa, Abella, Angélica Pich, Thiesen, Flávia V., Salvador, Mirian, Santos Branco, Cátia dos, Marroni, Norma, Bona, Silvia, Schemitt, Elizangela, Da Silva, Fernanda Rabaioli, Da Silva, Juliana
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Comet assay; Cotinine; Farmers; Female; Grading; Harvest; Humans; Male; Micronucleus test; Mouth Mucosa; Nicotiana - adverse effects; Nicotine; Nitrates; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Occupational Exposure - analysis; Oxidative Stress; Seasons; Tobacco farmers
• ISSN: 1383-5718; 1879-3592
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2022.503485

Agricultural workers engaged in tobacco cultivation are constantly exposed to large amounts of harmful agents, such as pesticides and nicotine. Furthermore, most of the flue-cured tobacco leaves are manually graded exposing workers to agents such as tobacco-specific nitrosamines. This study aimed to evaluate genetic damage and oxidative stress in tobacco farmers occupationally exposed during the harvest and grading seasons. We obtained data on DNA damage detected in Comet assay in blood cells and micronucleus experiment with buccal cells from 241 individuals. The serum cotinine levels and nitrates were also evaluated. The Comet Assay results showed a showed an increased visual score for males and females during harvest time and tobacco grading. An increase of micronucleated and binucleated cells was observed in the grading group compared to the control and harvest groups. The oxidative stress measurements showed a clear increase of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in tobacco farmers during harvest time, and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) in individuals during harvest and grading time compared to the controls. Significant increases of the cotinine levels were observed during the harvest and grading period (harvest>grading), and nitrates for the grading period compared to the control. In this study, tobacco farmers presented compromised DNA integrity associated with enhanced oxidative stress levels. [Display omitted] •Green tobacco and dry tobacco cause DNA damage in exposed people.•DNA damage caused by tobacco leaves can be associated with nicotine and tobacco-specific nitrosamines.•Exposure to tobacco leaves can cause both acute and chronic health effects on farmers.