Cytogenetic Monitoring of Pesticide Sprayers

• Published in: Environmental research 1997-11, Vol.75 (2), p.113-118
• Main Authors: Joksic, Gordana, Vidakovic, Aleksandar, Spasojevic-Tisma, Vera
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Agriculture; Biological and medical sciences; Case-Control Studies; Chromosome Aberrations; Cytogenetics - methods; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective - drug effects; Middle Aged; Occupational Exposure; Pesticides - adverse effects; Pesticides, fertilizers and other agrochemicals toxicology; Sister Chromatid Exchange - drug effects; Time Factors; Toxicology
• ISSN: 0013-9351; 1096-0953
• DOI: 10.1006/enrs.1997.3753

The induction of chromosome aberrations, micronuclei, and sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs) was examined in cultured lymphocytes of 27 vineyard growers exposed to pesticides. Cytogenetic examinations were performed during the prespraying period, a month after spraying, and at the end of the spraying season. For comparison purposes, the same cytogenetic monitoring program was applied to two control groups. The first consisted of 15 individuals from a nearby town, and the second consisted of 20 volunteers living 200 km from the vine-growing area (reference control group). A positive, though low statistically significant (P< 0.017) difference in the yield of unstable chromosomal aberrations in exposed sprayers was observed compared with both control groups during the prespraying period. The mean group value of micronuclei in exposed workers averaged 5.41 per 1000 binucleated cells, with individual means ranging from 0 to 15. In both control groups, the yield of micronuclei averaged 5.09 per 1000 binucleated cells, with individual means ranging from 1 to 10. No statistically significant (P< 0.5) differences in yield of micronuclei were found in exposed subjects compared with both control groups. Significant individual variation (F= 14.09,P< 0.000) in SCE frequency was observed in exposed subjects, as well as in both control groups (F= 14.09,P< 0.000). A month after spraying, the average incidence of unstable aberrations in pesticide sprayers was 0.22%, and the yield of micronuclei averaged 17.78 per 1000 binucleated cells, with individual means ranging from 7 to 28. The incidence of micronuclei a month after spraying in exposed subjects was elevated (statistically significant atP< 0.01) in comparison with the prespraying period, while the difference in the yield of chromosomal aberrations in exposed subjects was insignificant (P< 0.5). At the end of the spraying season, the average incidence of unstable aberrations in exposed subjects was 0.79%, and the yield of micronuclei averaged 39.92 micronuclei per 1000 binucleated cells, with individual means ranging from 21 to 62. The appearance of more than one micronucleus per binucleated cell was related to the results on chromosome aberrations. The frequencies of chromosomal aberrations and micronuclei were significantly higher (P< 0.001,P< 0.000) in the exposed group than in their matched control groups. The yield of micronuclei in pesticide sprayers at the end of the season was higher than expected with respect t