Evaluating genotoxic risks in Brazilian public health agents occupationally exposed to pesticides: a multi-biomarker approach

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2016-10, Vol.23 (19), p.19723-19734
• Main Authors: Franco, Fernanda Craveiro, Alves, Alessandro Arruda, Godoy, Fernanda Ribeiro, Avelar, Juliana Boaventura, Rodrigues, Douglas Dantas, Pedroso, Thays Millena Alves, da Cruz, Aparecido Divino, Nomura, Fausto, de Melo e Silva, Daniela
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Alzheimer's disease; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Bioassays; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - metabolism; Brazil; Comet Assay; Dengue fever; DNA Damage; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental science; Enzymes; Epidemics; Gene expression; Genes; Genotype; Genotypes; Glutathione Transferase - genetics; Glutathione Transferase - metabolism; Health risk assessment; Health risks; Humans; Male; Occupational exposure; Occupational Exposure - analysis; Occupational Exposure - statistics & numerical data; Olea; Pesticides; Pesticides - analysis; Pesticides - metabolism; Public Health; Research Article; Risk; Studies; Toxicity; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-016-7179-y

This is the first study demonstrating genotoxic effects and whole transcriptome analysis on community health agents (CHAs) occupationally exposed to pesticides in Central Brazil. For the transcriptome analysis, we found some genes related to Alzheimer’s disease ( LRP1 ), an insulin-like growth factor receptor ( IGF2R ), immunity genes ( IGL family and IGJ ), two genes related to inflammatory reaction ( CXCL5 and CCL3 ), one gene related to maintenance of cellular morphology ( NHS ), one gene considered to be a strong apoptosis inductor ( LGALS14 ), and several transcripts of the neuroblastoma breakpoint family ( NBPF ). Related to comet assay, we demonstrated a significant increase in DNA damage, measured by the olive tail moment (OTM), in the exposed group compared to the control group. Moreover, we also observed a statistically significant difference in OTM values depending on GSTM1 genotypes. Therefore, Brazilian epidemiological surveillance, an organization responsible for the assessment and management of health risks associated to pesticide exposure to CHA, needs to be more proactive and considers the implications of pesticide exposure for CHA procedures and processes.