Assessment of the health status and risk of genotoxic and cytotoxic damage in Argentinian adolescents living near horticultural crops

Abstract

In some rural areas in Argentina, adolescents may be considered as a group indirectly exposed to agrochemicals because their parents plant small crops near their homes. This could become a health risk to children and adolescents who may be more sensitive to exposure to chemicals than adults. The objective of this study was to evaluate the health status of two different groups of Argentinian adolescents using biochemical parameters, dietary information, and cytogenetic biomarkers of genotoxicity and cytotoxicity. The study groups included 32 adolescents from Montecarlo, who were indirectly exposed to agrochemicals, and 30 unexposed adolescents from Exaltación de la Cruz. The values of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, gamma glutamyltransferase, and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) were higher (p < 0.05) in males from Exaltación de la Cruz compared with those from Montecarlo. The BuChE activity was also higher (p < 0.05) in females from this region. Furthermore, the consumption of citrus, vegetable-like fruits, tubers, and red meat was more frequent (p < 0.05) in Montecarlo. On the other hand, differences in frequency of biomarkers of genetic damage in lymphocytes were not found (p > 0.05). However, the cytome assay in buccal cells showed that karyorrhectic and pyknotic cells were more frequent (p < 0.05) in the Montecarlo group; whereas, the frequencies of cells with nuclear buds, condensed chromatin and karyolysis were higher (p < 0.05) in the Exaltación de la Cruz group. Despite the differences between the parameters and biomarkers evaluated, the adolescents of Montecarlo did not present health impairment probably due to the type and level of exposure to agrochemicals.

Assessment of buccal mucosa genotoxicity in insecticide-exposed urban fumigators in Cali, Colombia

“…Diet and nutritional status have a key role in the maintenance of genomic stability; certain vegetable foods contain micronutrients necessary for DNA repair. In this study, the subjects had a high consumption of fruits, which may be a protective factor against genotoxic damage induced by occupational exposure to pesticides, as reported by Martínez-Perafán et al [28]. The daily consumption of fruits has been associated with a reduction up to 32% in MN frequency compared with a poor consumption [11].…”

Genotoxic risk in humans and acute toxicity in rats of a novel oral high-dose coenzyme Q10 oleogel

“…Biomarkers of alterations in the DNA of lymphocytes were evaluated using the cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome (CBMNcyt) trial according to the protocol [ 16 ] with some modifications as described by Martínez-Perafán et al [ 17 ]. Briefly, isolated lymphocytes were incubated at 37 °C under 5% CO 2 in a multiwell plate (two wells per individual).…”