Low Level of Exposure to Pesticides Leads to Lung Dysfunction in Occupationally Exposed Subjects

Abstract

Pesticides may contribute to adverse respiratory health effects among farmers and have been considered one causal factor for the rise in asthma prevalence. This cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate potential respiratory function abnormalities following long-term pesticide exposure by means of a complete pulmonary function testing, including spirometry, lung volumes, and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide. The study population was comprised by workers from a prominent intensive agriculture area of southern Spain that relied on pesticides for the control of plagues. Eighty-nine pesticide sprayers of plastic greenhouse farming and a control group of 25 nonspraying control farmers from the same area were interviewed by a general practitioner asking about sociodemographic factors, occupational exposure, and clinical symptoms by using a structured questionnaire. Multiple regression analyses showed a relationship of short-term exposure to pesticides (as indicated by a drop in serum cholinesterase >25% of baseline levels) with reduced forced expired volume in 1 s, and of long-term exposure (as indicated by a cumulative pesticide exposure index) with reduced forced expiratory flow rate. Exposure to bipyridilium-class herbicides was a determinant of a fall in the diffusing capacity of the lungs, and neonicotinoid insecticides showed a relationship with lower pulmonary volumes (total lung capacity, residual volume, and functional residual capacity), suggestive of restrictive lung disease, and with an increased risk of reporting irritative symptoms.

Occupational exposure to pesticides and respiratory health

“…Among pesticide applicators, several studies showed impairments in respiratory function, especially with paraquat (reduction associated with the number of years of application) [48] and organophosphate, carbamate, neonicotinoid insecticides and bipyridylium herbicides, sometimes with a dose-effect relationship [46].…”

“…Working in the agricultural sector was assumed to be equivalent to being exposed to pesticides. However, although only a few studies assessed lifelong pesticide use and calculated cumulative exposure indexes, they all found a dose-effect relationship [32,37,46,48]. Table 2 presents a summary of the longitudinal studies on respiratory health and occupational pesticide exposure.…”

Pengaruh Teknik Aplikasi Pestisida terhadap Derajat Keparahan Penyakit Paru Obstruktif Kronis (PPOK) pada Petani

“…Hernandez menemukan bahwa dari 89 penyemprot dengan paparan herbisida bipyridilium mengalami penurunan kapasitas difusi paru, dan bahwa paparan terhadap insektisida neonicotinoid terkait dengan penurunan volume paru (kapasitas total paru, volume residu, dan kapasitas fungsional residu). 13 Keterkaitan detail riwayat keterpaparan pestisida terhadap perkembangan penyakit atau derajat keparahan gangguan pernafasan yang dialami petani, salah satunya terhadap PPOK belum terjawab dengan pasti. Oleh karena itu penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis pengaruh aspek teknik aplikasi pestisida terhadap derajat keparahan PPOK pada petani guna mendukung upaya preventif.…”

Oxidative stress biomarkers and paraoxonase 1 polymorphism frequency in farmers occupationally exposed to pesticides

“…Although the acute toxic effects resulting from pesticide exposure are easily recognized in these subjects, the effects resulting from long-term exposure to low doses are often difficult to assess (3,4). Several studies have reported associations between exposure to agricultural chemicals and various deleterious health outcomes, including effects on the immune, hematological, nervous, endocrine and reproductive systems (5)(6)(7). These compounds have also been associated with DNA damage in human populations (8,9), various types of cancer (10)(11)(12)(13)(14) and degenerative diseases (15).…”