Pesticide exposure and related health problems among family members of farmworkers in southeast Iran. A case-control study

Abbasi-Jorjandi, Mojtaba; Asadikaram, Gholamreza; Abolhassani, Moslem; Fallah, Hossein; Abdollahdokht, Danial; Salimi, Fouzieh; Faramarz, Sanaz; Pournamdari, Mostafa

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115424

Cited by 30 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…Organochlorine pesticides generally increase the production of free radicals in the human body, and on the other hand decrease the activity of anti-oxidant enzymes, which leads to oxidative stress (Kumar et al 2010 ; Araki et al 2018 ). A recent case control study demonstrated the alterations in oxidative capacity among members of farmworkers exposed to a mixture of OCPs in Iran (Abbasi-Jorjandi et al 2020 ). Indeed, the presence of p , p ′-DDT in the serum of the study participants indicated the possible recent contamination of food crops with DDT.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exposure to DDT and HCH congeners and associated potential health risks through khat (Catha edulis) consumption among adults in South Wollo, Ethiopia

Woldetsadik

Simon

Knuth

et al. 2021

Environ Geochem Health

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Khat (Catha edulis) chewing is widespread in the region of East Africa. Even low levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in khat could induce public health concern. In a market-based study, from five popular khat varieties, a total of 35 composite khat samples were analyzed for dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its main transformation products, and four hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers. Extraction was carried out by quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe method (QuEChERS). OCP concentrations were determined by head space solid phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME–GC–MS). Every sample contained β-HCH above the maximum residue limit set by the European Commission. For total DDT, this was the case for 25.7% of the samples. The ratios of (p,p′-DDD + p,p′-DDE) to p,p′-DDT were less than one for 85% of khat samples, demonstrating recent use of DDT in khat farmlands. Conversely, the ratio of β-HCH to total HCH varied from 0.56 to 0.96, implying historical input of technical HCH. Assuming a daily chewable portion of 100 g, dietary intakes of p,p′-DDT, total DDT and total HCH by adults ranged from 3.12 to 57.9, 6.49 to 80.2 and 39.2 to 51.9 ng (kg body weight)−1 day−1, respectively. These levels are below acceptable levels suggested by international organizations. Chewing khat showed lower non-cancer health risk, but showed relatively higher cancer risk in terms of OCPs. Because khat is chewed without being subjected to any treatment, uncertainties associated with estimated intakes and health risks should be low. Therefore, this practice is of great concern.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exposure to DDT and HCH congeners and associated potential health risks through khat (Catha edulis) consumption among adults in South Wollo, Ethiopia

Woldetsadik

Simon

Knuth

et al. 2021

Environ Geochem Health

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“…Since educated farmers are more knowledgeable about pesticide safety, they can better understand, follow the labeled instruction, and conceptualize the side effect of poor practices on pesticide chemicals. 44 , 48 , 52 , 53 Furthermore, this study found that farmers who spent more time working with pesticides were exposed to more pesticides than those who spent less time working with pesticides, that is, the experience of pesticide use influences the exposure of SSFs. The finding of this study was consistent with studies done in Brazilian blood donors and Cameroon tomato farmers in which occupational exposure was associated with previously used pesticides.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 73%

“…This exposure to high-level pesticides by small-scale farmers is associated with some alterations in the hematological parameters and abnormalities in the urine 43 and oxidative stress that may cause severe diseases in the exposed populations. 44 Due to persistence, and bioaccumulation, the mean concentration of SPs in blood samples of SSFs was higher than that of the same samples of Taiwan 45 and Benin. 13…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Evaluating the Level of Pesticides in the Blood of Small-Scale Farmers and Its Associated Risk Factors in Western Ethiopia

Afata

Mekonen

Tucho

2021

Environ�Health�Insights

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Background: The presence of agricultural pesticide residue can cause adverse health effects.The main objective of this study was to evaluate the level of pesticides in the blood of small-scale farmers (SSFs) and associated risk factors in western Ethiopia. Methods: Across sectional study was conducted in June 2020 using 240 blood samples, 140 from the exposed small-scale farmers (ESSFs) and 100 from non-exposed small-scale farmers (NESSFs). The blood sample analysis was mad for 5 organochlorines (OCs) and 3 synthetic pyrethroids (SPs) pesticides by gas-liquid chromatography with an electron capture detector (GC-ECD) methods. Extraction, and clean up of the samples were made by using standard analytical methods. To define the relationships between the outcomes and explanatory variables, logistic regression models were used. Results: The results shows that p,p’-DDT, heptachlor and deltamethrin were the most frequently detected pesticides with 96.4%, 95%, and 100% in both ESSFs and NESSFs, respectively. The ESSFs blood samples have shown the highest mean concentrations of permethrin and p,p'-DDT(1.26 ± 0.15) and (0.28 ± 0.4) mgL−1, respectively. SSFs under the age of 40 were 21% less likely to be exposed to permethrin than those above the age of 40 (Adjusted Odd Ratio, AOR, 0.21; 95% CI: 0.1-0.44). Male SSFs were 17 times more likely to be exposed to heptachlor than females (AOR, 17.36; 95%CI: 7.34-41.09) and farmers with no formal education were 18 times more likely to be exposed to deltamethrin than those with primary schools and beyond (AOR, 18.1; 95 %CI: 4.53-72.06). Furthermore, SSFs that did not use PPE appropriately were 3.6 and 6.21 times more likely to be exposed to cypermethrin (AOR, 3.6; 95%CI: 1.94-6.54) and p,p'-DDE(AOR, 6.21; 95%CI: 3.38-11.41) blood levels than those who did, respectively. SSFs that perform different activities like eating and drinking (11%), chewing (10%), and diverse activities (8%) were more likely to be exposed to p,p′-DDT than those farmers who didn’t use pesticides. Conclusions: This study identified a high concentration p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDT, heptachlor, cypermethrin, permethrin, and deltamethrin in the blood of small scale farmers. The older age, less education, and farmers with inappropriate PPE use are more likely exposed to pesticides.

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“…30 Researchers in SE Iran completed a case control study of 141 family members of farmworkers focused on organophosphate and organic chlorine pesticides. 31 It was found that AChE activity was significantly decreased compared with control subject (P < .001). 31 This study also found an inverse relationship with paraoxonase 1, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and total antioxidant capacity amount, which suggest epigenetic change and oxidative stress among farmworkers.…”

Section: Cholinesterasementioning

confidence: 86%

Pesticide exposure and adverse health effects associated with farmwork in Northern Thailand

Forté

Colacino

Polemi

et al. 2021

Journal of Occupational Health

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Objectives To assess pesticide exposure and understand the resultant health effects of agricultural workers in Northern Thailand. Methods This was a cross‐sectional study. We quantified exposure to pesticides, including chlorpyrifos, methomyl, and metalaxyl, by air sampling and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. We estimated differences in self‐reported health outcomes, complete blood counts, cholinesterase activity, and serum/urine calcium and creatinine concentrations at baseline between farmworkers and comparison workers, and after pesticide spraying in farmworkers only. Results This study included 97 men between the ages of 22 and 76 years; 70 were conventional farmworkers; and 27 did not report any prior farmwork or pesticide spraying. None of the farmworkers wore standardized personal protective equipment (PPE) for the concentrated chemicals they were working with. Methomyl (8.4‐13 481.9 ng/m 3 ), ethyl chlorpyrifos (11.6‐67 759 ng/m 3 ), and metalaxyl (13.9‐41 191.3 ng/m 3 ) were detected via personal air sampling. When it came to reporting confidence in the ability to handle personal problems, only 43% of farmworkers reported feeling confident, which reflects higher stress levels in comparison to 78% of comparison workers ( P = .028). Farmworkers also had significantly lower monocyte counts ( P = .01), serum calcium ( P = .01), red blood count ( P = .01), white blood cell count ( P = .04), and butyrylcholinesterase activity ( P < .0001), relative to comparison workers. After adjusting for body mass index (BMI), age, and smoking, methomyl air concentrations were associated with a decrease in farmworker acetylcholinesterase activity (beta = −0.327, P = .016). Conclusions This population of farmworkers had significant alterations in stress measures and clinical biomarkers, including decreased blood cell counts and cholinesterase activity, relative to matched controls. These changes are potentially linked to occupational pesticide exposures. Improving PPE use presents a likely route for preventive intervention in this population.

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Pesticide exposure and related health problems among family members of farmworkers in southeast Iran. A case-control study

Cited by 30 publications

References 54 publications

Exposure to DDT and HCH congeners and associated potential health risks through khat (Catha edulis) consumption among adults in South Wollo, Ethiopia

Exposure to DDT and HCH congeners and associated potential health risks through khat (Catha edulis) consumption among adults in South Wollo, Ethiopia

Evaluating the Level of Pesticides in the Blood of Small-Scale Farmers and Its Associated Risk Factors in Western Ethiopia

Pesticide exposure and adverse health effects associated with farmwork in Northern Thailand

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