Risk assessment of occupational pesticide exposure: Use of endpoints and surrogates

Background Recent epidemiological studies on workers describe that exposure to pesticides can induce oxidative stress by increased production of free radicals that can accumulate in the cell and damage biological macromolecules, for example, RNA, DNA, DNA repair proteins and other proteins and/or modify antioxidant defense mechanisms, as well as detoxification and scavenger enzymes. This study aimed to assess oxidative stress and DNA damage among workers exposed to pesticides. Methods For this purpose, 52 pesticide exposed workers and 52 organic farmers were enrolled. They were assessed: the pesticide exposure, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), total glutathione (TG), oxidized glutathione levels (GSSG), and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG), levels. Results Correlation between pesticide exposure was positively associated with high TBARS and 8-oxodG levels (p < 0.001). A negative association was founded with TG and GSSG and pesticide exposure. Conclusions The present investigation results seem to indicate a mild augment in oxidative stress associated with pesticide exposure, followed by an adaptive response to increase the antioxidant defenses to prevent sustained oxidative adverse effects stress.

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“…Moreover, the degree of generated damage depends on the substances' intrinsic toxicity and individual health status and sensitivity [26].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Oxidative stress and DNA damage in agricultural workers after exposure to pesticides

Ledda

Cannizzaro

Cinà

et al. 2021

J Occup Med Toxicol

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“…From a more general perspective, the problem of providing tools that allow the estimation of the risk of the exposure to pesticides, contributing to the definition of exposure limits and to the prevention of the toxic effects on workers is widely discussed in the literature [1,67,81]. As a matter of facts, the risk assessment related to the exposure to pesticides presents numerous variables, making it a more complex task than when dealing with other types of hazards agricultural workers are exposed to [28].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the case of chemical risk, such a basic rule can be translated into the evaluation of the toxicity of the chemical product (e.g., based on the acceptable operator exposure level (AOEL) or the “lethal dose” criterion) and the level of exposure of the worker, intended as intensity of exposure per exposure time [49]. The assessment of the exposure to pesticides has been discussed by numerous studies [1,27,29,30,50,51] and different approaches have been proposed, which can be roughly distinguished into: (1) biomonitoring of exposure to pesticides, i.e., the measurement of a pesticide, its metabolite(s), or biotransformation products in biological fluids such as urine or blood [52]; (2) environmental monitoring, consisting in the measure of the exposure in the working environment [53].…”

Section: Background Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In recent years, matters concerning the safer and more sustainable use of chemical products in agriculture have risen in importance worldwide [1,2]. In the European Union this goal is represented by the implementation of the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) policy [3], which relies on a series of legislative interventions starting from the issue of Directive 2009/128/EC, establishing a framework for community action to achieve the sustainable use of pesticides [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Safe Use of Pesticides: A Risk Assessment Procedure for the Enhancement of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Management

Fargnoli

Lombardi

Puri

et al. 2019

IJERPH

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The attention paid to the use of pesticides has increased notably in recent years as demonstrated by the issue of laws and regulations requiring their safe and environmentally-conscious use (e.g. Directive 2009/128/EC and Regulation (EC) no. 1272/2008). Despite the benefits that can be achieved by pursuing the targets of stricter legislative framework, the difficulties for farmers in complying with it are remarkable, especially for small-sized companies. In fact, in contrast to other occupational health and safety (OHS) contexts, in the case of pesticides even a preliminary analysis on the relationship between pesticide use and the consequent exposure risks for the workers is a complex task. In order to reduce the above-mentioned gap, the present study is focused on the development of an easy-to-use tool for carrying out occupational risk assessment of agricultural activities related to the use of pesticides. The procedure was developed by starting from the Agricultural Health Study (AHS) approach and its improvements, and continuing to the thorough development of a tool for preliminary risk assessment, providing a simplified model for its practical application by farmers. A case study concerning olive cultivation was used for its first verification. The results achieved should be considered as an initial step for the promotion of safer practices when using pesticides, providing a consistent base for their further validation.

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“…There are more than 1,000 different kinds of pesticides including insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides (fungus remover), and they are toxic substances used to control pests and diseases. 1 The use of pesticides has contributed to abundant food supply today by improving agricultural productivity and quality by protecting crops from diseases and pests. 2 In particular, the agricultural population in South Korea is declining every year as the number of people aged 65 years and older continue to rise sharply from 16.2% in 1995 to 44.7% in now.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does Pesticide Exposure Affect Male Farmer’s Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms?

Kim¹,

Song²,

Roh³

2020

Preprint

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Purpose: Research on the relationship between lower urinary tract symptoms and pesticides is limited. Thus, we investigated the relationship between full-time male farmers’ exposure to organophosphorus and pyrethroid pesticides and the degree of lower urinary tract symptoms. Methods: Four metabolites of each of organophosphate and pyrethroid in urine from 348 full-time male farmers were analysed. Subjects’ pesticide-related characteristics including international prostate symptoms score (IPSS) and pesticide poisoning symptoms within 48 hours of exposure to pesticides and general characteristics were assessed through one-to-one interviews using a structured questionnaire. Findings: Lower urinary tract symptoms of full-time male farmers with 1-2 pesticide poisoning symptoms (odds ratio [OR] 2.63, 95% confidence interval [CI]1.21-5.73) and ≥3 symptoms (OR 10.36, 95% CI 2.18-49.15) were significantly higher than those without symptoms. The odds ratios of two- and three-fractile groups of pyrethroid urinary metabolites were 2.50 (95% CI 1.23-5.06) and 2.72 (95% CI 1.37-5.43), respectively, compared to the one fractile group. Conclusion: Relationships among pesticide poisoning symptoms within 48 hours of exposure to pesticides, total amount of pyrethroid pesticide metabolites in urine, and the lower urinary tract symptoms of male farmers were observed in the present study, and this needs further investigation.

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Risk assessment of occupational pesticide exposure: Use of endpoints and surrogates

Cited by 44 publications

References 45 publications

Oxidative stress and DNA damage in agricultural workers after exposure to pesticides

Oxidative stress and DNA damage in agricultural workers after exposure to pesticides

The Safe Use of Pesticides: A Risk Assessment Procedure for the Enhancement of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Management

Does Pesticide Exposure Affect Male Farmer’s Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms?

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