Toxicological evaluation of the immune function of pesticide workers, a European wide assessment

Abstract

<jats:p> In this study, the prolonged low-dose exposure of mixtures of pesticides has been examined on hematological parameters and components of the immune defense in occupationally exposed humans. This investigation was carried out in five field studies in: the Netherlands (flower bulb growers, mainly re-entry workers), Italy (vineyard workers), Finland (potato farmers), and Bulgaria (workers from a zineb factory and greenhouse workers). Immunotoxicity was studied by measuring hematological parameters, complement, immunoglobulins, lymphocyte subpopulations, natural killer cells, autoimmunity, and antibody responses to hepatitis B vaccination. The total study population consisted of 248 pesticide-exposed and 231 non-occupationally exposed workers. As a surrogate measure of pesticide exposure the urinary excretion of ethylenethiourea (ETU), the main metabolite ethylenebisdithiocarbamates was measured. A significantly higher level of ETU in occupationally exposed subjects compared with controls (2.7 ± 8.1 μg/g vs 0.5 ± 3.7 μg/g creatinine) was found. Statistically significant differences, albeit very low, were found for complement C3 and C4 and the immunoglobulin classes IgG4 and IgA. For complement and IgG4, the levels were slightly increased and the level of IgA was decreased. In the lymphocyte populations, the CD8 subpopulation was increased. No effects were found on autoimmune antibodies and antibody response to hepatitis vaccination. In conclusion, pesticide exposure under various work place conditions in Europe was associated only with some subtle effects on the immune system, which may suggest that occupational exposure to pesticides does not influence the immunologic system in a clinically significant fashion, and does not pose a significant health risk to the exposed subjects. </jats:p>

Immunological and genotoxic effects of occupational exposure to α-cypermethrin pesticide

“…The majority of available was in place with prolonged exposure or higher levels of exposures may occur. Other studies investigated the harmful effect of pesticides on the immune system as a European wide study which described minimal changes of the immune markers as detected in the current study [22]. However, this study was not studying specifically CYP but included other pesticides as well.…”

Global Water Pollution and Human Health

“…Finally, acute poisoning from direct pesticide exposure is a considerable risk for agricultural workers. Although the impact of this exposure pathway is debated in North America and Europe (71,72), accidental exposure and deliberate misuse of agrochemicals seem more frequent in developing countries (73)(74)(75), resulting in an estimated poisoning of 3 million people with as many as 20,000 unintentional deaths per year (76).…”

Effect of Pesticide Exposure on Immunological, Hematological and Biochemical Parameters in Thai Orchid Farmers— A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Exposure to the synthetic pyrethroid cypermethrin, tended to lower the immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM, IgA), the complement components C3c and C4 and the acute phase protein α-acid glycoprotein (AAG), and the lymphocyte subpopulations CD3 + , CD4 + and CD20 + after pest control operation [ 10 ]. Steerenberg et al [ 11 ] found increased complement and IgG4 levels, but decreased IgA in European pesticide workers in agriculture who were exposed to a mixture of pesticides including ethylenebisdithiocarbamate (EBDC) fungicides. Chemical plant workers chronically exposed to pesticide dusts including captan and carbendazim showed disturbances in humoral and cellular immunities [ 12 ].…”