RESUMO

The aim of this study was to evaluate the DNA damage in soybean growers during two agricultural periods of a crop season (high and low exposure) and a control group, as well as butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activity during these exposure periods in order to estimate the degree of BChE inhibition for the exposed group. DNA damage in peripheral whole blood was evaluated by the comet assay and plasma BChE activity was accessed as a measure of exposure to cholinesterase inhibitors. None of the soybean growers reported using full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). BChE was lower in high exposure period than in low exposure period and DNA damage index was significantly increased in the high exposure period than in the low exposure period. In addition, DNA damage in both exposure periods was higher than control group. No correlation was found between exposure time and DNA damage and BChE activity. However, negative correlation was observed between DNA damage in high and low exposure periods. The results indicate that soybean growers are exposed to cholinesterase inhibitors and to pesticides mixtures with genotoxic potential.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Plasma cholinesterase activity is a biomarker sensitive to the effect of organophosphate and carbamate pesticides, and its enzymatic levels have been previously unknown for most of the wild birds analyzed in the present study. Our objectives were to establish plasma acetylcholinesterase levels in songbirds of 2 undisturbed sites in the central Monte Desert (Argentina). We also examined the influence on cholinesterase activity of age, sex, body condition, feeding and migratory habits, and species. One hundred and sixty-five wild birds belonging to 26 species were studied. The values obtained for acetylcholinesterase activity provide a good estimate of the normal values in free-living individuals of the species Zonotrichia capensis, Molothrus bonariensis, Passer domesticus, Diuca diuca, Poospiza ornata, Saltator aurantiirostris, Gryseotyrannus aurantioatrocristatus, and Columbina picui, with interspecies differences. The median enzymatic levels ± standard error of the mean ranged from 546.31 ± 17.97 µmol min-1 L-1 in P. domesticus to 3439.90 ± 173.92 µmol min-1 L-1 in Tyrannus melancholicus. No significant differences were detected between different sexes or ages. Birds that migrate (which are also insectivores) showed higher levels of cholinesterase than residents (mainly granivores). It is recommended that in cases of bird poisoning, plasma cholinesterase activity can be used as a diagnostic tool only if pre-exposure levels obtained in the same species are available, and ideally evaluated in individuals from the same biogeographical region. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:1692-1700. © 2019 SETAC.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Debido al alto grado de contaminación por plaguicidas de productos agrícolas y al alto costo que implica su detección se consideró importante optimizar el método de escrutinio de inhibición de colinesterasas humanas en presencia de extractos vegetales. Se demostró que las suspensiones de glóbulos rojos y plasma son estables al menos por tres meses si se mantienen entre 4 y 8 °C. El reactivo de color es estable por al menos dos años y medio en refrigeración y los sustratos de ambas colinesterasas son estables congelados al menos por dos años. La mezcla del extracto vegetal y los glóbulos rojos o plasma debe incubarse 90 minutos a 37 °C para determinar los porcentajes de inhibición enzimática. Se determinó que los porcentajes de inhibición superiores a 16% en la plasmática y a 21% en la eritrocítica indican presencia de plaguicida en los vegetales. Este método de screening optimizado para detectar la presencia de carbamatos y organofosforados tiene ventaja sobre otros por su bajo costo, facilidad y rapidez de análisis sin requerir de equipo costoso y poco versátil. Esta metodología no cuantifica ni identifica el plaguicida presente pero permite diferenciar entre organofosforados y carbamatos si el periodo de incubación del vegetal con eritrocitos o plasma se prolonga por 24 horas a 20-25 °C.

Optimization of the screening method of inhibition of human cholinesterases is considered important because of the high contamination rate of agricultural products with pesticides and its high detection cost. It has been demonstrated that erythrocytes and plasma are stable at least for three months at 4-8 °C. The colour reaction reagent is stable for at least two and a half years at 4-8 °C and the substrate for both cholinesterases is stable when frozen, at least for two years. The solution of vegetable extract and erythrocytes or plasma must be incubated 90 minutes at 37 °C in order to determine the percentages of enzymatic inhibition. It was established that inhibition percentages higher than 16% for the plasmatic solution, and 21% for the erythrocytic solution mean that pesticide is present in vegetables. The advantages of this optimized screening method for the detection of carbamates and organophosphates in vegetables are its low cost and its easy and quick analysis without the need of expensive equipment. This method does not quantify or identify the pesticide, but rather it differentiates organophosphates from carbamates if the incubation time of the vegetable extract with erythrocytes or plasma is maintained at 20- 25 °C for 24 hours.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Problema: los valores fisiológicos de colinesterasas se conocen para personas y trabajadores sanos, pero poco se sabe de ellos cuando se trata de sujetos con enfermedades crónicas controladas, usualmente con medicamentos. ¿Cuál es el efecto de la enfermedad, de las drogas o de ambas en los niveles de colinesterasas?Objetivos: medir las colinesterasas eritrocitarias y plasmáticas en trabajadores activos y asintomáticos que estuviesen laborando, no expuestos a plaguicidas inhibidores de colinesterasas, que manifestaran padecer alguna enfermedad que estuviera controlada, con o sin tratamiento.Metodología: como parte de un estudio descriptivo prospectivo, diseñado para obtener los valores de referencia en población laboral activa de afiliados al Seguro Social, en Antioquia (Colombia), se aplicó una encuesta para identificar trabajadores con alguna enfermedad que estuviera controlada. La acetilcolinesterasa se midió por dos técnicas diferentes y la butirilcolinesterasa por tres procedimientos distintos.Resultados: la muestra de la población laboral del valle de Aburrá y del Cercano Oriente Antioqueño la integraron 827 personas, de las cuales 19 por ciento dijo tener alguna enfermedad. La prevalencia de enfermedad en Aburrá fue 30 por ciento y en Oriente 9 por ciento (p= 0,0000000). La lista de enfermedades contiene 13 problemas y las más frecuentes fueron hipertensión arterial (29 por ciento), "del hígado" (16 por ciento), anemia (10 por ciento) y artritis (10 por ciento). Entre las 827, 15 por ciento (127 sujetos) estaba recibiendo fármacos en el momento del estudio y 85 por ciento de los usuarios de fármacos empleaba uno solo y el resto usaba dos o más. El 8 por ciento tenía enfermedad y usaba fármacos (E+F+), 74 por ciento carecía de ambos fenómenos (E-F-), 11 por ciento tenía enfermedad pero no usaba medicamentos (E+F-) y 7 por ciento no tenía enfermedad pero si usaba drogas (E-F+). En cada estrato región-sexo, estos cuatro grupos se compararon en función de la colinesterasa, por cada una de las técnicas de medición, y nunca hubo diferencia significativa. Tampoco hubo diferencias importantes cuando se procedió a comparar los valores enzimáticos entre personas con una enfermedad específica y quienes no la tienen, excepto en el caso de "anemia".Conclusiones: los niveles de colinesterasas eritrocitaria y plasmática son similares entre trabajadores sanos o con enfermedades crónicas controladas, con o sin drogas

ABSTRACT PROBLEM: Physiological values of cholinesterase are known in healthy population, but limited information on them is available in individuals with chronic, controlled diseases, either with or without medication. OBJECTIVES: To measure erythrocytic and plasmatic cholinesterase levels in active workers who met the following conditions: to be feeling well and active at their jobs at the time of the study; to suffer from some disease that was under control either with or without medication; not to have been exposed to pesticides based on cholinesterase inhibitors. METHODOLOGY: A survey was carried out among workers affiliated to the Social Security Institute in Antioquia, Colombia, to identify those suffering from some disease and who had it under control. Acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase levels were determined using two techniques for the former and three for the latter. Surveyed workers belonged to two different parts of Antioquia, namely: the Aburra Valley and the Near East region. The study sample was made up by 827 persons, 19% of which informed to be suffering from some disease. RESULTS: Prevalence of disease in the Aburra Valley workers was 30% and in those from the Near East region, 9% (p = 0.0000000). The list of their diseases included 13 different ones, the most frequent of which were: hypertension (29%), "liver disease" (16%), anemia (10%), and arthritis (10%). Out of the 827 people, 127 (15%) were under some kind of medication at the moment of the study; of them, 85% were being treated with only one drug. Eight per cent were diseased and under medication (D+, M+), 74% were neither diseased nor under medication (D-, M-), 11% were diseased but were not being treated (D+, M-), and 7% were not diseased but did use some medication (D-, M+). These four groups were stratified according to region and sex and compared as to cholinesterase levels. No significant differences were found. Comparison of enzymatic values among people with or without specific diseases also did not reveal any significant differences, except for anemia. CONCLUSION: Erythrocytic and plasmatic cholinesterase levels are similar in healthy workers and in those with chronic, controlled diseases, regardless of the use or not of medication

Assuntos