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Biomonitoring of agricultural workers exposed to pesticide mixtures in Guerrero state, Mexico, with comet assay and micronucleus test

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the genotoxic effect of pesticides in exfoliated buccal cells of workers occupationally exposed in Guerrero, Mexico, using the comet assay and the micronucleus test. The study compared 111 agricultural workers in three rural communities (Arcelia 62, Ajuchitlan 13, and Tlapehuala 36), with 60 non-exposed individuals. All the participants were males. The presence of DNA damage was investigated in the exfoliated buccal cells of study participants with the comet assay and the micronucleus (MN) test; comet tail length was evaluated in 100 nuclei and 3000 epithelial cells of each individual, respectively; other nuclear anomalies such as nuclear buds, karyolysis, karyorrhexis, and binucleate cells were also evaluated. Study results revealed that the tail migration of DNA and the frequency of MN increased significantly in the exposed group, which also showed nuclear anomalies associated with cytotoxic or genotoxic effect. No positive correlation was noted between exposure time and tail length and micronuclei frequencies. No significant effect on genetic damage was observed as a result of age, smoking, and alcohol consumption. The MN and comet assay in exfoliated buccal cells are useful and minimally invasive methods for monitoring genetic damage in individuals exposed to pesticides. This study provided valuable data for establishing the possible risk to human health associated with pesticide exposure.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. Stefano Bonassi for his comments and suggestions, María Luisa Vargas Torres and Liliana Sánchez Estrada for their technical assistance, the physician Andrés Palacios for the medical attention extended to the agricultural workers, and Claudio Amescua for his editing assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unidad Académica de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, Av. Lázaro Cárdenas s/n Ciudad Universitaria, Chilpancingo, Gro, Mexico

    Yolanda Carbajal-López

  2. Laboratorio de Genotoxicología Ambiental, Centro de Ciencias de la Atmósfera, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, 04510, D.F., Mexico

    Sandra Gómez-Arroyo & María Elena Calderón-Segura

  3. Laboratorio de Mutagénesis Ambiental, Centro de Ciencias de la Atmósfera, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, 04510, D.F., Mexico

    Rafael Villalobos-Pietrini

  4. Laboratorio de Aerosoles Atmosféricos, Centro de Ciencias de la Atmósfera, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, 04510, D.F., Mexico

    Amparo Martínez-Arroyo

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  1. Yolanda Carbajal-López
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  2. Sandra Gómez-Arroyo
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  3. Rafael Villalobos-Pietrini
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  4. María Elena Calderón-Segura
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  5. Amparo Martínez-Arroyo
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sandra Gómez-Arroyo.

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This study was performed in accordance with the principles stated in the Declaration of Helsinki. All participants were informed regarding the study and they accepted the idea of taking part in it. They subsequently signed the document in which they agreed to complete a standardized questionnaire with personal data related to age; time of exposure, habits such as smoking and alcohol consumption, drugs, and diets; the type of work performed; and protective measures used.

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Carbajal-López, Y., Gómez-Arroyo, S., Villalobos-Pietrini, R. et al. Biomonitoring of agricultural workers exposed to pesticide mixtures in Guerrero state, Mexico, with comet assay and micronucleus test. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 2513–2520 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5474-7

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