Assessment of genetic effects and pesticide exposure of farmers in NW Greece

H Moshou; A Karakitsou; F Yfanti; D Hela; D Vlastos; A K Paschalidou; P Kassomenos; I Petrou

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2020.109558

Assessment of genetic effects and pesticide exposure of farmers in NW Greece

Environ Res. 2020 Jul:186:109558. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109558. Epub 2020 Apr 20.

Authors

H Moshou¹, A Karakitsou², F Yfanti², D Hela³, D Vlastos⁴, A K Paschalidou⁵, P Kassomenos⁶, I Petrou⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Environmental and Natural Resources Management, University of Patras, GR-30100, Agrinion, Greece.
² Department of Business Administration of Agricultural and Food Enterprise, University of Patras, GR-30100, Agrinion, Greece.
³ Department of Chemistry, University of Ioannina, GR-45110, Ioannina, Greece. Electronic address: dchela@uoi.gr.
⁴ Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Patras, GR-30100, Agrinion, Greece. Electronic address: dvlastos@upatras.gr.
⁵ Department of Forestry and Management of the Environment and Natural Resources, Democritus University of Thrace, GR-68200, Orestiada, Greece.
⁶ Department of Physics, University of Ioannina, GR-45110, Ioannina, Greece.

PMID: 32361259
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109558

Abstract

The present study aims at evaluating potential genotoxic and cytotoxic effects caused by the occupational exposure of farmers to pesticide mixtures in the Aitoloakarnania Prefecture (Greece). The aforementioned assessment was conducted through in vivo Cytokinesis Block Micronucleus assay (CBMN assay) in peripheral blood lymphocytes, in relation to chemical analysis of pesticide residues in blood samples. The exposure of the farmers' population studied to different combinations of pesticides induced significant differences in the frequencies of micronuclei (MN) compared to those of the control group. Furthermore, our results indicated a possible clastogenic and aneugenic effect of pesticides on the genetic material of the farmers exposed. Five pesticides (trifluralin, chlorpyriphos methyl, metolachlor, fenthion and dimethoate) and three metabolites (fenthion sulfone, fenthion sulfoxide and 4,4' DDE) were detected in the 62.5% of blood samples, with mean concentrations ranging from 0.4 ng/ml to 48 ng/ml. Since the farmers studied probably exhibit detectable levels of systematic exposure to the pesticides applied, continuous educational programs focused on the rational and safe use of pesticides, together with implementation of risk communication strategies among farmers are highly recommended.

Keywords: Genotoxicity; Micronuclei; Occupational exposure; Pesticides.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Farmers
Greece
Humans
Micronucleus Tests
Occupational Exposure* / analysis
Pesticides* / toxicity

Substances

Pesticides