[Investigation on health status of workers exposed to glyphosate]

Zhonghua Lao Dong Wei Sheng Zhi Ye Bing Za Zhi. 2023 Jul 20;41(7):517-522. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn121094-20220329-00162.
[Article in Chinese]

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the concentrations of glyphosate and its metabolites in occupational exposed workers and their possible effects on human health, so as to provide a reference for improving the safe use of glyphosate and toxicity research. Methods: From April to December 2020, 247 workers directly exposed to glyphosate in 5 enterprises were selected as the contact group, and 237 workers who were not exposed to glyphosate and other pesticides in the same enterprise were selected as the control group. Questionnaire survey and occupational health examination were conducted on objects, and the concentrations of glyphosate and its metabolites in the air of workplaces and biological samples were detected. The correlation between the concentrations and the difference of health examination between the two groups were analyzed. Results: The urine glyphosate concentration (0.022-47.668 mg/L), the rate of exceeding the standard (60.32%, 149/247) and the urine aminomethyl phosphonic acid concentration (<0.010-1.624 mg/L) in the contact group were higher than those in the control group [urine glyphosate concentration (<0.020-4.482 mg/L), the rate of exceeding the standard (2.53%, 6/237) and the urine aminomethyl phosphonic acid concentration (<0.010-0.524 mg/L) ], respectively (P<0.001). The exceeding standard rate of glyphosate concentration in the workplace was 33.67% (33/98). The concentration of glyphosate in the workplace was positively correlated with the concentrations of glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid in urine (r(s)=0.804, 0.238, P<0.001), and the concentration of glyphosate in urine was positively correlated with the concentration of aminomethylphosphonic acid in urine (r(s)=0.549, P<0.001). The alanine aminotransferase (ALT), white cell ratio, creatinine, uric acid, the abnormal rates of ALT and total protein (TP) in the contact group were higher than those in the control group, and TP was lower than that in the control group, the differences were statistically different (P<0.05). The abnormal rates of overall liver function, overall renal function, blood routine test, urine routine test, electrocardiogram, liver B ultrasound and blood lipid in the contact group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05) . Conclusion: The concentration of glyphosate in the workplace is related to the concentrations of glyphosate and aminomethyl phosphonic acid in the urine of workers, and exposure to glyphosate may have some harmful effects on human health.

目的: 分析草甘膦及其代谢产物在职业接触人群体内的浓度及其对人体健康可能造成的影响,为提高草甘膦安全使用和毒性研究提供参考依据。 方法: 于2020年4至12月,选择5家草甘膦生产企业中直接接触草甘膦原药的247人作为接触组,同时选择同企业内不接触草甘膦原药和其他农药的237人作为对照组,对其进行问卷调查和职业健康检查,并对作业场所空气中草甘膦和生物样本中草甘膦及其代谢产物的浓度进行检测,分析各浓度之间的相关性和两组间健康检查情况的差异。 结果: 接触组尿中草甘膦浓度(0.022~47.668 mg/L)和超标率(60.32%,149/247)以及尿中氨甲基膦酸浓度(<0.010~1.624 mg/L)分别高于对照组尿中草甘膦浓度(<0.020~4.482 mg/L)和超标率(2.53%,6/237)以及尿中氨甲基膦酸浓度(<0.010~0.524 mg/L),差异均有统计学意义(P<0.001)。工作环境草甘膦浓度超标率为33.67%(33/98);工作环境草甘膦浓度与尿中草甘膦和氨甲基膦酸浓度呈正相关(r(s)=0.804、0.238,P<0.001),尿中草甘膦浓度与氨甲基膦酸浓度呈正相关(r(s)=0.549,P<0.001)。接触组谷丙转氨酶(ALT)、白球比、肌酐、尿酸,以及ALT异常率和总蛋白(TP)异常率高于对照组,TP低于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);接触组总体肝功能、总体肾功能、血常规、尿常规、心电图、肝脏B超和血脂异常率明显高于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。 结论: 工作环境中草甘膦浓度与劳动者尿中草甘膦和代谢产物氨甲基膦酸浓度有关联,草甘膦接触可能对人体的健康产生损伤作用。.

Keywords: Aminomethyl phosphonic acid; Cholinesterase; Glyphosate; Occupational exposure; Occupational groups; Toxicity.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Glyphosate
  • Health Status
  • Humans
  • Occupational Exposure* / adverse effects

Substances

  • aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA)
  • phosphonic acid