Bréga S M, Vassilieff I, Almeida A, Mercadante A, Bissacot D, Cury P R, Freire-Maia D V
Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual de São Paulo (UNESP), Botucatu, SP 18600-000 Brasil.
Cad Saude Publica. 1998;14 Suppl 3:109-15.
Pesticides can cause gene mutations and chromosomal aberrations in exposed individuals. We have investigated 24 workers exposed to pesticides. Clinical examinations and cytogenetic and toxicological tests were performed. Ten non-exposed individuals were used as controls. Toxicological dosages of copper, zinc and manganese (metals found in some pesticides), hepatic enzyme dosage (GOT, GPT, AR) and acetylcholinesterase activity were performed in 16 workers and 8 controls. In the exposed workers, the most relevant clinical symptoms were poor digestion with fullness sensation after meals, irritated eyes, headache and fasciculations. The exposed group showed significantly lower manganese dosage and acetylcholinesterase activity, and significantly higher levels of alkaline phosphatase. Cytogenetic studies showed significantly higher chromosomal aberrations in the exposed group compared to the control group. Although the workers used protection against the pesticide's fog, the results revealed that the workers were contaminated with the pesticides. Therefore, the cytogenetic, toxicological studies with clinical examination are necessary for monitoring workers who are exposed to pesticides in any situation.
农药可导致接触者发生基因突变和染色体畸变。我们对24名接触农药的工人进行了调查。进行了临床检查以及细胞遗传学和毒理学检测。选取10名未接触者作为对照。对16名工人和8名对照进行了铜、锌和锰（某些农药中含有的金属）的毒理学剂量、肝酶剂量（谷草转氨酶、谷丙转氨酶、碱性磷酸酶）以及乙酰胆碱酯酶活性检测。在接触农药的工人中，最相关的临床症状为饭后消化不佳伴有饱腹感、眼睛不适、头痛和肌束震颤。接触组的锰剂量和乙酰胆碱酯酶活性显著降低，碱性磷酸酶水平显著升高。细胞遗传学研究显示，与对照组相比，接触组的染色体畸变显著增多。尽管工人们采取了防护措施以抵御农药喷雾，但结果显示他们仍受到了农药污染。因此，对于在任何情况下接触农药的工人，进行细胞遗传学、毒理学研究并辅以临床检查对于监测工作来说是必要的。
