Genomic instability evaluation by BMCyt and telomere length in Brazilian family farmers exposed to pesticides

• Published in: Mutation research. Genetic toxicology and environmental mutagenesis Vol. 878; p. 503479
• Main Authors: dos Santos, Isabela Campanelli, da Silva, Jefferson Tenesse, Rohr, Paula, Lengert, André van Helvoort, de Lima, Marcos Alves, Kahl, Vivian Francilia Silva, da Silva, Juliana, Reis, Rui Manuel, Silveira, Henrique César Santejo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-06-2022
• Subjects: Genomic instability; Micronucleus; Occupational exposure; Pesticide exposure; Telomere length; Pesticide exposure; Telomere length; Occupational exposure; Micronucleus; Genomic instability
• ISSN: 1383-5718; 1879-3592
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2022.503479

Brazil is one of the largest consumers of pesticides in the world. This high consumption has resulted in higher potential health risk to agricultural farm workers due to occupational exposure. Hence, the aim of this study is to evaluate genomic instability, using Buccal Micronucleus Cytome (BMCyt) and telomere length (TL) measurement as biomarkers of occupational exposure to pesticides in rural workers living in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Genomic instability was evaluated in 81 pesticide-exposed farm workers (69 males and 12 females) with a mean age of 49.16 ± 10.06 years and a mean time job of 30.00 ± 14.00 years,81 non-exposed individuals (62 males and 15 females) with a mean age of 47.87 ± 10.66 years. BMCyt results showed significantly higher levels of cell damage (micronuclei and binucleated cells) and cell death (karyorrhectic and condensed chromatin cells) in subjects exposed to pesticide when compared to those non-exposed (p < 0.05). Although our results did not show significant differences in TL among exposed and non-exposed groups, effects in TL due to pesticide exposure was found in a multivariable linear regression model when we stratified the groups by age (≤ 49 years and ≥ 50 years old; β = 11.21, p = 0.006). In addition, TL reduction on was identified in relation to an increase in cigarette pack consumption (β = −0.633, p = 0.045). Furthermore, exposure to specific pesticides presented different effects in TL. Cypermethrin exposure resulted in a reduction in TL (β = −18.039, p = 0.018), while abamectin exposure led to an increase in TL (β = 23.990, p = 0.007). Thus, our findings substantiate genomic instability due to pesticides exposure.
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•Pesticides exposure induced DNA damage and cell death.•Pesticides exposure has an important role in TL maintenance, could leads a reduction or increase on TL.•The BMCyt assay and a TL are promising biomarkers to pesticides exposure.