ESTADO ACTUAL DE LA INVESTIGACIÓN SOBRE PLAGUICIDAS EN MÉXICO

Objective: This study evaluates the effects of exposure to pesticides on the health of pesticide retailers. Methods: The study population comprised 83-male pesticide retailers and 98 controls. Serum butyrylcholinesterase levels and complete blood analysis were performed in a certified laboratory and each subject completed a structured questionnaire. Results: Butyrylcholinesterase activity and hematological parameters such as hemoglobin and hematocrit were significantly lower in pesticide retailers than in control subjects. In contrast, platelet count as well as hepatic parameters such as glutamic-pyruvate transaminase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activities was higher in pesticide retailers. Furthermore, pesticide retailers experienced burning sensations in the skin more frequently than controls. Conclusions: These preliminary results suggest the importance of evaluating further toxicological biomarkers in these populations.

Objective: Biomarkers of pesticide toxicity and paraoxonase 1 (PON1) phenotype and genotypes were evaluated in indigenous Mexican farmworkers exposed mainly to organophosphate (OP) pesticides. Methods: Acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, and PON1 activities—arylesterase and CMPAase activities—were evaluated spectrophotometrically. PON1 55 and 192 polymorphisms were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Hematological parameters were evaluated using a cytometer. Results: Butyrylcholinesterase and arylesterase activities were lower in farmworkers, who also showed lower levels of leukocytes but higher percentages of lymphocytes when compared with the nonexposed group. Our results showed a high frequency of OP, high hydrolysis-related PON1 alleles (LL/QR and LL/RR) in the study population. An association was observed between CMPAase activity and PON1Q192R polymorphism. Conclusions: Our results suggest that pesticide exposure modifies biochemical and hematological biomarkers in the study population, and that the phenotype of PON1 (CMPAase) is a sensible susceptibility biomarker of OP pesticide toxicity.

Yucatan is a region with a high impact of water contamination since it has a karst type soil favoring contaminants entry into the phreatic level, the only source of freshwater in the area. However, no studies report pesticides in water for human consumption or the risk it represents. The objective of this study was to detect and measure pesticide concentrations in domestic tap water to estimate the risk (carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic) to health. A non-probabilistic sampling was applied of 48 tap water sources, and then pesticide detection with solid-phase extraction gas chromatography coupled to the electron capture and flame photometric detectors allowed the estimation of risk through hazard ratios. The present results suggest that aldrin, heptachlor, and β-BHC residues in domestic tap water from Ticul, Yucatan, pose a risk to children’s health, particularly for potential carcinogenic risks.