Avaliação de biomarcadores de toxicidade relacionados à exposição aos agrotóxico sem trabalhadores rurais: um estudo de vigilância sentinela

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the occupational risk factors, health conditions and depression of a population exposed to pesticides, as well as to compare the mutation caused by intoxication between exposed and unexposed. The study was carried out in September of the year 2018 (T1) and April of the year 2019 (T2) corresponding to the off-season and harvest periods, respectively, with 62 rural workers aged between 18 and 65 years, coming from a rural community in a city in the South of Minas Gerais. Data collection was conducted through interviews, blood tests and urine. Two structured questionnaires were used, the first for clinical and epidemiological screening and the second for mental health screening. Questionnaire 01 and the first collection of biological samples were applied in T1 and questionnaire 02 and the second collection of blood in T2. Cholinesterase tests were performed in both periods, while the comet test and the other laboratory analyzes were performed only in the off-season. For the comet test, 20 university students were selected as a control group to compare DNA damage. Descriptive, univariate and multivariate analysis were performed using logistic regression, as well as correlation analysis and comparisons between groups using SPSS version 20.0. The participants had an average age of 45.5 years and an average schooling of 5.8 years of study. Regarding gender, 58.1 and 41.9% were male and female, respectively. Most participants (57) had contact with an average of 4.7 different types of pesticides. The percentage of participants with altered Plasma Cholinesterase (BChP) test values was 9.6% and 0%, for harvest and off-season, respectively. As for the erythrocyte cholinesterase (AchE), it was 24.1% and 24.5%, for harvest and off-season. With respect to the Comet test, approximately 20% and 0% were found with a class 2 nucleoid index for the exposed and unexposed population, respectively. The presence of Common Mental Disorder was identified in 20% of the volunteers. In bi and multivariate analysis, it was found that the completion of a technical course in agriculture was the main protective factor for depression (p-value 0.010). The number of products handled is related to depression, just as being female is also a risk factor. The findings demonstrate the relevant impacts of pesticides on the health of this exposed population, when compared to controls, highlighting the variables of cholinesterase, nucleoids and mental health.