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Adverse effects of pesticides on biochemical and haematological parameters in Tunisian agricultural workers

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 22, pages 243–247 (2012)Cite this article

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Abstract

Biomonitoring of effects in agricultural workers is necessary to assess the individual risk of handling pesticides. In this study, biochemical and haematological parameters were measured to evaluate the effects of exposure to these compounds in agricultural workers. The study was carried out in 110 workers and 97 control subjects. Several haematological and biochemical parameters were analysed. Assessment of haematological parameters revealed that the mean cell volume and haematocrit levels were significantly lower in workers than in controls (P=0.002 and 0.013, respectively), while mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentrations were higher in workers (P<0.001). There was also a significant inhibition of butyrylcholinesterase activity in workers compared with that in controls (P<0.001). Assessment of biochemical parameters further showed significantly higher activities of transferases, lactate dehydrogenase (P<0.001), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (P=0.006) and creatine kinase (CK) (P<0.015), as well as higher levels of proteins (P<0.001), creatinine (P=0.001) and urea (P=0.001) in workers compared with controls, along with significantly higher uric acid levels (P=0.012). Furthermore, the number of years exposed to pesticides predicted higher activities of alanine aminotransferase, CK, ALP, as well as uric acid levels. Overall, chronic exposure to pesticides appeared to affect several biochemical parameters. These biomarkers seem to be indicative of adverse effects of pesticides in agricultural workers, confirming their use for routine monitoring of effects.

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Acknowledgements

We express our gratitude to all the individuals who volunteered to participate in this study. We also thank the personnel of CRDA (Commissariat Régional au Développement Agricole), especially Mr B. Ben Aicha, Mr H. Jaballah and Mme K. Miledi, as well as personnel of CTV (cellules territoriales de vulgarisation) of Monastir for their help in contacting the agricultural workers. We also thank Mr A. Zbidi for his contribution to the collection of blood samples, and physicians for their help in performing the clinical examinations. We also would like to express our deepest gratitude to Professor Michěle Bollchard for his assistance and precious advice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Biochemistry 05/UR/09-09, Faculty of Medicine of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia

    Manel Araoud & Abderraouf Kenani

  2. Laboratory of Biochemistry-Toxicology, University Hospital Fattouma Bourguiba Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia

    Manel Araoud, Fadoua Neffeti, Wahiba Douki & Mohamed Fadhel Najjar

  3. Service Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia

    Hassen Ben Hfaiedh & Mohamed Akrout

  4. Laboratory of Hematology, University Hospital Fattouma Bourguiba Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia

    Mohssen Hassine

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  1. Manel Araoud
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  2. Fadoua Neffeti
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  8. Abderraouf Kenani
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Correspondence to Manel Araoud.

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Araoud, M., Neffeti, F., Douki, W. et al. Adverse effects of pesticides on biochemical and haematological parameters in Tunisian agricultural workers. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 22, 243–247 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/jes.2012.11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/jes.2012.11

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