Toxicología: acceso abierto

Abstracto

The Influence of Pesticides on Hepatic and Renal Functions in Occupational Sprayers of Rural Malihabad, Lucknow (India)

Farrukh Jamal, Quazi S Haque, Sangram Singh and Md Arshad

Pesticides affect several human organs, resulting in a wide variety of physiological changes. In context with the occupational pesticide sprayers it is important to understand the influence of toxic exposure on human health. The present study is a comparative analysis of hematologic parameters, hepatic and renal function in the occupationally exposed pesticide sprayers of mango plantation of rural Malihabad, Lucknow. This area is predominantly a mango cultivation belt in North India. The select group of study comprises of sixty (60) pesticide sprayers [study group] and the control group included thirty (30) pesticides-unexposed normal healthy persons engaged in normal usual agricultural work [age group 20 to 45 years corresponding to age group of select subject group] from rural Malihabad, Lucknow [India]. Blood samples were collected from both groups. Questionnaire, interview and observation were employed to obtain demographic, occupational, dietary and clinical data. The sprayers as compared with control participants showed significantly increased serum C reactive protein, liver function marker enzymes, serum bilirubin, creatinine, blood glucose, and blood urea; whereas the acetyl cholinesterase activity and the level of serum cholesterol declined. No significant alteration was observed in the serum total protein, globulin, and the albumin/globulin ratio; however, a slight downfall in the level of serum albumin was recorded. Compared with the control group, hematologic parameters significantly decreased in pesticide sprayers. It is suggested that a high degree of pesticide absorption in occupationally exposed pesticides sprayers is responsible for decrease in the level of serum acetyl cholinesterase and consequently there is impairment of liver and kidney functions and slightly altered hematologic parameters. The present study suggests the toxic effect of pesticides on the occupational sprayer and precautionary measures must be taken to ameliorate their health status. It also suggests that restrain must be imposed on the indiscriminate use of lethal pesticides as it affects the ecosystem.