AVALIAÇÃO DA MUTAGENICIDADE E GENOTOXICIDADE EM TRABALHADORES RURAIS DE MUNICÍPIOS GOIANOS COM INTENSA ATIVIDADE AGRÍCOLA

Abstract

The term pesticide is used to refer to a wide variety of chemicals used to kill weeds, insects and fungi. In Brazil, the use of pesticides in agriculture has been expanding continuously, and therefore the analysis of the effects of this type of environmental exposure begins to document an epidemiological profile of the distribution of cancer in both populations occupationally exposed to these chemicals as in the general population indirectly affected by contaminated food and water resources. The possible toxic effects of such exposures are unknown and the information related only to the toxicity of active ingredients are not sufficient to assess the risk of adverse effects of pesticides on human health and the environment. Workers exposed to pesticides when compared with the control group showed increased 8 times more micronucleus and 20 times more binucleated cells and increased DNA damage measured by comet assay. Variables such as smoking, alcohol consumption, age, sex, duration of exposure and type of pesticide did not affect the appearance of genetic damage. However, there was an increase of micronucleus in workers who did not use personal protective equipment. Pesticide exposure can cause genotoxicity and mutagenicity to individuals who deal with such agents.