EVALUATION OF THE RISK TO HEALTH FOR CHRONIC EXPOSURE TO PESTICIDES IN AGRICULTURE WORKERS OF NEXTIPAC, JALISCO. MEXICO.
 
Payán R, Feria A, Garibay G, Rangel R.
INTRODUCTION: The use of pesticides yields many benefits to agriculture, to increase the production of food, the control of pests and diseases; however to be designed to affect living organisms, it also create risks for the health of humans and the environment.
OBJECTIVES: To know the indicators of risk to the health of the agricultural workers of Nextipac, Jalisco, exposed to pesticides; and so to analyze the habits of handling, to identify the symptomatology presented by the population under study, to diagnose the alterations in hepatic and renal function, and to evaluate the possible damage at the genetic level.
   
MATERIAL AND METHODS: A descriptive transversal study was carried out in 2009. The population of study was made up of 25 men exposed to pesticides and 21 men "not exposed". For the study, variables were utilized related to the environment and exposure to pesticides, such as socio-demographic factors and the relationship to the effects on health.
The instruments utilized were: questionnaire of occupational history, clinical questionnaire, samples of blood and urine.
The laboratory tests included: blood biometry, clinical chemistry, lipid profile, tests of hepatic and renal function, general examination of urine, measurement of red blood cell cholinesterase, lipid peroxidation profile, and measurement of circulating DNA.
 
RESULTS: The habits of pesticide handling identified as dangerous during application were: combining the products, not changing clothing at the end of application, not utilizing personal protection equipment, and blowing with the mouth into the nozzles of the sprayers.
In the clinical history taken, the family antecedents that the workers presented were: cancer (28%), problems with fertility (20%), and congenital malformations (15%).
The principal reproductive problem identified in the couples of the agriculture workers were spontaneous abortion (35%).
The principal signs and symptoms presented were: blurred vision (20%), headache (20%), muscular contractions (15%), abdominal pain (15%), dizziness (11%), tightness of the chest (9%), and nausea (4%).
In the physical examination were observed: conjunctivitis (57%), dermatitis (33%), rhintis (28%), pharyngitis (26%), alterations in pigmentadion (11%), otitis (13%).
Cases of intoxication presented in 20% of the agricultural workers.
In the toxicological analysis 100% of the agricultural workers exposed and 90% of those "not exposed" presented alterations in circulating DNA.
In the analysis of lipid peroxidation 4.8 of every 10 individuals exposed and 6.2 of every 10 individuals "not exposed" presented alterations.
 
CONCLUSIONS: Agricultural workers suffer high levels of exposure risk due to the toxicity of the pesticides they handle.
The population in the study revealed problems with fertility, such as family antecedents of cancer and congenital malformations.
The results with respect to the health problems could be associated with the damage referred to in the literature with respect to the active ingredients used in the pesticides.
 
 
 
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