Summary
The 100 blood samples of pesticides exposed peoples have been collected from Bahawalnagar district and total 5ml blood was collected both in EDTA tubes and serum vials for the study of hematological, biochemical and genotoxic potential in pesticides exposed rural inhabitants. Blood sample was collected of different age groups and compared with 100 UN exposed dwellers. Demographic characteristics of pesticides exposed workers have also been observed in the same district. In hematological and biochemical parameters including WBCs, RBCs, hemoglobin, HCT, MCHC, MCH, lymphocytes, MCV, neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophils, potassium, sodium, calcium and phosphorous ,AST, CPK and LDH ,Glucose, Urea, creatinine, Bilirubin, ALT and ALP multiple comparison have done with different diseases and they vary in both pesticide exposed and unexposed individuals. The comet assay method used to observe the damaged DNA in pesticides exposed persons and compared their ratio in different age groups which depict that the damaged rate increased with the increase in age. The highly damaged cell has greater tail length of DNA as compare to other slightly damaged, damaged and undamaged cells.
INTRODUCTION
The chemical which is introduced by a man into the environment to check unwanted fungi, weeds especially injurious insect’s populations is called pesticide. It destroys the pests by drawing their attention, tempting them and by lessening the intensity of pests to destroy the beneficial and healthy crops. The diseases in human beings as well as crops losses are mostly caused by harmful pests which are being reduces by using pesticides but its usage is on such large scale that pests are getting immunity against the pesticides day by day. To avoid this trouble a large no of pesticides have been introduced into the market which are classified as fungicide, insecticide, herbicides etc. (Speck Planche et al., 2012).Uncontrollable way of using pesticides has caused a serious damage to our environment regarding human health and other existing all life on this planet (Agrawal et al., 2010 )because it spreads toxicity in natural flora and fauna (Rashid et al., 2010 ).Low quantity of insecticides containing chlorinated hydrocarbons when added in animal feeds remains in their tissues (Liska et al.,1964).Chlorinated hydrocarbons amass in fat particles of the body because they are fat soluble (Olney et al., 1962).
The workers that work with pesticides have to face the chemical mixing, equipment loading and cleaning and getting rid of waste bottles (Turnbull et al., 1985; Rutz and Krieger, 1992).The workers which are regularly exposed to the pesticides have skin diseases rate higher than respiratory diseases (Turnbull et al., 1985).The second source of exposure is entering the field after treating it with pesticides because their particles remain in the field even after treatment for a short time. The exposure is higher at the time of direct handling as compare to second entry (de Cock, 1994).
Pesticides have produced large positive impact on man life by increasing the agricultural end products and disease control but on the other hand their overuse has also destroyed the man health greatly. It also effect the various organs and their systems like reproductive, renal, cardiovascular, immune, respiratory etc greatly in those peoples that have their contact with pesticides on large scale and there are many proofs of these peoples having chronic diseases like Parkinson, aging, Alzheimer, kidney diseases etc. (Abdollahi et al., 2004; De Souza et al., 2011; Mostafalou and Abdollahi, 2012).
The research work done on pesticides and its effects shows that the steroid hormones like estrogrns and androgens effects are also reduced with several chemicals,environmental pollutants and drugs and the pesticides like methoxychlor and DDT have anti-androgenic effect which have been studied in animals(Colburn et al., 1993; Gray et al., 1996; Jensen et al., 1995).The study of wildlife revealed the presence of disturbance in reproductive activities due to Xeno hormones(Guillette and Crain, 1996; Guillette et al., 1994).
Pesticides are used for specific purpose or species but they also produced harmful effects on non-targeted organisms including animal and human beings (Hernández et al., 2011).Pesticides are supposed to be less effective for human beings rather than targeted species as well as are used in less quantity but it is much toxic for human health even in low quantity (Tsatsakis et al., 2009; Zeliger, 2011).It also cause toxic effects by using free radicals method that can also be detected with measurements of oxidative degeneration of lipids in body. During developmental period pesticides exposure cause major damage not only in development but also leave its effects in later life especially effecting the brain and hormonal system(London et al., 2012).Pesticides effects can be ensured by observing the chemical changes in life before its exposure in adverse conditions (Patil et al.,2003).
The pesticides which are used on large scale are organochlorines (OC), organophosphates (OP) and Carbamate (CB).The work of acetylcholinesterase enzyme is inhibit by the action of OB and CB (Peter , 2003; Fukuto TR, 1990; Kwong TC, 2002).The poisoning effect of CB is of short time as compared to OP. The pesticide which is readily lipid dissolvable, neurotoxic, durable in chemical state and endless in environment having eternal half-lives is OC.OC lethal effect is continuous with sodium gates opening in neurons which causes decrease in KB absorption and reduce Ca, K-, Na-ATPase.(Davis and Wedemeyer,1971; Coats.,1990).The pesticide which causes 50% poisoning is OP(Abdollahi et al.,1997; Dekin et al.,1978) and also used as dangerous nerve gas(Fukuto.,1990; Morgan et al.,1980; Soltaninejad et al.,2007).
The single cell gel electrophoresis is a fast, easy and delicate process for measurement of strands disruption in mammal cells (Singh et al., 1988; Olive et al., 1990; Ostling and Johansen, 1984). Microscopes slides ae used for fixing and lysing the cells in agarose gel. The nuclei which is not harmed is intact but the damaged cells have nuclei from which DNA tail emerged out (Cook and Brazell, 1975).The affiliation in single strand become more visible by using basic conditions for relaxing and electrophoresis (Singh et al., 1988).
Objectives
The aim of my research was
- To detect the blood biochemical in pesticides exposed rural inhabitants.
- To monitor the genotoxic potential by using single cell gel electrophoresis in blood samples of rural pesticides exposed workers.