Biomarkers of Human Exposure to Pesticides
Wagida A. Anwar
Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
Abstract
For centuries, several hundred pesticides have been used to control insects. These pesticides differ greatly in their mode of action, uptake by the body, metabolism, elimination from the body, and toxicity to humans. Potential exposure from the environment can be estimated by environmental monitoring. Actual exposure (uptake) is measured by the biological monitoring of human tissues and body fluids. Biomarkers are used to detect the effects of pesticides before adverse clinical health effects occur. Pesticides and their metabolites are measured in biological samples, serum, fat, urine, blood, or breast milk by the usual analytical techniques. Biochemical responses to environmental chemicals provide a measure of toxic effect. A widely used biochemical biomarker, cholinesterase depression, measures exposure to organophosphorus insecticides. Techniques that measure DNA damage (e.g., detection of DNA adducts) provide a powerful tool in measuring environmental effects. Adducts to hemoglobin have been detected with several pesticides. Determination of chromosomal aberration rates in cultured lymphocytes is an established method of monitoring populations occupationally or environmentally exposed to known or suspected mutagenic-carcinogenic agents. There are several studies on the cytogenetic effects of work with pesticide formulations. The majority of these studies report increases in the frequency of chromosomal aberrations and/or sister chromatid exchanges among the exposed workers. Biomarkers will have a major impact on the study of environmental risk factors. The basic aim of scientists exploring these issues is to determine the nature and consequences of genetic change or variation, with the ultimate purpose of predicting or preventing disease. -- Environ Health Perspect 105(Suppl 4):801-806 (1997)
Key words: biomarkers, effect, exposure, human, pesticides
This paper was prepared as background for the Workshop on Susceptibility to Environmental Hazards convened by the Scientific Group on Methodologies for the Safety Evaluation of Chemicals (SGOMSEC) held 17-22 March 1996 in Espoo, Finland. Manuscript received at EHP 5 November 1996; accepted 18 November 1996.
Address correspondence to Dr. W.A. Anwar, Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. Telephone: 20 2 283 7862 or 20 2 241 2418. Fax: 20 2 283 7862 or 20 2 283 7888. E-mail: paems_md@frcu.eun.eg
Abbreviations used: AChE, acetylcholinesterase; 
-ALAD, -aminolevulinic acid dehydratase; AP, acephate; CA, chromosomal aberration; Cd, cadmium; ChE, cholinesterase; DGA, d-glucaric acid; MH-30, maleic hydrazide; PCD, polychlorinated dioxin; PCDF, polychlorinated dibenzofuran; RBC, red blood cell; SCE, sister chromatid exchange; SOD, superoxide dismutase.
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Last Update: June 17, 1997