Induction of DNA and Cytogenetic Damage in Lymphocytes of Polish Workers Exposed to Pesticides

A. Cebulska-Wasilewska1, A. Wierzewska1, W. Dyga1, Z. Drag2, C. Siffel3, M. Horváth3, and W. Au4

1 Department of Radiation and Environmental Biology, Institute of Nuclear Physics, Krakow, Poland
2 Institute of Sociology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
3 Department of Human Genetics and Teratology, National Center for Epidemiology, Budapest, Hungary
4 University of Texas, Medical Branch, Galveston, USA

Corresponding author: Dr. A. Cebulska-Wasilewska
    Department of Radiation and Environmental Biology,
    Institute of Nuclear Physics
    ul. Radzikowskiego 152
    31-342 Krakow, Poland
    Telephone: (+48) 12 6340222 / Ext. 322
    Fax number: (+48) 12 6375441
    E-mail: wasilews@alf.ifj.edu.pl

CEJOEM 2000, Vol.6. No.4.:272-287

Key words:
Pesticides, genotoxicity, DNA damage, sister chromatid exchanges

Abstract:
This paper presents preliminary data from the joint research program (Greece, Hungary, Poland, and Spain) investigating the relationship between exposure to agrochemicals and the induction of genotoxicity in human cells. In this paper, we present data mainly from the Polish subgroup. Blood samples were collected by venipuncture from male donors (50 persons in a reference group and 50 persons in a group occupationally exposed to pesticides). The collected samples were analyzed for the induction of DNA strand breaks (based on the Comet assay) and of chromosome damage (based on the sister chromatid exchange assay). Analysis of the data from the interviews revealed that the occupationally exposed group showed significantly higher frequency of some health problems. The exposed group also had consistently higher levels of DNA damage and sister chromatid exchanges compared to the reference group. Such differences are statistically significant using the measurements of population under the study performed in Hungary. We have also shown that cigarette smoking played an important role influencing the biomarker response. Although the farmers in Poland had been using safety devices while dealing with pesticides, our data indicate that more rigorous procedures need to be employed.

Received:  20 July 2000
Accepted:  16 January 2001
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