DNA damage in B and T lymphocytes of farmers during one pesticide spraying season
Résumé
Purpose The effect of one pesticide spraying season
on DNA damage was measured on B and T lymphocytes
among open-field farmers and controls.
Methods At least two peripheral blood samples were collected
from each individual: one in a period without any
pesticide application, several weeks after the last use (January,
at period P0), and another in the intensive pesticide
spraying period (May or June, at period P4). DNA damage
was studied by alkaline comet assay on isolated B or T
lymphocytes.
Results Longitudinal comparison of DNA damage
observed at both P0 and P4 periods revealed a statistically
significant genotoxic effect of the pesticide spraying season
in both B (P = 0.02) and T lymphocytes (P = 0.02) in exposed farmers. In contrast, non-farmers did not show
any significant modifications. DNA damage levels in B
and T lymphocytes were significantly higher in farmers
than in non-farmers during the P4 period (P = 0.003 and
P = 0.001 for B and T lymphocytes, respectively) but not
during the P0 period. The seasonal effect observed among
farmers was not correlated with either total farm area, farm
area devoted to crops or recent solar exposure. On average,
farmers used pesticides for 21 days between P0 and P4.
Between the two time points studied, there was a tendency
for a potential effect of the number of days of fungicide
treatments (r2 = 0.43; P = 0.11) on T lymphocyte DNA
damage.
Conclusions A genotoxic effect was found in lymphocytes
of farmers exposed to pesticides, suggesting in particular
the possible implication of fungicides.
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