P-32 POSTLABELING DETECTION OF DNA-ADDUCTS IN PERIPHERAL WHITE BLOOD-CELLS OF GREENHOUSE FLORICULTURISTS FROM WESTERN LIGURIA, ITALY

Pesticides are widely used in agriculture to enhance crop yields and t o control disease vectors, Floriculturists work frequently in greenhou ses and may be exposed to high levels of pesticides, which may result in adverse health effects, To evaluate the relationship between exposu re to pesticides and DNA adduct formation in peripheral WBCs of Italia n floriculturists, the nuclease P1 modification of a P-32-postlabeling assay was used to analyze WBC DNA from floriculturists (n = 26) and m atched controls (rt = 22), DNA adduct-positive samples were more frequ ent in floriculturists (11/26; 42%) than in matched controls (2/22; 9% ) (P < 0.01), Slightly higher frequencies of DNA adduct-positive sampl es were observed in floriculturists greater than or equal to 44 years of age (53%) and in female floriculturists (57%), Floricultural practi ce was found to be associated with a significantly higher DNA adduct-p ositive rate in WBCs (rate ratio, 5.12; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-2 3.7) after allowing for the effects of age and gender, These two latte r covariates were not significantly associated with DNA adduct-positiv e rates, The quantitative levels of DNA adducts were significantly hig her in floriculturists than in matched controls according to the Mann- Whitney nonparametric statistic (P = 0.0052), The median adduct level for positive samples among floriculturists was 1.5/10(8) bases, A spec ific, well-visible spot, named alpha adduct, was detected in 7 out of the 11 DNA adduct-positive samples from floriculturists but in none of the (22 + 20) referent samples (P = 0.0004), The presence of pesticid e-related DNA adducts was confirmed clearly using the butanol extracti on procedure. Six of 8 floriculturists and 0 of 10 referents were foun d positive with this method. The median adduct level for positive samp les was 6.0/10(8) bases. Two strong spots close to the origin could be identified in all six positive floriculturists, using the butanol ext raction procedure. No association between DNA adducts and use of speci fic pesticides was observed.