FREQUENCY OF SISTER-CHROMATID EXCHANGE AND HEMATOLOGICAL EFFECTS IN PESTICIDE-EXPOSED GREENHOUSE SPRAYERS

Objectives A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate whethe r exposure to pesticides in greenhouses causes hemato- or genotoxic da mage in sprayers. Methods The frequency of sister chromatid exchange ( SCE) in cultured lymphocytes and the number of blood erythocytes, leuc ocytes, and thrombocytes were studied among 134 greenhouse sprayers ex posed to a complex mixture of almost 50 insecticides, fungicides, and growth regulators and among 157 referents. Results The hematological p rofiles did not differ between the exposed and unexposed groups. The S CE frequency was elevated in nonsmoking, but not in currently smoking sprayers when compared with the referents. There was a slight tendency towards an increased SCE frequency with decreasing degree of protecti on during pesticide applications. The frequency of pesticide applicati ons, lifetime pesticide exposure, and in-season plasma-cholinesterase inhibition (as an estimate of current exposure to organophosphates and carbamates) did not influence the SCE frequency or any of the hematol ogical parameters. Conclusions The present results suggest a genotoxic effect from combined subtoxic occupational pesticide exposure, wherea s no hematogenic effects could be observed at the current exposure lev el. Key terms hematology, pesticides.