Association between organophosphate pesticides exposure and thyroid hormones in floriculture workers

Journal Article · Mon Feb 15 04:00:00 EST 2010 · Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.taap.2009.11.008· OSTI ID:21344861

Lacasana, Marina ^[1]; Lopez-Flores, Inmaculada ^[1]; Rodriguez-Barranco, Miguel ^[1]; Aguilar-Garduno, Clemente ^[1]; Blanco-Munoz, Julia ^[2]; Perez-Mendez, Oscar; Gamboa, Ricardo ^[3]; Bassol, Susana ^[4]; Cebrian, Mariano E ^[5]

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1. Escuela Andaluza de Salud Publica, Granada (Spain)
2. Instituto Nacional de Salud Publica, Cuernavaca, Morelos (Mexico)
3. Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia 'Ignacio Chavez', Mexico D.F. (Mexico)
4. Universidad Autonoma de Coahuila, Torreon, Coahuila (Mexico)
5. Centro de Investigacion y Estudios Avanzados (CINVESTAV), Instituto Politecnico Nacional, Mexico D.F. (Mexico)

The ability of organophosphate pesticides to disturb thyroid gland function has been demonstrated by experimental studies on animal, but evidence of such effects on human remains scarce. The aim of this study was to assess the association between exposure to organophosphate compounds and serum levels of thyroid hormones in floriculture workers. A longitudinal study was conducted on 136 male subjects from the State of Mexico and Morelos, Mexico, occupationally exposed to organophosphate pesticides, during agricultural periods of high (rainy season) and low (dry season) levels of pesticide application. Using a structured questionnaire, a survey was carried out on sociodemographic characteristics, anthropometry, clinical history, alcohol and tobacco consumption, residential chemical exposure, and occupational history. Urine and blood samples were taken the day after pesticide application to determine urine dialkylphosphate (DAP) levels, serum levels of TSH, total T{sub 3}, total T{sub 4}, serum PON1 activity, and serum p,p'-DEE levels. The analysis of the association between DAP levels and thyroid hormonal profile was carried out using multivariate generalized estimating equation (GEE) models. Our results showed an increase in both TSH and T{sub 4} hormones in serum associated with a increase in total dimethylphosphate levels (SIGMADMP) in urine (p-trend < 0.001) and a decrease in total T{sub 3} serum levels with an increase of SIGMADMP levels in the urine (p-trend = 0.053). These results suggest that exposure to organophosphate pesticides may be responsible of increasing TSH and T{sub 4} serum hormone levels and decreasing T{sub 3} serum hormone levels, therefore supporting the hypothesis that organophosphate pesticides act as endocrine disruptors in humans.

• OSTI ID: 21344861
• Journal Information: Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, Journal Name: Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 243; ISSN TXAPA9; ISSN 0041-008X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
ALCOHOLS
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL MARKERS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL WASTES
BLOOD
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
GLANDS
HORMONES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
HYPOTHESIS
LATIN AMERICA
MALES
MAMMALS
MAN
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICS
MEN
MEXICO
MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PEPTIDE HORMONES
PERSONNEL
PESTICIDES
PITUITARY HORMONES
PRIMATES
PROTEINS
STATISTICS
THYROID
THYROID HORMONES
TOBACCO
TSH
URINE
VERTEBRATES
WASTES