Effects of long-term direct exposure to pesticides towards immune function: a cross-sectional study

Exposure to pesticides is an important risk factor for genotoxicity in farmworkers. Once there is a possibility that genotoxicity is related to the autoimmunity process, the present study aimed to characterize genotoxicity and possible immunological alterations related to chronic and direct exposure to a complex mixture of pesticides. It employed Interleukin–6 (IL-6), Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), IL-12 and IL-10 as biomarkers of cellular immune function. DNA damage was greater in the exposed group (p < 0.05). Both IL-6 and IL-12 were significantly increased in the exposed group (p < 0.05 and < 0.01, respectively); on the other hand, Il-10 levels were decreased (p < 0.01). Evaluation of the association between cytokine levels and epidemiological variables showed a correlation between alcohol consumption and higher levels of IL-12 (p < 0.05). In addition, negative correlation between % DNA and IFN-γ (p < 0.05) as well as % DNA and IL-6 (p < 0.05) and positive correlation was found between IL-6 levels and absolute number of T CD8+ lymphocytes (p < 0.05) as well as between IL-10 levels and absolute number of T CD4+ lymphocytes (p < 0.05). No association between all the evaluation parameters was found in the non-exposed group. The observed alterations related to chronic and direct exposure to a complex mixture of pesticides may allow the monitoring of these workers to minimize the negative impact caused on their health.