{"id":38540,"date":"2025-05-29T00:01:45","date_gmt":"2025-05-29T04:01:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/?p=38540"},"modified":"2025-05-22T16:20:16","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T20:20:16","slug":"farmers-and-farmworkers-face-dna-and-cellular-damage-with-chronic-pesticide-exposure-study-finds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2025\/05\/farmers-and-farmworkers-face-dna-and-cellular-damage-with-chronic-pesticide-exposure-study-finds\/","title":{"rendered":"Farmers and Farmworkers Face DNA and Cellular Damage with Chronic Pesticide Exposure, Study Finds"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Beyond Pesticides<\/em>, May 29, 2025) A study, published in Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology<\/em><\/a>, \u201cinvestigates genotoxic effects on farmers in Para\u00edba, Brazil, analyzing buccal mucosa cells [cells from inside the cheek] for DNA and cellular damage,\u201d the authors write. In comparing data from 33 pesticide-exposed agricultural workers to 29 unexposed people in a control group, the researchers report that the \u201cfindings revealed significantly higher frequencies of cellular alterations and DNA damage<\/a> among exposed farmers relative to the control group, with no significant impact from factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, or family cancer history.\u201d<\/p>\n

They continue, \u201cThese results underscore the genotoxic risks linked to prolonged pesticide exposure and highlight the necessity for stricter regulatory measures.\u201d As Beyond Pesticides documents in Disproportionate Pesticide Hazards to Farmworkers and People of Color Documented… Again<\/a>, farmworkers have been excluded from labor and occupational safety protection laws since their inception. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) defers all policy on pesticide protections to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which has been widely criticized <\/a>for providing inadequate worker protection standards.<\/p>\n

This study focuses on workers in Brazil, but represents issues that impact communities worldwide. \u201cThe agricultural sector plays a pivotal role in Brazil\u2019s economy, encompassing both family farming for food production and agribusiness for exporting commodities,\u201d the authors state. They continue: \u201cThis growth has resulted in a substantial rise in pesticide usage, making Brazil one of the world\u2019s largest consumers of these chemicals. Alarmingly, about 80% of pesticides sold in Brazil lack approval in at least three OECD<\/a> [Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development] countries.\u201d (See here<\/a>, here<\/a>, here<\/a>, and here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

Farmers, farmworkers, and their families around the world face disproportionate risks<\/a> from pesticide exposure. (See more here<\/a> and here<\/a>.) As the researchers explain, \u201cFarmers are particularly vulnerable to pesticide exposure, frequently experiencing continuous contact over long periods. They are often subjected to multiple pesticide compounds simultaneously, as various substances are applied during planting and harvesting seasons.\u201d (See study here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

Methodology<\/em><\/p>\n

To assess the impacts on DNA and cellular health from occupational pesticide exposure, this study uses biomonitoring, a tool for assessing health risks associated with exposure to chemicals and genotoxicity markers that \u201cplay a crucial role in assessing the impact of chemical substance exposure on genetic material, encompassing gene mutations and chromosomal damage.\u201d Specifically, the authors use the Buccal Micronucleus Cytome (BMCyt) assay, which they describe as \u201ca minimally invasive method [that] has shown advantages as it is used not only for detecting micronuclei<\/a> (MN) but also for other nuclear abnormalities (nuclear buds, binucleated cells, condensed chromatin, karyorrhexis, karyolysis, and pyknosis) and for assessing proliferative potential through the frequency of basal cells.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the study, the 33 agricultural workers report direct exposure to pesticides in the field, while the 29 individuals from the control group do not. \u201cIn terms of pesticide usage duration, 7 respondents (21.21%) reported using pesticides for less than 5 years, 4 respondents (12.12%) have used them for 5\u201310 years, and 22 respondents (66.67%) have been using pesticides for more than 10 years,\u201d the researchers note.<\/p>\n

In disclosing information regarding their exposure, the farmworkers were unable to report specific pesticide dosages or duration of pesticide applications, as they commented that they do not follow product instructions and applications vary by day, crop, and product type. \u201cAdditionally, it is important to note that they do not properly use personal protective equipment, which leads to potential pesticide exposure through various routes (e.g., dermal, inhalation, etc.),\u201d the authors say.<\/p>\n

The pesticides that the agricultural workers identified as being utilized include the insecticides deltamethrin<\/a>, methamidophos<\/a>, methomyl<\/a>, teflubenzuron, abamectin<\/a>, imidacloprid<\/a>, beta-cyfluthrin<\/a>, cypermethrin<\/a>, and chlorfenapyr<\/a>, as well as the herbicides 2,4-D<\/a>, ametryn<\/a>, hexazinone<\/a>, diuron<\/a>, and glyphosate<\/a>. Of these active ingredients, the most commonly reported by the farmworkers is 2,4-D.<\/p>\n

Once samples of buccal mucosa cells were obtained through cheek swabs from each participant, an analysis of the micronuclei and other nuclear abnormalities was performed under a microscope. The researchers identify DNA and cellular damage by utilizing a damage index, where the damage frequency represents the percentage of cells that suffered DNA damage, and from a comet assay<\/a>, which \u201cvisually assesses DNA damage by scoring comet tail size and intensity, categorizing damage into five levels (0\u20134) to indicate cell damage severity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Study Results <\/em><\/p>\n

Based on the researchers\u2019 observations of the assays from the agricultural workers\u2019 samples, there are cellular alterations such as micronucleus (broken chromosome fragment within nucleus), cells with nuclear buds (protrusions on nucleus), binucleation (cell with two nuclei), and karyolysis (dissolution\/degradation of nucleus). \u201cThe frequencies of these alterations found in the cell samples from the farmers showed statistically significant higher values when compared to the control group,\u201d the authors report.<\/p>\n

They continue: \u201cThe comet assay revealed the presence of genotoxicity in the cells of farmers exposed to pesticides. Based on images obtained through laser confocal microscopy, it is possible to observe the presence of cells with tails, known as \u2018comets,\u2019 in the farmer group, which is not seen in the control group.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the pesticide-exposed group, a significant decrease in cells without DNA damage is observed, as well as a visible increase in the number of cells with DNA damage (comets). \u201cThe comet assay results showed that the farmers experienced a higher level of cellular damage compared to the control group,\u201d the researchers note. \u201cIt is important to emphasize that most participants had already been using pesticides for over 10 years… Thus, we may suggest that the genotoxic and cytological effects observed would be related to long-term exposure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Previous Research<\/em><\/p>\n

The authors reference multiple studies that support their data, as well as offer additional plausible explanations for the study results:<\/p>\n