GENOTOXIC, HEMATOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL MARKERS OF HEALTH RISK TO RURAL COMMUNITIES OF THE SANTARÉM AGRICULTURAL REGION, BRAZILIAN AMAZON

Resumo

The expansion of the agricultural frontier of grain monocultures into the Amazon region entails risks and damages to the environment and human health associated with the intensive use of agrochemicals. Rural communities in the Santarém region, western Pará, are potentially exposed to the various adverse health risks posed by pesticides. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the sociodemographic, genotoxic, and hematological profile, cholinesterase enzyme activity, and the exposure to glyphosate in individuals from three rural communities on the agricultural frontier of Santarém and Belterra, Pará. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional, exploratory study with convenience sampling (n=39). Sociodemographic data were obtained, and blood and urine samples were analyzed, where the following biomarkers were evaluated: urine glyphosate concentrations, DNA damage by the comet assay (Tail DNA Percent and Olive Moment), hematological parameters (RDW and CHCM), and cholinesterase activity (AChE and BuChE). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Among the participants, 66% were women, 87% were aged between 18 and 59 years, 58% had lived in the area for more than 10 years, and 64% of the residences were located less than 500 meters from the cultivation areas. Human glyphosate exposure was observed in all participants. DNA damage was lower among residents than 500 meters away from the plantation, however, the difference compared to the groups living less than 500 meters away was not significant. In contrast, the strongest DNA damage was observed among the residents living for longer in the study region (over 10 years). Hematological parameters show little variation depending on the length of residence and the distance between the residence and the plantation. Although there is no clear difference in the variation of biomarkers between communities, it is noted that DNA damage, CHCM index, and cholinesterase concentration are higher in individuals from two of the locations. The glyphosate human exposure and the variation observed in genotoxic and hematological biomarkers point to evidence of health risks of rural inhabitants in western Pará. Environmental management measures and public health actions are essential for monitoring and mitigating the adverse impacts associated with the deleterious and chronic effects of environmental glyphosate exposure.