Objective To study the phenotypes of genomic instability in peripheral blood lymphocytes and the cytotoxicity for greenhouse workers with long-term exposure to pesticides.
Methods Cluster random sampling method was used to select 583 greenhouse workers as pesticide exposure group and 576 common farmers as control group from Anqiu City and to perform a questionnaire survey. According to the level of pesticides exposure, the exposure group was divided into low(n=175), moderate(n=181), and high(n=212) exposure groups. Genomic instability and cytotoxicity of pesticides to peripheral blood lymphocytes were detected by cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome(CBMN-Cyt) assay.
Results With higher pesticides exposure level, micronucleus frequency, nucleoplasmic bridges, nuclear buds, and necrotic cell rate were increased(all P<0.01); whereas, binucleated cells and nuclear division index were decreased(both P>0.01); no significant changes in apoptosis cells were observed. Compared with the control group, all the parameters mentioned above of the moderate or high exposure groups were significantly different(all P<0.05).
Conclusion Exposure of the greenhouse workers to pesticides could cause genomic instability and strong cytotoxicity．
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