Occupational exposure to pesticides in female tea garden workers and adverse birth outcomes.

Autor: Kumar, Shashi Nandar, Vaibhav, Kumar, Bastia, Banajit, Singh, Vishwajeet, Ahluwalia, Meenakshi, Agrawal, Usha, Borgohain, Deepa, Raisuddin, Sheikh, Jain, Arun Kumar
Předmět:
Zdroj: Journal of Biochemical & Molecular Toxicology; Mar2021, Vol. 35 Issue 3, p1-13, 13p
Abstrakt: Pesticides are globally used to eliminate pests from crops and plants. The increased use of pesticides has posed a serious threat to human health. This study evaluates the effects of pesticide exposure on pregnancy outcomes in tea garden workers (TGW). The acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was measured in the maternal blood, placenta, and cord blood of TGW and housewives (HWs). The placental structure and expression of hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF)‐1α were also analyzed in TGW and HW groups delivering low birth weight (LBW) and normal birth weight (NBW) babies. A significantly decreased AChE activity was observed in maternal blood and cord blood in TGW as compared with HW in the LBW group. However, it did not change significantly in the NBW group (p <.05). The adjusted regression analysis of birth outcomes (birth weight, head circumference, infant's length, and ponderal index) revealed a significant and positive association with the levels of AChE activity in maternal blood, placenta, and cord blood in TGW (p <.05). The histological analysis showed significantly higher placental syncytial knots, chorangiosis, fibrinoid deposition, necrosis, and stromal fibrosis in the LBW group of TGW. Microinfarction, increased fibrinoid deposition, and atypical villi characteristics, such as mushroom‐like structures, were observed during scanning electron microscopy along with increased HIF‐1α expression in placental tissues of TGW exposed to pesticides. Results suggest that occupational pesticide exposure during pregnancy may decrease AChE activity and cause in utero pathological changes accompanied by an increased HIF‐1α expression, which also contributes to placental insufficiency and fetal growth restriction. Research Highlights: Pregnant women occupationally exposed to pesticides in tea gardens showed a decreased acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity.Pesticide exposure was associated with an altered placental structure.Pesticide exposure upregulated the hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF)‐1α expression.Changes in the placental structure and increased expression of HIF‐1α in the pesticide‐exposed group correlated with fetal growth restriction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Databáze: Complementary Index
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