Genotoxic Damage in a Child Population, Cordoba, Argentina

Introduction: Argentina is one of the major crop producers in Latin America. In this context, the agricultural workers, their families, and particularly the children, represent a population that is highly vulnerable to the toxic effects of the pesticide use. The aim of this study was to evaluate the genotoxic damage (GD) in children potentially exposed to pesticides in their environmental context. Methods: An observational, cross sectional study was conducted, among children whose parents are pesticide applicators (n=22), in the Pampean region of Cordoba Province. To assess determinants of exposure and child health conditions a questionnaire was implemented. Samples of the oral mucosa were obtained to determine GD using micronucleus frequency (MN). Genotoxicity was correlated with variables of the exposure context, such as the distance from home to crops, distance from the schools to sprayed fields, practices like washing work clothes in the home and agricultural pesticides use in the home. Results: The children were aged between 6 and 14 years of age. Average MN count were found in 2.6 (SD 0.54). 36% of the children live within 500 m of sprayed fields; for 59% of them, school is less than 500 m to crops. All the families reported the use of pesticides at home, 23% of them were agricultural use pesticides; 18% reported washing work clothes with family laundry. Four children worked with their father, without using any personal protective element. GD was associated with distance from the school to the crops (p=0.05). Conclusion: This study provides evidence of GD in children living in the Pampean region. The environment of daily life of children shows a scenario of continuous exposure to pesticides. Further studies that include a broader population sample and the existence of a control group, are necessary to obtain a better level of evidence in relation to the problems of pesticide exposure, genetic biomonitoring and public health surveillance.