Genotoxicidade do uso de agrotóxicos em horticultores da região metropolitana de Goiânia-GO, Brasil

Abstract

With the increase in productivity and the agricultural policy model adopted, the use of pesticides in Brazil has grown on a large scale in recent years. This context raises concerns about the harmful effects of the exposure of agricultural workers to these products. The objective of this work was to evaluate the frequency of genotoxic damage in horticulturists exposed to pesticides in the Metropolitan Region of Goiânia-GO. The investigation was conducted through the comet test, in an attempt to characterize the risk groups most prone to the harmful effects of pesticides, aiming to generate an alert for the damage caused to the workers' health. The group consisted of 65 individuals aged between 22 and 72 years old, exposed in the period from 1 to 16 years old. Analyzes were performed for variables such as: alcohol consumption, smoking, relationship between men and women, and use of PPE. Such variables were associated with the parameters of the comet assay, however, no significant differences were observed for a series of variables investigated for DNA damage.