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- Faustini, Annunziata, et al.
(författare)
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Immunological changes among farmers exposed to phenoxy herbicides : preliminary observations
- 1999
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Ingår i: Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - : BMJ. - 1351-0711 .- 1470-7926. ; 53:9, s. 583-589
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: To evaluate short term immunological changes after agricultural exposure to commercial formulations of chlorophenoxy herbicides.METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 10 farmers within seven days before exposure, one to 12 days after exposure, and again 50 to 70 days after exposure. Whole blood was used to count lymphocyte subsets with monoclonal antibodies. Peripheral blood mononuclear (PBM) cells were used to measure natural killer (NK) cell activity and lymphocyte response to mitogenic stimulations. Values before exposure were used as reference.RESULTS: In comparison with concentrations before exposure, a significant reduction was found one to 12 days after exposure in the following variables (P < 0.05): circulating helper (CD4) and suppressor T cells (CD8), CD8 dim, cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), natural killer cells (NK), and CD8 cells expressing the surface antigens HLA-DR (CD8-DR), and lymphoproliferative response to mitogen stimulations. All immunological values found 50-70 days after exposure were comparable with concentrations before exposure, but mitogenic proliferative responses of lymphocytes were still significantly decreased.CONCLUSIONS: According to our data agricultural exposure to commercial 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) formulations may exert short term immunosuppressive effects. Further studies should clarify whether the immunological changes found may have health implications and can specifically contribute to cancer aetiology.
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| 2. |
- Sperati, Alessandra, et al.
(författare)
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Mortality among male licensed pesticide users and their wives
- 1999
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Ingår i: American Journal of Industrial Medicine. - 0271-3586 .- 1097-0274. ; 36:1, s. 142-146
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundWe evaluated the mortality pattern of male licensed pesticide users and their wives in central Italy.MethodsThe cohort consisted of 2978 male farmers licensed for buying and handling toxic pesticides during the period 1971–1973 and 2586 farmers' wives. The Standardized Mortality Ratio (SMRs) and their 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CI) were computed on the basis of regional death rates.ResultsWe found a lower than expected overall and cancer mortality. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was increased among women (SMR = 2.29, 0.62–5.86) but not in male farmers (SMR = 0.90, 0.24–2.30), while both sexes were characterized by an increased risk of leukemia (men: SMR = 1.44, 0.69–2.64; women: SMR = 2.41, 1.04–4.76), mainly due to myeloid leukemia (men: SMR = 2.43, 0.98–5.00; women: SMR = 3.14, 1.02–7.33).ConclusionsMen and women tend to share the same mortality profile. The statistically significant increase of leukemia with a threefold increased risk of the myeloid subtype only among women suggests that different pattern of exposure or biological differences between genders should be considered in evaluating health risks in agricultural settings.
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