Pesticide exposure and thyroid function in adult male sprayers

Pesticides are often used indiscriminately in a large amounts causing environmental pollution.Pesticides cause adverse effects on different body systems, including hematological and endocrinesystems. Animal studies have shown the ability of organophosphorus and organochlorine pesticides todisturb thyroid function, but evidence of such effects on human remains unclear.The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between exposure to pesticide and serumlevels of thyroid hormones in pesticide sprayers.Blood samples were obtained from 40 cases and 20 controls after overnight fasting. Glucose, urea, aciduric and lipid profile were measured by enzymatic methods. Immunoassay methods were used fordetermining of TSH, T3 and T4 levels.The TSH level in sprayers (2.64±1.50 mIU/l, P=0.007) was significantly increased compared to controlsubjects (1.33±0.83 μM). Significant decreased in T3 and insignificant decreased in T4 level of sprayerswere observed.These results suggest that exposure to organophosphorus and organochlorine pesticides may beresponsible for increasing TSH level and decreasing T3 and T4 serum hormone levels, thereforesupporting the hypothesis that organophosphorus and organochlorine pesticides cause hypothyroidism inpesticide sprayers. So administration of supplementary nutrients or improving defense system in thesepeoples is advised.

Pesticide exposure and thyroid function in adult male sprayers Keywords:

organochlorine , organophosphate , thyroid hormones , hypothyroidism , pesticide sprayers