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Glutathione S-transferase activity and genetic polymorphisms associated with exposure to organochloride pesticides in Todos Santos, BCS, Mexico: a preliminary study

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to identify and evaluate the impact of exposure to mixtures of organochloride pesticides (OCPs) in agricultural workers by detecting their effects on the activity of the enzyme glutathione S-transferase (GST) and the presence of polymorphisms of the GSTT1 and GSTM1 genes. The presence of OCPs was identified and quantified by gas chromatography, while spectrophotometry was used to measure enzymatic GST activity. The frequencies of the GSTM1 genotypes were analyzed by multiplex PCR. A total of 18 metabolites of OCPs were identified in the workers’ blood, most of which are either prohibited (DDT and its metabolites p, p’DDD and p, p’DDE, dieldrin, endrin, aldrin) and/or restricted (δ hexachlorocyclohexane, cis chlordane, methoxychlor, and endosulfan). The results obtained indicate lower levels of GST activity at higher OCPs concentrations detected in blood from exposed workers, together with an increase in OCP levels in individuals who presented the GSTT1*0 and GSTM1*0 genotypes. These conditions place the detoxification process in agricultural workers with null polymorphisms in the GST genes and high concentrations of OCPs in the blood (especially DDT and its metabolites, DDD and DDE) at risk, and increase their susceptibility to develop serious diseases.

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Acknowledgments

This study was made possible by the graduate scholarship awarded by Mexico’s Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT) to M.Sc. Santillán-Sidón P. We thank Dr. Betancourt A, M.Sc. Latisnere H., Favela R., Ríos E., and Gandarilla D. for their advice and contributions to this work, and the Commander of the Voluntary Firefighters of Todos Santos, Cadena-Moyron MS., and his collaborators, Márquez-González J. and Arguello R., for their support during the sampling process. Special thanks to the agricultural workers and residents of Todos Santos who participated and collaborated in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular Biomedicine Laboratory, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Av. Veterinarias s/n, Circuito Universitario, 34120, Durango, Mexico

    Patricia Santillán-Sidón & Gerardo Anguiano

  2. Molecular Cell Biology Laboratory, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Av. Articulo #123 Filadelfia, CP 35010, Gómez Palacio, Durango, Mexico

    Rebeca Pérez-Morales & Edgar Olivas-Calderón

  3. Genoproteomic Laboratory, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Av. Veterinarias s/n, Circuito Universitario, 34120, Durango, Mexico

    Estela Ruiz-Baca

  4. Laboratory of Identification of Persistent Organic Pollutants. EPOMEX, Universidad Autónoma de Campeche, Agustín de Melgar y Juan de la Barrera s/n, 24039, Campeche, Mexico

    Jaime Rendón-Von Osten

  5. Proteomic and Genetic Toxicology Laboratory, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Calle IPN, #195 Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur, 23096, La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico

    Celia Vazquez-Boucard

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  1. Patricia Santillán-Sidón
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  2. Rebeca Pérez-Morales
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  3. Gerardo Anguiano
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  4. Estela Ruiz-Baca
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  6. Edgar Olivas-Calderón
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  7. Celia Vazquez-Boucard
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Correspondence to Celia Vazquez-Boucard.

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Santillán-Sidón, P., Pérez-Morales, R., Anguiano, G. et al. Glutathione S-transferase activity and genetic polymorphisms associated with exposure to organochloride pesticides in Todos Santos, BCS, Mexico: a preliminary study. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 43223–43232 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10206-3

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