Emissions generated by sugarcane burning promote genotoxicity in rural workers: a case study in Barretos, Brazil

Author(s)

Santejo Silveira, Henrique Cesar ^[1] ; Schmidt-Carrijo, Marina ^[1] ; Seidel, Ervald Henrique ^[1] ; Scapulatempo-Neto, Cristovam ^{[2, 1]} ; Longatto-Filho, Adhemar ^{[1, 3, 4, 5]} ; Carvalho, Andre Lopes ^[1] ; Vieira Reis, Rui Manuel ^{[1, 4, 5]} ; Nascimento Saldiva, Paulo Hilario ^[6]

Affiliation

^[1] Barretos Canc Hosp, Mol Oncol Res Ctr, Barretos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Barretos Canc Hosp, Dept Pathol, Barretos, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Lab Med Invest LIM 14, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Univ Minho, Life & Hlth Sci Res Inst ICVS, Braga - Portugal

^[5] ICVS, PT Govt Associate Lab 3Bs, Braga - Portugal

^[6] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Dept Pathol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Environmental Health; v. 12, OCT 10 2013.
• Web of Science Citations: 16

Abstract

Background: To determine the possible genotoxic effect of exposure to the smoke generated by biomass burning on workers involved in manual sugar cane harvesting. Methods: The frequency of micronuclei in exfoliated buccal cells and peripheral blood lymphocytes was determined in sugarcane workers in the Barretos region of Brazil, during the harvest season and compared to a control population, comprised of administrative employees of Barretos Cancer Hospital. Results: The frequency of micronuclei was higher in the sugar cane workers. The mean frequency in blood lymphocytes (micronuclei/1000 cells) in the test group was 8.22 versus 1.27 in the control group. The same effect was observed when exfoliated buccal cells were considered (22.75 and 9.70 micronuclei/1000 cells for sugar cane workers and controls, respectively). Conclusion: Exposure to emissions produced by the burning of sugar cane during harvesting induces genomic instability in workers, indicating the necessity of adopting more advanced techniques of harvesting sugar cane to preserve human health. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/10192-6 - Analysis of air pollution generated by burning the straw sugarcane and its relationship with human mutagenesis
• Grantee: Henrique César Santejo Silveira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral