Erythrocyte Superoxide Dismutase and Catalase Activities in Agriculture Workers Who Have Been Chronically Exposed to Pesticides

Authors: ÜLKÜ ÇÖMELEKOĞLU, BİRGÜL MAZMANCI, ABDULLAH ARPACI

Abstract: Blood samples were taken from farmworkers (n=40) who had been long-term exposed with pesticides (16.52±6.92 years) in Içel and surrounding agricultural areas and measured erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were measured using spectrophotometric assignation. These antioxidant enzymes were also evaulated in people who had not been exposed to pesticides (n=30). It was observed that erythrocyte SOD levels were significantly higher (p<0.001) but erythrocyte catalase activity was significantly lower (p<0.001) in farmworkers than in control groups.

Keywords: Pesticide, chronic exposure, farmworkers, erythrocyte, SOD, CAT.

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