Long-term occupational exposure to soil-applied malathion and its consequences for oxidative stress and acetylcholinesterase activity in cucumber greenhouse workers: A cross-sectional study

Malathion is known to cause oxidative stress and block the action of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). This study aimed to investigate how working with this pesticide affects antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), and AChE levels in cucumber greenhouse workers.  This cross-sectional study included ۶۰ male workers with at least one year of exposure and sixty age- and body mass index-matched unexposed individuals. The SOD and CAT enzyme activity of erythrocytes and MDA and AChE levels of blood serum were determined by the spectrophotometric method.  We compared the two groups; the exposed workers had lower levels of SOD (۵.۳۴±۰.۵۵ vs. ۶.۲۶±۰.۷۴ U/mg protein; p<۰.۰۰۱), CAT (۲۴.۱۰±۲.۷۳ vs. ۲۶.۷۹±۲.۷۶ U/mg protein; p<۰.۰۰۱), and AChE (۳۳۰۷±۳۷۲ vs. ۴۷۱۲±۳۷۱ U/L; p<۰.۰۰۱). Their MDA levels were higher too (۱.۵۸±۰.۲۷ vs. ۱.۱۷±۰.۲۳ nmol/ml; p<۰.۰۰۱). Strong correlations were observed only in the exposed group: MDA went up as CAT went down (r=-۰.۹۱), same for MDA and SOD (r=-۰.۷۵), and SOD dropped along with AChE (r=۰.۷۵). All of these were statistically significant (p<۰.۰۰۱).  Chronic occupational exposure to soil-applied malathion is associated with increased oxidative stress and suppressed antioxidant defenses, and inhibition of the enzyme AChE. These findings underscore the need for better protective measures and biological monitoring. However, causality cannot be established due to the cross-sectional design. Longitudinal studies with direct biomonitoring are warranted to confirm causality.

کلیدواژه ها:

Malathion ، Oxidative stress ، Acetylcholinesterase ، Antioxidant enzymes ، Lipid peroxidation ، Greenhouse workers