Comparison of Serum PON۱ and Liver Enzyme Levels in Residents Living Near and Far from Agricultural Farms: Evidence of Potential Organophosphate Pesticide Exposure

Exposure to agricultural pesticides, particularly organophosphates, may be associated with a reduction in the antioxidant enzyme PON۱. This exploratory study was designed to compare PON۱ and liver enzyme levels in individuals residing in areas exposed and unexposed to agricultural farms as potential sources of organophosphate exposure.  A cross-sectional study was carried out on ۸۱ subjects (۴۵ people belonging to the exposed group, who lived within ۵۰۰ meters of distance, and ۳۶ subjects belonging to the unexposed group, who lived beyond ۱۵۰۰ meters). Levels of PON۱, ALT, and AST were measured. Considering the cross-sectional design of the study and absence of any direct pesticide level assessment, results need to be taken as exploratory.  The average value of PON۱ was observed to be statistically significantly lower in the exposed group than the unexposed group (۱۳۲.۲ ± ۲۸.۱ vs. ۱۶۱.۱ ± ۳۲.۸ U/L; p < ۰.۰۰۱). In addition, the values of ALT and AST were observed to increase among the exposed group (p < ۰.۰۰۱ and p = ۰.۰۰۱, respectively). Being exposed to the farms was independently associated with lower values of PON۱ (β = -۲۹.۷; ۹۵% CI: -۴۳.۹ to -۱۵.۴; P <۰.۰۰۱). The level of E-value was ۲.۴.  In this study population, residing within a distance of less than ۵۰۰ meters from agricultural farms—as a proxy for potential organophosphate pesticide exposure—was associated with lower mean PON۱ and higher ALT levels. Confirmation of these findings requires prospective cohort studies with direct measurement of pesticide biomarkers.

کلیدواژه ها:

Paraoxonase-۱ (PON۱) ، Organophosphate pesticides ، Liver enzymes (ALT/AST) ، Agricultural farms ، Oxidative stress