Glyphosate Internal Doses of Exposure and Health Effects in Populations from an Agricultural Areaof the Province of Cordoba (Argentina)

FILIPPI, IOHANNA; FERNANDEZ, PILAR; GRIMALT, JOAN O.; AMÉ, MARÍA VALERIA; MUÑOZ, SONIA EDITH; FERNANDEZ, RICARDO; BUTINOF, MARIANA

Santiago

Congreso; 36th Annual Conference of the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology / ISEE 2024; 2024

International Society for Environmental Epidemiology

The widespread use of the herbicide Glyphosate (GLY) has raised concerns about the possible adverse effects on human health. However, most of the epidemiological studies evaluating deleterious effects of GLY exposureon human health have failed in determining GLY internal doses of exposure to confirm direct associations.The study aims to evaluate the possible associations between the internal dose of exposure of GLY and its main metabolite,the aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) and perceive symptomatology in populations from one of the most importantagricultural areas of the province of Córdoba (Argentina).The exposure to GLY was assessed in two populations with different scenarios of exposure: a- terrestrial applicatorsof pesticides (subjects occupationally exposed to pesticides; n=15), and b- a control group (subjects with environmental exposure to pesticides; n=20). A validated instrument was used to assess acute and chronic symptomatology related to the exposure to pesticides. Gas Chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) was used for the quantification of the analytes in biological matrices (plasma, urine, and saliva). Correlations between the internal concentrations of the analytes and symptomatology were calculated as Pearson Coefficient. p-values less than 0.05 and 0.1 were considered significant and borderline significant, respectively.In the occupationally exposed group, significant correlations were found between urinary concentrations of GLY and AMPA and general (asthenia), ocular (eye secretion) and gastrointestinal (excessive salivation) symptomatology. Borderline significant correlations were found between plasmatic concentrations of AMPA and neurological (burning sensation) and urinary (appearance changes) symptomatology, and between salivary concentration of GLY and gastrointestinal (excessive salivation) symptomatology. In the non-occupationally exposed group, the only statistical association was found between the urinary concentration of AMPA and dermatological (sweating) symptomatology.Obtained results highlight the need to deeply investigate the exposure to these compounds in terms of internal doses and potential health risk in human populations.