Marcadores da função tireoidiana em uma população rural exposta a agrotóxicos

Abstract

Pesticides are among the most important risk factors for the health of workers and the environment. Many are recognized for their actions as endocrine disruptors, leading to changes in thyroid function markers. The aim of the study was to investigate the association between occupational exposure to organophosphate pesticides and thyroid function markers growers. The study enrolled 208 rural workers involved in the orange culture Boquim municipality in April 2015 to April 2016. They answered the questionnaire containing demographic information, health profile and occupational risk. Blood samples were collected for analysis of thyroid function. A large part of the workers live in the countryside 131 (72.0%), belong to social classes D and E (50.8%) and are predominantly male 161 (77.4%). The health profile analysis showed the presence of characteristic symptoms often associated with organophosphate poisoning. Muscle weakness has been reported (45.9%), skin disorders (36.3%), tremor night (17.2%) and seizures (2.2%). With regard to occupational variables, most responders reported having some kind of long, direct or indirect, with the pesticide (92.3%) and were exposed to pesticides to a period longer than five years (66.1%). Biochemical markers of thyroid function were analysed: TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) with 10.5% of changed values, free T4 (thyroxine) with 41.4% of the reduced values, total T3 (triiodothyronine) with 21.8% of altered values. Altered levels of anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) and of anti-thyroglobulin (anti-Tg) were found in 14.7% and 9.3% of cases, respectively. TSH levels and altered T3 predominated in women, and reduced free T4 predominated in men; all had a higher frequency in the fifth decade of life. The presence of positive autoimmunity predominated in women and had a higher frequency in the fourth decade of life for Anti-TPO and fifth for Anti-Tg. Conclusion: The exposure variables to organophosphate pesticides evaluated in this population showed no association with changes in serum TSH, free T4 and total T3 and with overt hypothyroidism diagnosis, subclinical hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.