Baseline determination in social, health, and genetic areas in communities affected by glyphosate aerial spraying on the northeastern Ecuadorian border
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César Paz-y-Miño
,
María José Muñoz
Abstract
The northeastern Ecuadorian border has undergone aerial spraying with an herbicide mix that contains surfactants and adjuvants, executed by the Colombian Government. The purpose of this study was to diagnose social, health, and genetic aspects of the people affected by glyphosate. For this objective to be achieved, 144 people were interviewed, and 521 medical diagnoses and 182 peripheral blood samples were obtained. Genotyping of GSTP1 Ile105Val, GPX-1 Pro198Leu, and XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphisms were analyzed, using PCR-RFLP technique. The assessment of chromosomal aberrations was performed, obtaining 182 karyotypes. Malnutrition in children was 3%. Of the total population, 7.7% had children with malformations, and the percentage of abortions was 12.7%. Concerning genotyping, individuals with GSTP1 Val/Val obtained an odds ratio of 4.88 (p<0.001), and Ile/Val individuals, together with Val/Val individuals, had an odds ratio of 2.6 (p<0.05). In addition, GPX-1 Leu/Leu individuals presented an odds ratio (OR) of 8.5 (p<0.05). Regarding karyotyping, the 182 individuals had normal karyotypes. In conclusion, the study population did not present significant chromosomal and DNA alterations. The most important social impact was fear. We recommend future prospective studies to assess the communities.
©2011 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York
Articles in the same Issue
- Editorials
- Letter from the Editor: Introducing our new publisher
- Environmental exposures in the era of climate change
- Reviews
- Health impacts of climate change and biosecurity in the Asian Pacific region
- Exposures to lead
- The status of water and sanitation among Pacific Rim nations
- Hazardous waste in the Asian Pacific region
- Emerging issues in the Pacific Basin
- Baseline determination in social, health, and genetic areas in communities affected by glyphosate aerial spraying on the northeastern Ecuadorian border
- Air pollution: a tale of two countries
- Health effects of persistent organic pollutants: the challenge for the Pacific Basin and for the world
- Arsenic geochemistry and human health in South East Asia
Articles in the same Issue
- Editorials
- Letter from the Editor: Introducing our new publisher
- Environmental exposures in the era of climate change
- Reviews
- Health impacts of climate change and biosecurity in the Asian Pacific region
- Exposures to lead
- The status of water and sanitation among Pacific Rim nations
- Hazardous waste in the Asian Pacific region
- Emerging issues in the Pacific Basin
- Baseline determination in social, health, and genetic areas in communities affected by glyphosate aerial spraying on the northeastern Ecuadorian border
- Air pollution: a tale of two countries
- Health effects of persistent organic pollutants: the challenge for the Pacific Basin and for the world
- Arsenic geochemistry and human health in South East Asia
