Exposure time to pesticides and biochemical, anthropometric and body composition assessment of rural women

Abstract

The objective was to evaluate the association between time of exposure to pesticides with biochemical, anthropometric and body composition variables of rural women. This is a cross-sectional study carried out with 37 women living in rural communities in the forest area of ??Minas Gerais, over 18 years of age and who did not apply pesticides, but lived with applicators. Sociodemographic characterization was performed with semi-structured interviews during home visits. Weight, height and waist circumference (BW) were measured and the Body Mass Index (BMI) and the Waist / Height Ratio (RCE) were calculated to assess nutritional status. The percentage of body fat was assessed by DEXA and biochemical tests were performed. 68% were overweight, 81% with excess body fat, 78% with cardiovascular risk due to CP and 81% due to CER. Being exposed to pesticides was associated with low serum monocyte levels (p = 0.017) and changes in thyroid hormone TSH (p = 0.013). Exposure time showed a positive correlation with triglyceride and VLDL values. The results show that exposure to pesticides, even if indirectly, has repercussions on health problems in rural women and that, as exposure time increases, these effects increase.