Liliana Zúñiga

Catholic University of the Maule

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María Teresa Muñoz-Quezada

University of Chile

Boris Lucero

Catholic University of the Maule

Floria Pancetti

Universidad Católica del Norte

Verónica Iglesias

University of Chile

María Pía Muñoz

University of Chile

Asa Bradman

University of California, Merced

Sebastián Corral

Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile

Rafael Junqueira Buralli

Universidade de São Paulo

Juan Pablo Gutiérrez-Jara

Catholic University of the Maule

Benjamín Castillo

Catholic University of the Maule

Cooperative Institutions

University of Chile

Catholic University of the Maule

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Universidad Católica del Norte

Emory University

Instituto de Salud Carlos III

Puigvert Foundation

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública

Radboud University Nijmegen

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Exposure to pesticides in Chile and its relationship with carcinogenic potential: a review

ISEE Conference Abstracts (2024)

María Teresa Muñoz-Quezada Verónica Iglesias Liliana Zúñiga Floria Pancetti Claudia Foerster

10.1289/isee.2024.0154

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Role of the PON1Q192R polymorphism in the cognitive performance of agricultural workers exposed to organophosphate pesticides in the north of Chile (Coquimbo Region)

Neurotoxicology and Teratology (2015)

Liliana Zúñiga Sebastián Corral Floria Pancetti

Neurotoxicity

10.1016/j.ntt.2015.04.090

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Oxidative DNA damage in chronic renal failure patients

Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation (2009)

Elitsa Stoyanova Silvia B. Sandoval Liliana Zúñiga Naouale El Yamani Elisabeth Coll

Background: Chronic renal failure (CRF) patients present a high incidence of cardiovascular pathologies and cancer. This has been attributed to the existence of genomic instability in these patients, and consequently they should present elevated levels of genetic damage.

Comet Assay

10.1093/ndt/gfp575

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Citations (57)

Psychometric Validation of a Questionnaire to Assess Perception and Knowledge About Exposure to Pesticides in Rural Schoolchildren of Maule, Chile

Frontiers in Psychology (2021)

María Teresa Muñoz-Quezada Boris Lucero Benjamín Castillo Asa Bradman Liliana Zúñiga

Exposure to pesticides during infancy is associated with numerous adverse health outcomes. The assessment of knowledge and perception of pesticides exposure and risk among children has not been thoroughly studied. The aim of the study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of a questionnaire that measures the knowledge and perception of exposure to organophosphate pesticides among rural schoolchildren. The questionnaire was administered to 151 schoolchildren between 9 and 13years from four Chilean rural schools. An internal consistency analysis of the ordinal alpha coefficient and a polychoric factor analysis for categorical data were used. The results show that the ordinal alpha was 0.95. Polychoric matrices of rotated components show the 17 questions summarized pesticide knowledge in five factors extracted after promax rotation. This factorial model explains 56.3% of the variance. The questions were grouped as follows: knowledge about pesticides (Factor 1); knowledge of health effects related to pesticides exposure (Factor 2); pesticide exposure through the growing of fruits and vegetables (Factor 3); perception and action against pesticides exposure at school (Factor 4); and perception and action against pesticides exposure at home (Factor 5). The questionnaire provides a useful tool for examining pesticide exposure in agricultural regions, allowing younger community members to participate.

Polychoric correlation

Categorical variable

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.715477

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Citations (4)

Bioethical Perspective on Environmental Justice in Chilean Rural Communities Impacted by Swine Farming

ISEE Conference Abstracts (2024)

María Teresa Muñoz-Quezada Paulo Pasten Cristián Valdés Liliana Zúñiga Benjamín Castillo

Bioethics

Environmental Justice

10.1289/isee.2024.0152

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Neurological and neuropsychological deterioration in artisanal gold miners from the town of Andacollo, Chile

Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry Reviews (2013)

Sebastián Corral David Sáez Gislaine Lam Patricia Lillo Rodrigo Sandoval

It is widely known that human exposure to mercury vapor can cause neurological and neuropsychological deterioration. We have investigated if a population of Chilean artisanal gold-mining workers heavily exposed to elemental mercury (Hg0) display neurological and neuropsychological impairment. Male volunteers occupationally exposed to Hg0 (“gold miners”, n = 35) were recruited and compared with a group of unexposed workers (n = 40). Blood specimens were obtained from both groups for total mercury quantification. Upon neurological examination, 71% of the “gold miners” group showed abnormalities expressed as frontal impairment, tremor, or simultaneously frontal impairment, parkinsonism, and pyramidal syndrome. In contrast, only 16% of the individuals in the control group displayed neurological abnormalities. The “gold miners” group also showed impairment of the neuropsychological performance and the distribution of abnormal scores for almost all the neuropsychological tests applied was significantly higher in this group compared to the control group. Educational level, alcohol intake, and smoking habits did not influence the outcome of the neurological or neuropsychological examinations. Finally, despite that the higher blood mercury concentrations were found in the “gold miners” group, they were not significantly different from the values obtained in the control group.

Neurological examination

Gold standard (test)

Neuropsychological Assessment

10.1080/02772248.2013.766191

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Citations (16)

Construction and Validation of a Dose-Response Curve Using the Comet Assay to Determine Human Radiosensitivity to Ionizing Radiation

Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health (2011)

Alba Mabel Güerci Liliana Zúñiga Ricard Marcos

Individual radiosensitivity is an individual characteristic associated with an increased reaction to ionizing radiation. The purpose of our work is to establish a dose-response curve useful to classify individuals as radiosensitive or radioresistant. Thus, a dose-response curve was constructed by measuring in vitro responses to increasing doses (0 to 8 Gy) of gamma radiation in the comet assay. The obtained curve fit well with a linear equation in the range of 0 to 8 Gy. The overall dose-response curve was constructed for percent DNA in tail, as a measure of the genetic damage induced by irradiation. To probe the goodness of the constructed curve, a validation study was carried out with whole blood from two donors in a blind study. Results show that, for the two applied doses (2 and 6 Gy), the obtained values fit well inside the interval of confidence of the curve. In conclusion, our results demonstrate the usefulness of the comet assay in determining individual responses to defined doses of gamma radiation. The standard dose-response curve constructed may be used to detect individuals departing from reference values.

Radiosensitivity

Comet Assay

Radioresistance

Curve fitting

Radiobiology

10.1080/15287394.2011.582318

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Citations (11)

Longitudinal exposure to pyrethroids 3-PBA, trans-TCC & 2,4 D herbicides in rural schoolchildren, Maule, Chile.

ISEE Conference Abstracts (2020)

María Teresa Muñoz-Quezada Boris Lucero Verónica Iglesias Liliana Zúñiga María Pía Muñoz

Background: Several studies show that early exposure to pesticides and during the preschool and school stage affects the development and health of children. In Maule, a series of studies have shown the exposure of organophosphate pesticides(OP), however, there are no studies assessing exposure to pyrethroids and herbicide 2,4 D. Objetive: To evaluate exposure to pyrethroids 3-phenoxybenzoic acid 3-PBA, trans-2,2-(dichloro)-2-dimethylvinylcyclopropane carboxylic acid trans-DCCA(Trans-TCC) and 2,4 D herbicides in schoolchildren. Method: Longitudinal study, 48 schoolchildren from 5 to 13 years old from two rural schools in the Maule. Specific metabolites of pyrethroids 3-PBA, Trans-TCC and 2.4 D in the urine of the school children were evaluated. The data were correlated with an earlier study that evaluated the exposure of OP metabolites. Two samples were taken in September and 2 samples in November, a total of 384 urine samples were obtained during 2016 and 2017. Data analysis: descriptive, U Mann Whitney for repeated measurements, Spearman and GEE. Results: The 100% of schoolchildren have more than two pesticide metabolites in their urine in both years, with the 3-PBA metabolite being the most frequent. 3-PBA in November 2017 increases its presence in urine compared to 2016(from 0.69 μg/L in 2016 to 1.90μg/L in 2017). In 2016, the specific metabolites of 3-PBA correlate with TCC, 2,4 D, chlorpyrifos, diazinon, paration. In 2017, 3-PBA was correlated with 2,4 D and TCC. Importantly, the concentrations of 3-PBA pesticide metabolites in urine found in Chilean children was higher than studies in the USA where there is an association of exposure from prenatal stage to these metabolites with difficulties in emotional control and attention. Conclusions: Promote the monitoring, training and active epidemiological surveillance of agricultural communities. The increased use of pyrethroids is worrying. Promote the intervention of school communities, involving government agencies and agricultural companies, considering preventing to the population.

10.1289/isee.2020.virtual.p-0826

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Risk map of human intake of methylmercury through fish consumption in Latin America and the Caribbeans

Research Square (Research Square) (2022)

Elvira Vergara Floria Pancetti Liliana Zúñiga Paulina Bahamonde

Abstract Methylmercury is a high bioaccumulated pollutant persistent in the aquatic environment, that biomagnifies in the food web reaching concerning levels in predator fish. Mining is one of the most important economic activities of Latin America and the Caribbean, and a relevant global anthropogenic mercury emission. Studies have correlated high fish consumption with higher levels of MeHg in humans along with neurotoxic effects. Latin America occupies one of the top 3 regions with the highest fishery exploitation and aquaculture production, and simultaneously, it has been reported in several Latin American and the Caribbean country’s high levels of mercury in marine and freshwater fishes, and in human hair associated with fish consumption. Therefore, this review seeks to assess the risk of mercury exposure and consequently health hazard due to fish consumption in Latin America and the Caribbean. The data of mercury levels in fish and fish consumption rates was searched from all countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. A large data set was created evidencing a concerning presence of methylmercury in fish that are widely consumed. The 6.1% of the total fish species studied were found to have concentrations of MeHg ≥ 1.5 µg g − 1 dw, independently of the water habitat these were mainly carnivore species, which is recommended to not consume. Furthermore, high risk values (HQ ≥ 1) were estimated in Peru and Venezuela, and even higher-risk values (HQ ≥ 10) were estimated in some fish species inhabiting watersheds in Trinidad. The recommendation is to lower the consumption of this kind of fish species or to avoid mercury pollution.

Methylmercury

Mercury

Caribbean region

Fresh water fish

Fish mortality

10.21203/rs.3.rs-2026724/v1

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Effects of an Educational Intervention on Organophosphate Pesticides in the Risk Perception and Chlorpyrifos, Diazinon and Parathion Metabolites Levels in Chilean Rural Schoolchildren

ISEE Conference Abstracts (2018)

María Teresa Muñoz-Quezada Boris Lucero Verónica Iglesias María Pía Muñoz Liliana Zúñiga

Background: Organophosphate (OP) pesticides, if not applied with due precautions, can be hazardous to health. There is evidence in the Maule region that rural school children are exposed to OP. Objective: To evaluate the impact that an educational intervention has on the exposure to OP and risk perception of two school communities in the Maule Region. Method: A cross-community randomized trial was applied in schoolchildren from two rural schools in the Maule Region in 2016-2017. The sample size was 48 (24 for each school). The average concentration of OP metabolites chlorpyrifos (CPM), diazinon (Oxy2), malathion (MAM) and paration (PAR) in repeated measurements of urine samples of schoolchildren during a week for two days at the beginning of October and two days was evaluated at the end of November of each year. The risk perception of schoolchildren and their parents before and after the intervention was measured simultaneously. Samples were analyzed at the CDC laboratory (USA). Results: Preliminary results for 2016 are showed here. MAM were below the limit of detection (LOD); while OP of measure 1 were CPM = 1.2g / L and measure 2 CPM = 1.3g / L; measure 1 Oxy2 = 0.09 g / L and measure 2 Oxy2 = 0.4g / L; measure 1 PAR = 0.9 g / L and measure 2 PAR = 1.2g / L. The PAR is banned in Chile since 2000. In multiple linear regression models, CPM metabolites in the urine were associated with fruit at school and application of OP pesticides at home. PAR and CPM were correlated in urine in both measurements (p = 0.0004) suggesting that both are applied combined. The educational intervention allowed a greater awareness and knowledge of the risks of OP in schoolchildren and their parents. Conclusion: It is necessary to strengthen the intervention of school communities, involve government entities and agricultural companies, considering that are applying dangerous pesticides without preventing the population, providing guidelines to reduce community exposure.

Parathion

10.1289/isesisee.2018.o03.03.28

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Citations (1)