Urinary MDA and 8-OHdG Concentrations among Agricultural Workers in South Korea and Influence of Protective Measures

Pesticides increase the quality of agricultural products, however routine exposure to these chemicals can results in adverse chronic health effects. Oxidative stress biomarkers such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) have been used to link pesticide exposure with the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer and neurological diseases. In the present study, the levels of MDA and 8-OHdG were analysed in urine samples collected from agricultural workers in South Korea. The influence of wearing personal protective equipment and performing protective behaviors on the levels of these two biomarkers was also evaluated. The median levels of MDA and 8-OHdG in urine samples were 9.37 nmol/mg creatinine and 19.06 ng/mg creatinine, respectively. In general, the levels of MDA and 8-OHdG were higher in male farmers. Wearing greater numbers of personal protective equipment and performing more protective behaviors was significantly associated with lower levels of MDA and 8-OHdG. The res...