Pesticides: Slow but Silent Killer

Introduction: Abundant use of organophosphates, carbamates, organochlorides and pyrethroid pesticidesdevelop several hazardous health effects on nervous, respiratory, endocrine, reproductive and immunesystems of humans as well as animals. All these effects of pesticides are due to generation of oxidativestress, either by producing free radicals or by developing variations in antioxidant status.Objectives: To access extent of oxidative stress developed by pesticides in pesticide sprayers of SataraDistrict.Method: Forty pesticide sprayers having age group between 25-35 were selected in present study as subjects.Control group comprised of healthy farmers of same age, not involved in spraying activity. Measurementsof anthropometry like height, weight and detail history were taken for each participant. Blood sample wascollected in plain bulb and serum was separated for the analysis of estimation of lipid peroxide by Kei SatohMethod. Unpaired t test was used to find out level of significance by comparing mean and SD of both groups.Results: There was significant rise in MDA (t= 14.09, P value <0.0001) in pesticide sprayers as comparedto controls.Conclusions: Pesticides generate free radicals that damage the cell by altering cell permeability, energymetabolism, intracellular and extracellular impairment in transport systems. All these results in developmentof lipid peroxidation which damages various systems of human being