GENOTOXIC EFFECTS OF PESTICIDES

摘要

It is a serious problem that not enough food is available in the face of the rapidly growing world population. For this reason, it is necessary to increase the production and yield of foodstuffs and to take measures to prevent food losses. To increase agricultural productivity, it is necessary to combat diseases, pests and weeds. In this struggle, chemical compounds known as pesticides are used. It is desirable that the pesticides are only effective against the harmful target. However, pesticides can contaminate air, water and soil during manufacturing, storage, marketing and use. This affects non-target organisms negatively. Insensible and careless use also increases the accumulation of pesticides in living tissues. Carbamates, organophosphates and organochlorine pesticides have been reported to have genotoxic effects. Pesticides can show genotoxic effects in many different species. Some fungicides have been reported to suppress mitosis in plants meristem cells. Research has shown that insecticides increase chromosome abnormalities and micronucleus formation in human lymphocytes. Experimental animal studies also demonstrate similar genotoxic effects of pesticides. Researches on agricultural workers have shown that structural and numerical chromosome anomalies and sister chromatid exchanges come rounded at high rates with pesticides.