8290238 DNA damage in lymphocytes of agricultural workers: influence of smoking habits, farming practices, crop and livestock production, and pesticide use assessed by the comet assay

<h3>Objective</h3> Epidemiological studies have already established a link between occupational agricultural exposures and cancers. However, despite extensive epidemiological study, the biological plausibility of the link between these exposures and cancer development has not been definitively confirmed. The aim of this study were i) to determine the effect of current smoking on DNA damage in blood cells and ii) the effect of various agricultural exposures including pesticides in a French agricultural cohort. <h3>Material and Methods</h3> Blood samples were collected from n=375 farmers, with 97 were current smokers, 97 former smokers and 185 never smokers. The alkaline comet assay version was applied on cryopreserved isolated lymphocytes isolated to evaluate DNA damage levels, evaluated by scoring a mean 800 nuclei per sample, classified in four categories by an AI Yolo recognition algorithm using a neural network developed in the laboratory. Socio-demographic information including smoking related questions, livestock and crop production of the farm and pesticide application schedule were collected by face-to face questionnaires. Univariate linear and logistic regression tests and multivariate analysis were performed. <h3>Results</h3> The initial results on smoking status show no clear difference in any of the qualitative criteria considered in our population. Smoking status should not be considered as a major confounding factor in occupational studies using the alkaline comet assay. The 168 different molecules listed in the treatment schedules will be considered individually and grouped by Mode of Action (MoA), and farmers will be considered individually and clustered by treatment types of cultures and livestock activities All of this data will be correlated with the levels of DNA damage estimated by the comet assay. <h3>Conclusion</h3> With very little literature evaluating genotoxic damages linked with agricultural activities, this study tends to be an exploratory study. We hope to find specific agricultural activities or treatment patterns links to an increase of DNA damages evaluated by comet assay.