Health Biomarkers of Pesticide Exposure in Rural Populations of Santa Fe, Argentina: Oxidative Stress and Genotoxicity

The present study aimed to quantify pesticide residues in environmental matrices and plasma and to evaluate their potential effects on oxidative stress and DNA damage in rural populations of Santa Fe province. Soil and rainwater samples were collected, and biological samples and semistructured surveys were obtained from volunteers in three rural towns. Pesticide residues were analyzed using liquid and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. DNA damage was assessed by the comet assay (CA) and its modified version for oxidative lesions (ENDO sites), along with catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymatic activities and lipid peroxidation (TBARS). Results were compared with those from a control population in an urban setting. Pesticide residues were detected in 62% of blood samples, with significantly higher frequencies (p < 0.05) in rural participants compared to the control group, mirroring increases in oxidative and genotoxic biomarkers. Atrazine residues were found in 47% of rainwater samples from Santo Domingo, while glyphosate and its metabolite AMPA were present in 67% of soil samples from all towns studied. The detection of pesticide residues in both environmental and human samples supports the occurrence of concurrent exposure. The persistence of these compounds, their environmental mobility, and their potential to induce biological alterations highlight the need for preventive measures and health policies to reduce exposure risks in rural populations.