Cytogenetic analysis of micronuclei and cell death parameters in epithelial cells of pesticide exposed tea garden workers

Buccal micronucleus cytome assay was carried out in 47 exposed (sprayers and leaf harvesters), 47 non-exposed (controls) to determine the extent of damage working in the tea plantations of Terai region of West Bengal, India. As the pesticide exposed male workers were found to consume alcohol and smoked cigarettes/bidis, 35 smokers and 30 alcoholics were also included for comparison. Results showed a significant difference in micronuclei (9.91 +/- 2.74, p <= .001), nuclear bud (4.98 +/- 1.31, p <= .001), binucleate (6.26 +/- 2.84, p <= .001), karyorrhectic (8.36 +/- 2.28, p <= .001), pyknotic (5.62 +/- 1.78, p <= .05) as well as karyolytic (6.81 +/- 3.00, p <= .001) nuclei compared with control. Comparison also revealed a higher frequency of micronuclei (6.11 +/- 2.55, p <= .01), nuclear bud (4.06 +/- 1.97, p <= .05), binucleate (4.34 +/- 1.85, p <= .001), karyorrhectic (6.83 +/- 2.12, p <= .001), and karyolytic (6.20 +/- 2.54, p <= .001) nuclei except pyknotic cell in the smoker than control. Frequency of binucleate (3.80 +/- 1.73, p <= .05), karyorrhectic (5.57 +/- 2.34, p <= .05), pyknotic (5.50 +/- 1.36, p <= .05), and karyolytic (6.30 +/- 2.71, p <= .001) nuclei was higher in the alcoholics than control (non-alcoholics), whereas the micronuclei and nuclear bud were found to be non-significant compared with the control. Our analyses also revealed a higher proportion of the micronucleus and the cell death parameters in the pesticide exposed males than females, which indicated that pesticide, smoking, and alcohol may act synergistically to cause more damage to the buccal epithelial cells. However, age and the exposure duration have no influence on the micronucleus and other cell death parameters.