Journal of Toxicology

Research Article

Biomonitoring with Micronuclei Test in Buccal Cells of Female Farmers and Children Exposed to Pesticides of Maneadero Agricultural Valley, Baja California, Mexico

Table 1

Main pesticides used in Baja California, Mexico.


Mechanism of action	Uses	Chemical group	Concentration %, EPA classification (toxicity)

Organophosphate
Inhibits acetylcholinesterase and is a DNA alkylating agent, classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic	Insecticide	Diazinon	25–90, not likely (IV)
		Azinphos-methyl	35, not likely (I)
		Malathion	90, evidence (IV)
		Dimethoate	40, C (II)
		Methamidophos	39.6–48.3, E (IB)
	Herbicide	Bensulide	12.5, not likely (III)
		Glyphosate	48, E (IV)

Carbamate
Rapid onset; inhibits acetylcholinesterase and other enzymes	Insecticide	Methomyl	90, E (IB)
	Insecticide	Oxamyl	24–42, E (IA)
	Fungicide	Mancozeb	56.4–80, B2 (III)
	Fungicide	Maneb	75–80, B2 (III)

Organochlorines
GABA receptor antagonist inhibits Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ channels.	Insecticide	Endosulfan	25–48, not likely (I)

Pyrethroid
Affects Na⁺ channels	Insecticide	Permethrin	34–48, C (IB)
		Bifenthrin	10, C (II)

Biperidiles
Interferes in electrons transference and inhibits the reduction of NADP to NADPH during photosynthesis, with superoxide radical formation	Herbicide	Paraquat	24, C (IA)

Others
Mechanism of action not clearly stablished	Fungicide	Copper oxychloride	85.0, D (III)
	Fungicide	Chlorothalonil	54, likely (IV)

Chemicals Evaluated for Carcinogenic Potential, Science Information Management Branch, Health Effects Division, Office of Pesticide Program, US Environmental Protection Agency (2006) [35]. A, human carcinogen; B, probable human carcinogen; B1, limited evidence of carcinogenicity from epidemiological studies; B2, sufficient evidence from animal studies; C, possible human carcinogen; D, not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity; E, evidence of noncarcinogenicity for humans; nd, no data available; evidence, suggestive evidence of carcinogenicity, but not sufficient to assess human carcinogenic potential; likely, likely to be carcinogenic to humans; not likely, not likely to be carcinogenic to humans. World Health Organization Classification of Pesticides by Hazard: IA—extremely hazardous; IB—highly hazardous; II—moderately hazardous; III—slightly hazardous [36].