International Journal of Pharmaceutical Science Invention ISSN (Online): 2319 – 6718, ISSN (Print): 2319 – 670X www.ijpsi.org Volume 5 Issue 4 ‖ July 2016 ‖ PP. 27-34 www.ijpsi.org 27 | Page Cytogenetic, Hematological and Enzymes Levels Parameters in the Biomonitoring of Agricultural Workers Exposed To Pesticides in the State of Piauí, Brazil Tatiana Vieira Souza Chaves 1 , Fabrício Pires de Moura do Amaral 2* , Guilherme Castro Lima Silva do Amaral 2 , Sarah Izabelly Alves Lemos 2 , Aracelli de Sousa Leite 3 , José Machado Moita Neto 4 , Ana Amélia de Carvalho Melo Cavalcante 5 ,Samylla Miranda Monte 6 , Manoel Odorico de Moraes 7 , Maria Elisabete Amaral de Moraes 7 1 Department of Health the State of Piauí – Board of Health Surveillance/Occupational Health Reference Center (DIVISA/CEREST), Teresina, Piauí, Brazil, and Federal University of Ceará (UFC), Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil - Post Graduation Program in Pharmacology 2 State University of Piauí (UESPI) - Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biological Studies Slurs (LABMINBIO / UESPI), Teresina, Piauí, Brazil. 3 Lutheran University of Brazil (ULBRA), Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul - Post Graduation Program in Genetics and Applied Toxicology 4 Federal University of Piauí (UFPI) - Post Graduation Program in Chemistry; 5 Federal University of Piauí (UFPI) - Program of Post Graduation Studies in Pharmaceutical Sciences; 6 Center for Research in Biotechnology and Biodiversity (NPBio) of the State University of Piauí (UFPI) Teresina, PI, Brazil. 7 Federal University of Ceará (UFC), Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil - Post Graduation Program in Pharmacology ABSTRACT: Studies have demonstrated genotoxic effects by the presence of micronucleus in exfoliated cells from the buccal mucosa of agricultural workers exposed to pesticides. This study has assessed the genotoxic effects of pesticides on 61 agricultural workers from the state of Piauí, Brazil. 31 individuals were exposed to pesticides and 30 are from the same area, but were not involved in pesticides application. Cytogenetic damage were evaluated through micronucleus test in cells from the buccal mucosa and some parameters such as hematological and levels of enzymes. Exposed individuals exhibited cytogenetic damage with increased number of micronuclei in cells from the buccal mucosa in comparison with subjects from the control group with significant statistical difference (P < 0.01). We perceive that there is a statistically no significant (P > 0.05) increase in levels of plasmatic and eritrocytaireacetylcholinesterase and no statistically significant increase of phosphatase alkaline were detected in exposed workers in relation to the control group. No association was found in relation to smoking habits, alcohol consumption, protection utensils and the biomarkers analyzed or the biochemical analysis. Analysis of variance revealed a correlation between occupational exposure to pesticides of workers in Piauí and the presence of micronuclei (P < 0.05). Keywords: Micronuclei, Pesticides, Farmers. I. Introduction The use of pesticides in agriculture represents a threat not only to the environment but also to the human populations exposed to them. Pesticides (fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides) form the largest group of poisonous compounds that are intentionally scattered through out the environment for combating agricultural damage. Pesticides are toxic substances, at both genetic and the metabolic levels. Many of these compounds are classified as carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) [1]. Some studies have demonstrated that pesticides can represent potential risks to human health, such as the presence of different symptoms, which includes neuritis, psychiatric manifestations, electroencephalograph changes [2], as well as neurological, immune, metabolic, and endocrine problems [3]. Occupational exposure to pesticides has been associated with genetic damage [4], lymphoma and leukemia [5], and cancer in the absence of reparation processes [6]. DNA damage and chromosomal aberrations are the most important critical events following the exposure to genotoxic and/or carcinogenic agents. Human biological monitoring is a tool of great interest in cancer risks assessment once it allows estimating genetic risks deriving from environmental exposure to pesticides (complex mixture). Biomarkers such as micronucleus (MN) test provide information about DNA damage. The increase in the frequency of MN as an intermediate endpoint of carcinogenesis has received much support in the specialized