Liver toxicity and DNA damage from exposure to the pesticide Mancozeb

Introduction: Brazilian agriculture has developed to such an extent in the last 40 years that the country will become one of the world’s largest food suppliers in the future. Indeed, to keep up this production, agriculture makes intensive use of fertilizers and agricultural pesticides, helping Brazil become one of the main pesticide consumers worldwide. Ethylenebisdithiocarbamates are a group of fungicides that have been widely utilized around the world, and Mancozeb is one of their main representatives. Therefore, a pilot experimental model was created to evaluate the potential hepatotoxic effect of Mancozeb. Materials and Methods: An experimental study was performed with 27 male Wistar rats, divided into 3 groups of 9 rats. Control Group received saline solution, Intervention Group I received 250 mg/kg once a week and Intervention Group II received 500 mg/kg also once a week. The treatment was performed for 12 weeks. Anthropometric measurements were performed and the marker of biological exposure in urine was dosed, biochemical tests, evaluation micronucleus count and comet assay, oxidative stress markers and histological assessment of the liver were done. Results: The hepatotoxic effect of exposure to Mancozeb was confirmed by different tests: anthropometric measures, genotoxicity, and oxidative stress. Statistical significance was found when exposed groups were compared to the control. These results were supported by microscopic evaluation of the liver tissue, where histological changes were found such as inflammatory infiltrate and balloonization in the treated groups. Conclusion: Experimental model was effective to demonstrate the deleterious effect on the liver due to exposure to Mancozeb.