Research Focus
Agricultural chemicals that are used to control pest infestation, weeds, and to some extent modify growth of certain plants to enhance yields of agricultural produce are a potential health risk primarily to those who are occupationally exposed to them.. The focus of the research is to determine the effects of exposure to agricultural chemicals on endogenous antioxidants and other biological endpoints. The indicators of exposure that are identified by this research would be useful to monitor farm workers exposed to pesticides and minimize the inadvertent effects on their health.
Ongoing Research Projects:
- MONITORING CHANGES IN BIOLOGICAL ENDPOINTS OF EXPOSURE IN BLOOD OF FARM WORKERS.
The objectives of this research are to monitor changes in biological endpoints of exposure to pesticides over a period of three years in farm workers, and to determine the effectiveness of antioxidant supplements. The biological endpoints include endogenous antioxidants, DNA adduct levels and cytogenetic changes in the blood and/or urine of farm workers.
- MODULATION OF METABOLIC EFFECTS OF PESTICIDE EXPOSURE IN RATS BY ESSENTIAL METALS.
The objectives of this research are to determine the effects of dermal, oral or whole body exposure to pesticides on changes in endogenous antioxidants and to assess the interaction of certain pesticides, zinc and copper at the level of absorption using in vivo and in vitro techniques.
Staff
- Myna Panemangalore, Ph. D., Principal Investigator
- Fred N Bebe, M.S., Co-Investigator
- Avinash Tope, Ph. D., Co-Investigator
Publications Available On-line*
How to Protect Yourself and Your Health While Working with Pesticides (pdf/61K)
*In PDF format. If you do not have the Adobe Acrobat Reader, please click here to download this free software.
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Recent Publications
Tope AM, Bebe FN, and Panemangalore M. 2006. Micronuclei frequency in lymphocytes and antioxidants in the blood of tradtional limited-resource farm workers exposed to pesticides. Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part B, 41:842-853.
Panemangalore M, Tope AM, and Bebe FN. 2006. Worker pesticide exposure. Encyclopedia of Pest Management. Dekker Encyclopedias available online (requires subscription) at www.dekker.com.
Panemangalore M and Bebe FN. 2005. Interaction between pesticides and essential metal copper increases the accumulation of copper in the kidneys of rats. Biol Trace Elem Res 108: 169-184.
Bebe FN and Panemangalore M. 2005. Pesticides and essential minerals modify endogenous antioxidants and cytochrome P450 in tissues of rats. Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part B, 40: 769-784.
Bebe, F. N. and M. Panemangalore. 2003. Exposure to low doses of endosulfan and chlopyrifos modifies endogenous antioxidants in tissues of rats. Journal of Environmental Science and Health B38: 349-363. HN (EA 50-99-14H)
Bebe, F.N. and M. Panemangalore. 2003. Exposure to endosulfan and chlorpyrifos modifies endogenous antioxidants in rat tissues. Thirteenth Biennial Research Symposium 2003, p. 69.
Bebe, F. N. and M. Panemangalore. 2003. Changes in cytochrome P450 1A and glutathione peroxidase activity in liver of rats fed different concentrations of trace minerals and pesticides in the diet. FASEB Journal 17: A1163 (#714.4)
Panemangalore, M. and F. N. Bebe. 2003. Dietary zinc, copper and pesticides modify plasma ceruloplasmin and erythrocyte dismutase activity in rats. FASEB Journal 17: A1163 (#714.3)
Panemangalore, M. and F. Bebe. 2002. Effect of exposure to chlopyrifos on endogenous antioxidants in tissues of rats. FASEB Journal 16: A244 (207.2)
Bebe, F. N. and M. Panemangalore. 2001. Whole body exposure to pesticide endosulfan modifies glutathione and glutathione peroxidase in activity in rat lungs. FASEB Journal 15: A628 (Abs # 498.11).
Panemangalore, M. and F. N. Bebe. 2001. Activities of endogenous antioxidant enzymes in tissues of rats exposed to varying concentrations of endosulfan. FASEB Journal 15: A628 (Abs # 498.12).
Bebe, F. N. and M. Panemangalore. 2000. Comparative effects of zinc, lead, and cadmium on body and tissue weights of weanling, adult, and aged rats. Journal of the Kentucky Academy of Science 61(2): 108-114. HN (90-38814-5540)
Panemangalore, M. and F. N. Bebe. 2000. Dermal exposure to pesticides modifies antioxidant enzymes in tissues of rats. Journal of Environmental Science and Health B35(4): 399-416. HN (50-96-11H)
Bebe, F. N. and M. Panemangalore. 2000. Dermal exposure to pesticides modifies antioxidant enzymes in tissues of rats. Association of Research Directors 12th Biennial Research Symposium, p. 56.