Artículos científicos

URI permanente para esta colecciónhttp://10.0.96.45:4000/handle/11056/14755

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Registration of Occupational Diseases in Costa Rica
(Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc., 2007-09) Monge, P.; Mora, A, M.
Previous efforts have been developed in Costa Rica to systematize and unify the registration of occupational diseases, but with nonpositive results. To better assess the feasibility to standardize the report of occupational risks, the Program in Work and Health in Central America (SALTRA) is conducting a project in 2 CA countries. We are presenting the advances in Costa Rica.
Indicators of Health Risks to Promote Sustainability in Agro-Food Chains
(Wolters Kluwer, 2007-09) Bravo, Virya; Partanen, Timo; Pelupessy, Wim; Wesseling, Catharina
Techniques to identify potential health risks of pesticide use are useful to promote and follow up sustainability in export agro-food chains, especially in production segment in developing countries. The aim of the study was to differentiate crop production technologies, based on the quantity of pesticides applied, grouped by toxicity criteria as health risk indicators.
An ecosystem health approach and children's health living in the vicinity of banana plantations
(Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc., 2007-09) Van Wendel de Joode, B.; Barraza, D.; Mora, AM; Córdoba, L; De la Cruz, E
To study children's exposure to pesticides, their health effects, and their social consequences in agricultural communities. Materials and methods: The study population included three communities near banana plantations (multinationals) and plantain plantations (small-scale farmers) with extensive pesticide use, and two with low pesticide use (livestock farmers and organic farmers). Pesticide exposure pathways in children were studied both qualitatively and quantitatively within a social, cultural, and gender context. To study perceptions of pesticide risks, focus groups with parents and semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders were conducted. Exposure was quantitatively assessed by measuring pesticide metabolites in urine in 55 exposed children and 12 children aged 7 and 8 with low exposure. Dermal exposure was assessed in 14 of these children, and dust samples were collected from their homes. Environmental samples (air, surface and drinking water, and soil) were also collected. To study the children's development and health, a battery of neurobehavioral tests was administered to all 7- and 8-year-old children in the 5 communities.
Pesticide Exposure and Neurological Effects in Children of Nicaraguan Agricultural Workers, With an Ecosystem Approach
(Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc., 2007-09) Rodríguez, T; van Wendel de Joode, Berna; Soto, A; Rojas, M; Wesseling, Catharina
Las familias de trabajadores agrícolas en Nicaragua suelen tener mayor contacto con plaguicidas en el entorno general debido a que viven cerca de los campos tratados con plaguicidas. Los niños suelen jugar y trabajar en o cerca de los campos tratados. Un estudio previo reportó TCPY en aplicadores y sus hijos (LOD 146.82 μg/L y LOD 125.13 μg/L, respectivamente). Además, los niveles urinarios de los metabolitos generales de los piretroides, PBA, cis-DCCA, trans-DCCA y DBCA, superan los niveles de referencia publicados en niños. El objetivo principal de este estudio es determinar el contexto económico y social de la exposición infantil a plaguicidas y sus efectos neurológicos.
Retrospective Analysis of an Outbreak of Nonsuccessful Pregnancies in a Community Nearby a Melon Plantation
(Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc., 2007-09) Cordoba, Leonel; van Wendel de Joode, Berna; Ramirez, F; Herrero, Marco V.; Wesseling, Catharina
The objective of this study was to identify risk factors of nonsuccessful pregnancies in a Costa Rican community during 2004. Out of 20 pregnancies, 4 resulted in stillbirths, 3 in miscarriages, and 1 in a congenital malformation. The community inhabitants attributed thi outbreak to the pesticide use in a nearby melon plantation.
Costa Rican Factory Workers Exposed to Chlorpyrifos
(Wolters Kluwer, 2007-09) Rojas, M.; Van Wendel del Joode, B.; Ruepert, C.; Wesseling, C.
Chlorpyrifos is a neurotoxic organophosphate insecticide. Moderated toxicity of chlorpyrifos inhibits the acetyl cholinesterase enzyme activity. Occupational exposure to chlorpyrifos has poisoned many workers in Central America. A group of factory workers involved in the manufacturing of bags with chlorpyrifos asked SALTRA to evaluate if they were intoxicated. To evaluate if factory workers with a chronic exposure to chlorpyrifos are intoxicated.
Health Risk Indicators for Pesticide Use: Banana in the Atlantic Region of Costa Rica, 2006
(Wolters Kluwer, 2007-09) Bravo, Virya; Partanen, Timo; Wesseling, Catharina
Pesticide use is a severe agricultural public health problem in developing countries. Surveillance of health risks is difficult. During decades, banana has been one of the crops where pesticides have been most intensively used in Costa Rica. The aim of the study was to establish a basis for surveillance of pesticide use in relation to potential health risks, by means of toxicity indicators, using banana cultivation in Costa Rica as an example.
Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases in Costa Rica: a feasibility study toward a national screening program
(Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica, 2013-12-27) Wesseling, Catharina; Román, Norbel; Quirós, Indiana; Paéz, Laura; García, Vilma; Mora, Ana María; Juncos, Jorge L.; Steenland, Kyle N.
Antecedentes: La integración de los servicios de salud mental y neurológicos en la atención médica es una prioridad mundial. El Sistema de Seguridad Social universal de Costa Rica aspira a desarrollar un sistema nacional de cribado de trastornos neurodegenerativos en adultos mayores, como parte de la agenda de enfermedades no transmisibles. Objetivo: Este estudio evaluó la viabilidad del cribado rutinario de la enfermedad de Parkinson (EP) y la enfermedad de Alzheimer (EA) en el sistema público de salud de Costa Rica. Diseño: La población (mayores de 65 años) de las áreas de influencia de dos centros de atención primaria fue seleccionada para un cribado motor y cognitivo durante los chequeos médicos anuales de rutina. El cribado siguió un enfoque escalonado de tres pasos, con especificidad creciente. El paso 1 consistió en un cuestionario de dos síntomas (temblor en reposo; equilibrio) y una prueba de dibujo en espiral para la evaluación motora, así como una prueba de recuerdo de tres palabras y de fluidez en categorías de animales para la evaluación cognitiva. El paso 2 (para quienes no superaron el paso 1) consistió en una versión de 10 ítems de la Escala Unificada de Calificación de la Enfermedad de Parkinson y el Mini-Examen del Estado Mental. El paso 3 (para quienes no superaron el paso 2) consistió en un examen neurológico completo con diagnóstico definitivo de EP, EA, deterioro cognitivo leve (DCL), otros trastornos o sujetos sanos. Se calcularon los parámetros de cribado y la prevalencia de la enfermedad. Resultados: De los 401 sujetos evaluados (80 % de la población objetivo), 370 (92 %), 163 (45 %) y 81 (56 %) no superaron los pasos 1, 2 y 3, respectivamente. Treinta y tres, 20 y 35 pacientes fueron diagnosticados con EP, EA y DCL, respectivamente (7 eran EP con DCL/EA); el 90 % fueron casos nuevos. La sensibilidad de las evaluaciones motoras y cognitivas del paso 1 con respecto al paso 2 fue del 93 % en ambas ocasiones, y la del paso 2 con respecto al diagnóstico definitivo fue del 100 % y del 96 %, respectivamente. La especificidad de las pruebas motoras y cognitivas del paso 1 fue baja (23 % y 29 %, respectivamente) y la del paso 2 aceptable (76 % y 94 %). Según datos internacionales, la prevalencia de EP fue 3,7 veces mayor de lo esperado; la prevalencia de EA fue la esperada. Conclusión: Los ajustes propuestos al protocolo aumentarán la especificidad de la prueba y reducirán el tiempo de administración. Un programa de cribado rutinario es viable dentro del sistema de salud pública de Costa Rica.
Seasonal dynamics and pesticide impact on gut microbiome in Amynthas gracilis earthworms: A comparative study across agricultural landscapes assessed by 16S rRNA amplicon-based sequencing
(Elsevier, 2025-08-27) Brenes-Bravo, Gabriel; Solano-Campos, Frank; Ruepert, Clemens; Mena, Freylan
The use of pesticides in agriculture can affect the biodiversity of soil ecosystems and interfere with the ecological services they provide. The gut microbiome of earthworms serves as a bioindicator for changes in diversity within one of the most representative groups of soil macrofauna. In this study, we defined a gradient of soil and pesticide use regimes within a horticultural area, including conventional management, good agricultural practices, organic production and forest. Earthworms (A. gracilis) from these four conditions were sampled, and their microbiomes were assessed by sequencing the V4 region from the 16S rRNA gene. Comparison of ASVs indicated the presence of 142 bacterial genera among all the samples, with Actinobacteriota, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroidota being dominant phyla. Simpson’s diversity index revealed diminished biodiversity in the gut microbiomes of earthworms from conventionally managed soil, correlating negatively with the presence of the insecticide chlorpyrifos. Furthermore, a seasonal shift in the dominance of bacterial taxa was observed between dry and rainy seasons. These shifts were evident in the gut microbiome of organisms from organically managed and good practices soils but not in the conventional site. Our results demonstrate that earthworm’s gut microbiome serves as a responsive bioindicator for biodiversity changes in agricultural landscapes, suggesting that key features of the microbial community can be altered by pesticide exposure.
Physiological stress and habitat selection in earthworms (Amynthas gracilis) exposed to different pesticide regimes in a tropical horticultural area
(Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica, 2025-07-29) Brenes-Bravo, Gabriel; Reinhard, Lukas; Ruepert, Clemens; Solano-Campos, Frank; Mena, Freylan
Agricultural landscapes are constantly exposed to pesticides. Such permanent exposure threatens the ecosystem and the services that it provides to sustain agriculture. Earthworms are key components of soil macrofauna that can be susceptible to such contamination. To assess if the presence of pesticides in horticultural soils can induce physiological stress and evasive behavior in resident earthworms, we evaluated pesticide residues and soil physical and chemical characteristics across a gradient of land use: conventional farming, farming with good environmental practices, organic farming and forest. Stress was assessed by measuring biomarkers of neurotoxicity, biotransformation and oxidative stress in individuals of the earthworm Amynthas gracilis inhabiting sites of the mentioned gradient during dry and rainy seasons. An avoidance test was conducted where a group of A. gracilis was offered with soil samples from the studied gradient, and 48 h later their selection was counted. 1 Pesticide residues were registered in all the sites and seasons. Conventional farming site contained the highest number (43) and concentration of pesticides, with peak values during the transition and rainy season (Chlorpyrifos 38.1 ng g dw, Boscalid 8.4 ng g 1 dw and Linuron 7.8 ng g 1 dw). However, the highest concentration of an individual pesticides was found in forest soil (Chlorpyrifos 71.9 ng g 1 dw). Earthworms from Conventional farming site showed over 50 % inhibition of cholinesterase activity and diminished glutathione S-transferase activity compared to the other sites, while seasonal variation was clear in GST, CAT and EROD activities in all the sites. A. gracilis significantly avoided (90 %) the soil from the conventional farming site and preferred good environmental practices and organic soils. Our results provide evidence that intensive pesticide use induces physiological stress in A. gracilis and provokes their escape from contaminated soils, potentially affecting the soil macrofauna community and ecosystem services.
Influence of Seasonality and Pollution on the Presence of Antibiotic Resistance Genes and Potentially Pathogenic Bacteria in a Tropical Urban River
(Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica, 2025-08-05) Barrantes-Jiménez, Kenia; Mendoza-Guido, Bradd; Morales-Mora, Eric; Rivera-Montero, Luis; Montiel-Mora, Jose; Chacón-Jiménez, Luz; Rojas-Jiménez, Keilor; Arias-Andrés, Maria
Background/Objectives: This study examines how seasonality, pollution, and sample type (water and sediment) influence the presence and distribution of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), with a focus on antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) located on plasmids (the complete set of plasmid-derived sequences, including ARGs) in a tropical urban river. Methods: Samples were collected from three sites along a pollution gradient in the Virilla River, Costa Rica, during three seasonal campaigns (wet 2021, dry 2022, and wet 2022). ARGs in water and sediment were quantified by qPCR, and metagenomic sequencing was applied to analyze chromosomal and plasmid-associated resistance profiles in sediments. Tobit and linear regression models, along with multivariate ordination, were used to assess spatial and seasonal trends. Results: During the wet season of 2021, the abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) such as sul-1, intI-1, and tetA in water samples decreased significantly, likely due to dilution, while intI-1 and tetQ increased in sediments, suggesting particle-bound accumulation. In the wet season 2022, intI-1 remained low in water, qnrS increased, and sediments showed significant increases in tetQ, tetA, and qnrS, along with decreases in sul-1 and sul-2. Metagenomic analysis revealed spatial differences in plasmid-associated ARGs, with the highest abundance at the most polluted site (Site 3). Bacterial taxa also showed spatial differences, with greater plasmidome diversity and a higher representation of potential pathogens in the most contaminated site. Conclusions: Seasonality and pollution gradients jointly shape ARG dynamics in this tropical river. Plasmid-mediated resistance responds rapidly to environmental change and is enriched at polluted sites, while sediments serve as long-term reservoirs. These findings support the use of plasmid-based monitoring for antimicrobial resistance surveillance in aquatic systems.
Calor y cambio climático: una matriz de exposición ocupacional a estrés térmico por calor en Costa Rica
(Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica, 2025-04) Crowell, Jennifer; Rojas-Valvede, Daniel; Masis Leandro, Keneth; Barraza, Douglas; Ugalde Ramírez, José Alexis; Gutiérrez Vargas, Randall; Casanova Quiroz, Alexandra; Chavarría Castrillo, Maricruz; Solano Gutiérrez, Fidelia; Wendel de Joode, Berna van
La investigación propone una matriz de riesgo diseñada para comparar la exposición acumulada (crónica) al calor en diferentes tipos de empleo y regiones geográficas de Costa Rica, considerando tanto las condiciones actuales como escenarios de cambio climático utilizando cuatro parámetros clave: duración, carga metabólica, frecuencia y severidad de la exposición. Esta matriz se aplicó a seis ocupaciones en dos zonas climáticas (Valle Central y Pacífico Norte). Los resultados indican que los trabajadores en el Pacífico Norte están más expuestos que los del Valle Central y que de los puestos evaluados, los cortadores de caña en Carrillo y peones en arroceras de Bagaces, enfrentan los mayores niveles de riesgo térmico. Proyecciones basadas en aumentos de temperatura entre 1 y 4 °C muestran cómo incrementará el riesgo, afectando más meses del año y más ocupaciones. Esta herramienta epidemiológica permite priorizar sectores y regiones para intervenciones de salud pública y adaptación al cambio climático, subrayando la necesidad de políticas preventivas que consideren la vulnerabilidad específica de la población trabajadora.
Acute toxicity and cholinesterase inhibition of the nematicide ethoprophos in larvae of gar Atractosteus tropicus (Semionotiformes: Lepisosteidae)
(Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica, 2011) Mena Torres, Freylan; Pfennig, Sascha; Arias Andrés, María de Jesús; Márquez Couturier, Gabriel; Sevilla, Adrián; Protti, Maurizio
Biomarkers are a widely applied approach in environmental studies. Analyses of cholinesterase (ChE), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) are biomarkers that can provide information regarding early effects of pollutants at different biochemical levels on an organism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biomarker approach on a Costa Rican native and relevant species. For this, larvae of gar (Atractosteus tropicus) were exposed to the organophosphorus nematicide, ethoprophos. Acute (96hr) exposure was conducted with pesticide concentrations ranging from 0.1µg/L to 1 500µg/L. The 96hr LC50 calculated was 859.7µg/L. After exposure, three biomarkers (ChE, GST and LPO) were analyzed in fish that survived the acute test. The lowest observed effect concentration (LOEC) regarding ChE activity inhibition was 50µg/L. This concentration produced a significant inhibition (p<0.05) of the enzyme by 20%. The highest concentration tested without showing any effect on ChE activity and therefore considered as no observed effect concentration (NOEC) was 10µg/L. Ethoprophos concentration of 400µg/L caused a ChE inhibition by 79%. In this study, no significant variations (p>0.05) in GST activity and LPO were observed in A. tropicus larvae after exposure to ethoprophos.
Propuesta de indicadores para la vigilancia de la salud ocupacional en América Latina y el Caribe
(Pan American Health Organization, 2018) Merino Salazar, Pamela; Cornelio, Cecilia; López Ruiz, María; Benavides, Fernando G.; Rojas, Marianela; Barraza, Douglas
Este artículo propone un conjunto básico y común de indicadores para la vigilancia en salud ocupacional en América Latina y el Caribe e identifica las fuentes de datos disponibles para su medición. Para ello, se llevó a cabo un proceso de consenso de la Red Experta en Encuestas sobre Condiciones de Trabajo, Empleo y Salud (RED ECoTES) en dos etapas. En la primera etapa, se consensuó un primer listado de indicadores, y en la segunda etapa, se identificaron las fuentes de datos y sus características, con el fin de facilitar la comprobación de la factibilidad del cálculo real de cada indicador en 20 países de la Región. La propuesta del conjunto básico de indicadores, y sus definiciones, está conformado por 13 indicadores distribuidos en cuatro dimensiones: condiciones de empleo (tres indicadores), condiciones de trabajo (cuatro indicadores), recursos y actividades preventivas (dos indicadores) y salud (cuatro indicadores). Las principales fuentes disponibles para calcular estos indicadores en la Región fueron las encuestas permanentes de hogares, las encuestas de condiciones de trabajo, empleo y salud, las estadísticas vitales, y los sistemas de notificación de lesiones por accidentes de trabajo. En la Región existen datos para un número relevante de los indicadores propuestos. Sin embargo, un número importante de aquellos orientados a las condiciones de trabajo y actividades preventivas están ausentes en la mayoría de países. La vigilancia efectiva de la salud ocupacional en la Región exige impulsar decididamente las encuestas sobre condiciones de empleo, trabajo y salud en cada uno de los países que la conforman.
Pyrethroid exposure, attention and executive function in 6-year old children from the Infants′ Environmental Health Study (ISA)
(2019-08) Peñaloza Castañeda, Jorge; Mora Benamburg, J; Padilla Mora, M; Fajardo Soto, A; Cordoba, Leonel; M. Mora, A; Eskenazi, B; Lindh, C; van Wendel de, Joode B
Pyrethroid insecticides may impair children’s neurodevelopment but little evidence from prospective studies is available. In Costa Rica, pyrethroids are widely used for vector control. We examined whether prenatal and current pyrethroid exposure was associated with impaired attention and executive function in children from the Infants Environmental Health Study (ISA). Methods: To evaluate attention and executive function, we applied the Conners Continuous Performance Test (CPT-II) and Dimensional Change Card Sort (DCCS in 6-year old children (mean 6.4 ± 0.4 years) (n=268). We obtained repeated urine samples during pregnancy and 5-6 years of age, determined 3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethyl cyclopropanecarboxylicacid (DCCA) and 3-phenoxybenzoicacid(3-PBA), and summed concentrations of both. We subsequently ran separate linear regression models for log-10 transformed mean prenatal, and mean child metabolite concentrations and CPT-II, and ran separate logistic regression model for DCCS. We adjusted a priori for child age, child sex, HOME score, and maternal education. We also ran analysis stratified by sex.
Associations between pesticide mixtures applied near home during pregnancy and early childhood with adolescent behavioral and emotional problems in the CHAMACOS study
(ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY, 2021) Hyland, Carly; Bradshaw, Patrick T.; Gunier, Robert; Mora, Ana M.; Kogut, Katherine; Deardorff, Julianna; Sagiv, Sharon; Bradman, Asa; Eskenazi, Brenda
Evidence from longitudinal cohort studies indicates that biomarkers of pesticide exposure and residential proximity to agricultural pesticide applications during pregnancy and early childhood may be associated with adverse child neurodevelopment, including poorer cognition1–6 and increased hyperactivity/ inattention7–9 and traits related to autism spectrum disorders.10–13 Despite relatively consistent findings for outcomes assessed during early and middle childhood, previous studies have only followed children up to the age of 12 years, and data gaps exist regarding the persistence of pesticide–neurodevelopment associations into adolescence and young adulthood.
Microplastic pollution increases gene exchange in aquatic ecosystems
(Environmental Pollution, 2018) Arias Andres, Maria; Klumper, Uli; Rojas Jimenez, Keilor; Grossart, Hans Peter.
Pollution by microplastics in aquatic ecosystems is accumulating at an unprecedented scale, emerging as a new surface for biofilm formation and gene exchange. In this study, we determined the permissiveness of aquatic bacteria towards a model antibiotic resistance plasmid, comparing communities that form biofilms on microplastics vs. those that are free-living. We used an exogenous and red-fluorescent E. coli donor strain to introduce the green-fluorescent broad-host-range plasmid pKJK5 which encodes for trimethoprim resistance. We demonstrate an increased frequency of plasmid transfer in bacteria associated with microplastics compared to bacteria that are free-living or in natural aggregates. Moreover, comparison of communities grown on polycarbonate filters showed that increased gene exchange occurs in a broad range of phylogenetically-diverse bacteria. Our results indicate horizontal gene transfer in this habitat could distinctly affect the ecology of aquatic microbial communities on a global scale. The spread of antibiotic resistance through microplastics could also have profound consequences for the evolution of aquatic bacteria and poses a neglected hazard for human health.
Causas y prevención del cáncer ocupacional
(Colegio de Médicos y Cirujanos, Costa Rica, 2009-04-28) Partanen, Timo; Monge, Patricia; Wesseling, Catharina
Las neoplasias ocupacionales son altamente prevenibles. Esta comunicación resume los datos de los riesgos cancerígenos ocupacionales, destacando grupos importantes de trabajadores y la prevención. La Agencia Internacional para la Investigación del Cáncer (IARC) ha identificado en el Grupo 1 (causa cáncer en humanos), 29 agentes que pueden presentarse en el lugar de trabajo, 26 en el Grupo 2 A (probablemente cancerígeno) y 113 en el Grupo 2B (posiblemente cancerígeno). Los agentes frecuentes en Centroamérica incluyen la radiación solar (Grupo 1) y la radiación ultravioleta (2A), las emisiones diesel (2A), los hidrocarburos poliaromáticos (1 - 3), el humo de tabaco ambiental (1), los compuestos de cromo hexavalente (1) y el benceno (1). En cuanto a los cánceres de mujeres, estudios de cáncer de mama y ovarios sugieren asociaciones con agentes ocupacionales. Los datos en la economía informal son pocos. Peligros cancerígenos para agricultores y peones agrícolas contemplan la exposición a radiación ultravioleta solar, virus, zoonosis, polvos, aflatoxinas, emisiones de diesel, solventes y plaguicidas. Agentes cancerígenos potenciales presentes en el Sector Salud incluyen: óxido de etileno, formaldehído, humo de tabaco ambiental, tricloroetileno, tetracloroetileno, benceno, asbesto, drogas, hormonas, antibióticos, plaguicidas, virus y desechos y gases cancerígenos. Algunas exposiciones durante el desarrollo y la infancia someten a los niños a riesgos cancerígenos. Prevenir los riesgos para la salud en el lugar de trabajo es responsabilidad del empleador. Se debe actuar con precaución en respuesta a la limitada evidencia plausible y creíble, sobre un peligro probable, y establecer comisiones mixtas de salud y seguridad en lugares de trabajo.
Aislamiento, identificación y caracterización de cepas bacterianas con potencial de degradación de los plaguicidas clorotalonil y clorpirifos
(Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica, 2023) Estrada Gamboa, Joyce María; Umaña Castro, Rodolfo; Sancho Blanco, Carolina; Orozco Aceves, Martha
El uso indiscriminado de plaguicidas altamente tóxicos en la agricultura ha producido contaminación de los suelos y deterioro de los ecosistemas. Una solución prometedora para este problema ambiental es la biorremediación, que incluye el uso de bacterias para degradar sustancias contaminantes, incluidos los plaguicidas. [Objetivo] El presente trabajo tuvo por objetivo el aislamiento, identificación y caracterización de cepas bacterianas con capacidad de degradar los plaguicidas clorotalonil y clorpirifos, para su potencial uso en la biorremediación de suelos contaminados. [Metodología] Las cepas fueron aisladas de suelos agrícolas mediante cultivos de enriquecimiento, que contenían clorotalonil o clorpirifos (20 mg/L) como única fuente de carbono. Las cepas aisladas se caracterizaron por su morfología, fisiológicamente por su respuesta a 48 pruebas bioquímicas y frente a 15 antibióticos, cinética de crecimiento, y molecularmente (amplificación del gen 16S). [Resultados] Se aisló una cepa bacteriana capaz de utilizar (y degradar) clorpirifos como fuente de carbono, identificada como Stenotrophomonas maltophilia y dos cepas bacterianas con capacidad parcial de utilizar clorotalonil como fuente de carbono, identificadas como Enterobacter cloacae y Ochrobactrum anthropi. Las tres especies bacterianas son bacilos Gram negativo y presentaron características fisiológicas diversas, incluyendo resistencia variable a ciertos antibióticos. [Conclusión] Se concluye que las bacterias aisladas tienen potencial biotecnológico para ser incorporadas en una estrategia de biorremediación de suelos contaminados, especialmente para eliminación de clorpirifos. Finalmente, se plantean perspectivas de investigación a futuro para dilucidar procesos más eficientes de degradación de clorotalonil mediante cometabolismo.
Exposure to pesticides and health effects on farm owners and workers from conventional and organic agricultural farms in Costa Rica : Protocol for a cross-sectional study
(JMIR Publications, 2019-01-25) Fuhrimann, Samuel; Winkler, Mirko S.; Staudacher, Philipp; Weiss, Frederik T.; Stamm, Christian; Eggen, Rik IL; Lindh,Christian H; Menezes-Filho, José A; Baker, Joseph M; Ramírez-Muñoz, Fernando; Gutiérrez-Vargas, Randall; Mora, Ana M
Background: Pesticide use is increasing in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) including Costa Rica. This increase poses health risks to farm owners, farm workers, and communities living near agricultural farms. Objective: We aimed to examine the health effects associated with occupational pesticide exposure in farm owners and workers from conventional and organic smallholder farms in Costa Rica. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 300 owners and workers from organic and conventional horticultural smallholder farms in Zarcero County, Costa Rica. During the baseline study visit, we administered a structured, tablet-based questionnaire to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics, pesticide exposure, and health conditions (eg, respiratory and allergic outcomes and acute pesticide intoxication symptoms) and administered a neurobehavioral test battery (eg, Finger Tapping Test and Purdue Pegboard); we measured blood pressure, anthropometry (height, weight, and waist circumference), and erythrocytic acetylcholinesterase activity and also collected urine samples. In addition, a functional neuroimaging assessment using near-infrared spectroscopy was conducted with a subset of 50 study participants. During the follow-up study visit (~2-4 weeks after the baseline), we administered participants a short questionnaire on recent pesticide exposure and farming practices and collected hair, toenail, and urine samples. Urine samples will be analyzed for various pesticide metabolites, whereas toenails and hair will be analyzed for manganese (Mn), a biomarker of exposure to Mn-containing fungicides. Self-reported pesticide exposure data will be used to develop exposure intensity scores using an exposure algorithm. Furthermore, exposure-outcome associations will be examined using linear and logistic mixed-effects regression models. Results: Fieldwork for our study was conducted between May 2016 and August 2016. In total, 113 farm owners and 187 workers from 9 organic and 83 conventional horticultural smallholder farms were enrolled. Data analyses are ongoing and expected to be published between 2019 and 2020. Conclusions: This study is one of the first to examine differences in health effects due to pesticide exposure between farm owners and workers from organic and conventional smallholder farms in an LMIC. We expect that this study will provide critical data on farming practices, exposure pathways, and how occupational exposure to pesticides may affect farm owners and workers’ health. Finally, we hope that this study will allow us to identify strategies to reduce pesticide exposure in farm owners and workers and will potentially lay the groundwork for a future longitudinal study of health outcomes in farm owners and workers exposed to pesticides.

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