Page 10 - Volume 2, Issue 1, January 2009

© Benaki Phytopathological Institute
Glass and Machera 8
niques that measure DNA damage with e.g.
the COMET assay provide a powerful tool for
measuring effects of exposure, although not
specific, being a response to oxidative stress
(Bhalli et al., 2006; Muniz et al., 2008). Studies
on the cytogenetic effects of pesticide ex-
posure report increases in the frequency of
chromosomal aberrations and/or sister chro-
matid exchanges (Ergene et al., 2007). Bio-
markers of effect have been developed for
detecting early stage effects of neurotox-
ic pesticides picking up delayed neuropa-
thy and neurobehavioural effects of chronic
pesticide exposure (Salvi et al., 2003; Batter-
shill et al. , 2004).
Genetic variation with the human pop-
ulation makes it difficult to be certain about
the dose-response relationship. There has
been a great deal of interest in the role of
P450 enzyme gene polymorphisms, and the
role played by metabolic pathways of tox-
ic compounds such as pesticides (Buratti et
al. , 2007; Wang et al., 2008). Ultimately bio-
markers of effect could be used to predict
and therefore possibly prevent detrimental
health effects and disease associated with
pesticide exposure.
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