Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2025

Author Spotlight: A New and Efficient Method for Comprehensive Metabolite Cytotoxicity Assessment of Triazole Pesticides in Plants
Published on: December 22, 2023
Crossfire of Contamination: Pesticide Exposure and Metabolic Health Risks Among Highland Farmers
Vivien How1, Noor Hafizah Binti Mohamed Rosli, Farah Izzati Binti Fakrullah
1From the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia (V.H., N.H.b.M.R., F.I.b.F., R.A., H.Y.B.); and Department of Toxicology, Advanced Medical and Dental Insitute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kepala Batas, Penang, Malaysia (M.N.b.M.).
Objectives:
This study assesses pesticide exposure's impact on highland farmers' metabolic health in Malaysia, comparing conventional and organic farmers to evaluate long-term health risks.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study analyzed blood acetylcholinesterase (AChE) levels and metabolic indicators in 47 conventional and 15 organic farmers via interviews and blood samples.
Results:
Conventional farmers had significantly lower AChE activity ( P = 0.037) and higher urea levels ( P = 0.049), suggesting greater pesticide exposure and potential kidney function impairment. No significant differences were observed in blood glucose, uric acid, cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase, or alanine aminotransferase levels. Regression analysis linked higher pesticide health risks to lower AChE activity ( P < 0.001) and increased metabolic risks.
Conclusions:
Conventional farmers face greater pesticide-related health risks. While organic farming may offer some benefits, differences in metabolic markers were limited to AChE activity and urea levels.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Types of Toxins
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
Overview of Metabolism
Plant Metabolism
Sunlight, the primary source of energy in plants, is first absorbed by the chlorophyll pigments present in their leaves. Plants then use this energy to carry out photosynthesis, where water is oxidized into oxygen and carbon dioxide...
Hypothesis: Accept or Fail to Reject?
There are two ways to indicate that the null hypothesis is not rejected. 'Accept' the null...

