Genetic Polymorphisms and Pesticide Exposure-Related Health Manifestations Among Grape Farmers in Maharashtra, India

Background Occupational exposure to pesticides has been associated with a range of adverse health outcomes among agricultural workers. Genetic polymorphisms in detoxification and DNA repair pathway genes may influence individual susceptibility to these effects. Grape farmers in southwestern Maharashtra, India, represent a high-risk occupational group facing routine and intensive pesticide exposure throughout the cultivation season, yet molecular epidemiological data from this population remain limited. Methods A cross-sectional exploratory study was conducted among 204 pesticide-exposed grape farmers from Sangli and nearby districts of southwestern Maharashtra, India. Demographic characteristics, exposure patterns, and self-reported symptoms experienced following pesticide exposure were recorded using a structured questionnaire. Oxidative stress markers, including malondialdehyde (MDA) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), were measured as secondary biological indicators. Genotyping of paraoxonase 1 (PON1) polymorphisms (Q192R, L55M), apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1), and X-ray repair cross-complementing proteins (XRCC1, XRCC2, and XRCC3) was performed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Associations between genotypes, exposure-related parameters, and self-reported symptoms were evaluated using chi-square tests and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results The majority of participants were male, 177 (86.8%), with most falling in the 31-50 year age group, 110 (53.9%). A total of 170 (83.3%) reported daily exposure of ≥6 hours, and none reported use of personal protective equipment. The mean MDA was 5.24 ± 2.02 µmol/L, and the mean FRAP was 443.39 ± 250.90 µmol/L. Overall, 80 (39%) participants reported at least one symptom following pesticide exposure. Prolonged daily exposure (≥6 hours) was significantly associated with increased odds of symptom experience (OR = 3.5; 95% CI: 1.38-8.9; p = 0.006). PON1 L55M heterozygosity showed a borderline significant association with increased likelihood of self-reported reactions (OR = 1.79; 95% CI: 0.99-3.2; p = 0.049). The XRCC1 rs25487 variant genotype was inversely associated with symptom experience (OR = 0.25; 95% CI: 0.07-0.92; p = 0.034), though this finding requires cautious interpretation given the low variant cell count. Conclusion Prolonged daily pesticide exposure was independently associated with increased likelihood of self-reported health reactions. The borderline association of PON1 L55M and the exploratory finding for XRCC1 rs25487 represent preliminary signals requiring confirmation in larger studies with objective exposure assessment and validated clinical outcomes.