Pesticides are globally used to eliminate pests from crops and plants. The increased use of pesticides has posed a serious threat to human health. This study evaluates the effects of pesticide exposure on pregnancy outcomes in tea garden workers (TGW). The acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was measured in the maternal blood, placenta, and cord blood of TGW and housewives (HWs). The placental structure and expression of hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF)‐1α were also analyzed in TGW and HW groups delivering low birth weight (LBW) and normal birth weight (NBW) babies. A significantly decreased AChE activity was observed in maternal blood and cord blood in TGW as compared with HW in the LBW group. However, it did not change significantly in the NBW group (p < .05). The adjusted regression analysis of birth outcomes (birth weight, head circumference, infant's length, and ponderal index) revealed a significant and positive association with the levels of AChE activity in maternal blood, placenta, and cord blood in TGW (p < .05). The histological analysis showed significantly higher placental syncytial knots, chorangiosis, fibrinoid deposition, necrosis, and stromal fibrosis in the LBW group of TGW. Microinfarction, increased fibrinoid deposition, and atypical villi characteristics, such as mushroom‐like structures, were observed during scanning electron microscopy along with increased HIF‐1α expression in placental tissues of TGW exposed to pesticides. Results suggest that occupational pesticide exposure during pregnancy may decrease AChE activity and cause in utero pathological changes accompanied by an increased HIF‐1α expression, which also contributes to placental insufficiency and fetal growth restriction.

中文翻译：

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女茶园工人的职业性农药接触和不利的分娩结果

农药在全球范围内用于消除作物和植物中的有害生物。农药使用量的增加对人类健康构成了严重威胁。这项研究评估了农药暴露对茶园工人（TGW）妊娠结局的影响。在TGW和家庭主妇（HWs）的母血，胎盘和脐带血中测量乙酰胆碱酯酶（AChE）活性。在TGW和HW组中，分析了低出生体重（LBW）和正常出生体重（NBW）婴儿的胎盘结构和缺氧诱导因子（HIF）-1α的表达。与LBW组的HW相比，TGW的母血和脐带血中的AChE活性显着降低。但是，在NBW组中，其变化不明显（p <.05）。校正后的出生结局（出生体重，头围，婴儿身长和子宫指数）的回归分析显示，TGW中母体血液，胎盘和脐带血中AChE活性水平显着正相关（p <.05）。组织学分析显示，TGW的LBW组胎盘合胞体结节，胆囊病，纤维蛋白样沉积，坏死和间质纤维化明显增高。在扫描电子显微镜下观察到微梗塞，纤维蛋白样沉积增加和非典型绒毛特征，例如蘑菇状结构，以及暴露于农药的TGW胎盘组织中HIF-1α表达增加。结果表明，在怀孕期间职业性接触农药可能会降低AChE活性并引起子宫内病理变化，并伴有HIF-1α表达增加，这也有助于胎盘供血不足和胎儿生长受限。