Dano hepático, renal e pancreático associado à exposição crônica via inalatória e via oral ao ácido diclorofenóxiacético (2,4-D)

Abstract

Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) is one of the most widely used herbicides in the world. Some studies show hepatic and renal changes in animals associated with short-term exposure to 2,4-D. Objective: To evaluate the possible toxic effect of chronic exposure of 2,4-D herbicide to liver, kidney and pancreas. Material and methods: Eighty male albino Wistar rats were divided into eight groups (n = 10): I0: nebulization with distilled water; O0: nebulized feed with distilled water; I3: nebulization with 3.71 x 10-3 grams of active ingredient per hectare (g.a.i. / ha) of 2,4-D; O3: nebulized feed with 3.71 x 10-3 g.a.i./ha of 2,4-D; I6: nebulization with 6.19 x 10-3 g.a.i./ha; O6: nebulized feed with 6.19 x 10-3 g.a.i. /ha of 2,4-D; I9: nebulization with 9.28 x 10-3 g.a.i. /ha of 2,4-D; O9: nebulized feed with 9.28 x 10-3 g.a.i. /ha of 2,4-D. The animals were exposed for 6 months. Blood samples were collected to evaluate liver and renal function, and liver, kidney, spleen and pancreas for histopathological analysis. Results: There was a significant difference in ALT (alanine aminotransferase) between groups (p = 0.002). The groups exposed to oral 2,4-D had a higher incidence of steatosis and the groups exposed to high doses had more hepatic inflammation (p = 0.001). All animals in group I9 and O9 presented tubular hydropic degeneration (p =0.0001). 42.4% of the animals exposed to 2,4-D showed atrophy of the Langerhans islets (p =0.006). Conclusion: The simulation of the chronic environmental exposure to the herbicide 2,4-D, by oral or inhalation route, resulted in histopathological alterations in liver, kidney and pancreas.