Genomic Signatures for Pesticide Exposure in Latino Farmworkers

We tested the hypothesis that differential gene expression in whole blood will reveal candidate blood biomarkers for exposure to agricultural pesticides and herbicides. Blood gene expression in male Latino farmworkers, where chronic pesticide exposure is occupational, was compared to blood gene expression in age and gender matched Latino manual workers. We identified an expression signature for farmwork, differential expression in genes that correlated with levels of urinary pesticide metabolites, alterations in axonal guidance pathways and statistical models that link farmworker differential expression to Parkinson's disease. Case control, 20 male Latino farmworkers compared to 20 age matched male Latino manual workers.