# Infectious Diseases Associated with Exposure to Pollutants in a Local Population from Mexico
## 1 Introduction  
Ecosystems undergo changes due to habitat loss, introduction of invasive species, presence of pathogens, accumulation of persistent pollutants, climate change, and other factors [1, 2]. Continuous exposure to pollutants can lead to abnormalities in cell replication, which organisms typically resolve under normal conditions [3]. Different biomarkers have been reported, such as biometrics, histochemical, biochemical assays (catalase activity, glutathione reductase activity, glutathione peroxidase, cholinesterase activity, lactate dehydrogenase activity, and alanine aminotransferase) and genotoxic are tools that determinetoxic damage in invertebrate organisms (mollunks) and aquatic vertebrates (fish) caused by organic and inorganic contaminants [4].  
The well-being of the human population exposed to various contaminants resulting from anthropogenic activities has become a growing concern in recent years. Contaminants like organochlorine compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and heavy metals adversely affect the immune response, rendering individuals more susceptible to infectious diseases [5; 6; 7]. In this sense, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) have immunotoxic effects, causing thymus atrophy, impacting the immune response, and having carcinogenic properties alongside PAHs [6].  
Agriculture plays a significant role in Mexico, contributing 2.3% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) [8]. Acatzingo, Puebla, Mexico, located in the southwest, has a population of 63,743 thousand inhabitants, with 30.48% engaged in agriculture, primarily focusing on prickly pear crops, nopalitos, grain corn, beans, pumpkin, carrot, green tomato, lettuce, cabbage, and broccoli [9; 10; 11]. Agricultural fields in this area are impacted by the excessive use of pesticides and hydrocarbon spills, as pipelines transporting gasoline, diesel, crude oil, and fuel oil run beneath the producers' plots [12].  
Commonly used pesticides by the region's producers include organophosphates such as chlorpyrifos, chlorpyrifos ethyl, and malathion; carbamates like methyl and oxamyl; pyrethroids (lambda cyanolothrin); and imides (imidazolprid). These belong to toxicological categories 1b, II, III, and IV, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) [13; 14].  
Reported hydrocarbon spills from the Acatzingo area amounted to 110.16 billion barrels in agricultural soils during the 2018-2021 period [15]. Continuous exposure to diverse contaminants (heavy metals, metalloids, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyl, among others) present in contaminated soils increases the risk of absorption by plants, animals, and humans [16]. Elevated levels of these contaminants can trigger infectious processes. Direct and indirect contact with soil contaminants can damage cell membranes, allowing toxic compounds to enter, triggering an immune system response, and inflammation in response to pathogens [6; 17].  
Identifying risk factors for developing infectious processes is crucial, especially given that 9.8% (95% CI = 9.0, 10.8) of the Mexican population over 20 years of age is obese or overweight. Additionally, many individuals suffer from chronic degenerative diseases such as diabetes mellitus (12.2%; 95% CI = 11.4, 13.2) and high blood pressure (9.1%; 95% CI = 8.3, 10.0), which compromise their health [18]. Hence, increasing evidence suggests that environmental exposure should be considered a potential risk factor. In this study, we evaluated the probability of developing an infectious disease associated with environmental contamination (pesticides and hydrocarbons) in various areas of the municipality of Acatzingo, Puebla, Mexico.