Pesticide application and health hazards: implications for farmers and the environment
This study investigated unsafe work practices, health hazards, and the association between pesticide residues with environmental problems in six communities in the largest vegetable producing province in the Philippines. Tools used were a structured questionnaire encompassing the work exposure assessment of 542 farmers engaged in vegetable production. The majority of the farmers were pyrethroid users, followed by users of organophosphate and then carbamate. The risk factors noted in the study were use of incomplete personal protective equipment, wiping sweat with a piece of residue-contaminated fabric, re-entering recently sprayed area, dermal contact with spills from leakage of backpack sprayers, and other spills while mixing pesticides. Organophosphate use was significantly associated with the symptom of skin itchiness (r = 0.74). The study showed that farmers used unsafe work practices and were exposed to health hazards related to pesticide use. Pesticide use should be governed by standards for occupational exposure and environmental health.
Keywords: Carbamate; Environmental hazards; Farmers; Organochlorine; Organophosphate; Pesticide residue; Pyrethroid
Document Type: Research Article
Affiliations: 1: National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines 1100 2: Internal Medicine Department, The Medical City, Philippines
Publication date: 01 April 2011
- Editorial Board
- Information for Authors
- Subscribe to this Title
- Ingenta Connect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites
- Access Key
- Free content
- Partial Free content
- New content
- Open access content
- Partial Open access content
- Subscribed content
- Partial Subscribed content
- Free trial content