AIM: The aims of this study were; to determine incidence of pesticide intoxication among individual who live in homes with farmers and to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and behavior of employees agriculture area about pesticide. METHOD: The study was conducted in six villages in Egirdir and Gelendost districts where the most commonly apple produced and pesticide applied. In addition, the data were collected using the questionnaire prepared to evaluated sociodemographic status, individual pesticide application, information about pesticides. The incidence of pesticide intoxication was determined during the last year. RESULTS: The prevalence of pesticide poisoning was defined as 1.3% in the research group in the past year. Seventy five of poisoning cases were under 15 years. The various symptoms and complaints were seen in 71% of the research group during application or then. Those were determined that personal protective measures were not careful enough, and gloves, masks, special clothing and boots were not worn during spraying, and pesticide application was made more than the recommended dose, and the time required to wait were not followed after application and before harvest. CONCLUSION: Individuals who apply the pesticides should be educated systematically about the recommended dosages, some harmful effects substance to environment, products and to human health, together with protection methods. [TAF Prev Med Bull 2010; 9(6.000): 633-644

Objectives: There is limited data on levels of organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) in humans, but no previous reports from Turkey on chemically determined levels of OPP residues in human milk are present. The aim of this study is to determinate and to report the presence of residues of OPPs, which are frequently used in fruit production in the study area (chlorpyrifos, diazinon, ethion, parathion methyl and dichlorvos) in breast milk. Materials and Methods:In this cross-sectional study, breast milk samples were collected from 100 women living in intense fruit production area (agricultural area, n:50), and resided in provincial center (urban area, n:50), selected by random sampling method. High resolution analyses were performed by a gas chromatography (GC). Results: Dichlorvos residue was detected in breast milk of 17% of study group. The rate of pesticide residue detection was especially high in breast milk of women with a farmer spouse; always/frequently applying pesticides to the plants, actively working in agriculture pesticide preparation and pesticide application (p<0.05). Conclusion: Pesticide residues were detected in breast milk and this showed the necessity of raising consciousness among women living in the study area and near areas of pesticide application about avoiding exposure to pesticides, especially during pregnancy and breast feeding periods. Key words: Pesticide residues, breast milk, organophosphorus Öz Amaç: İnsanlarda organofosfatlı (OPP) pestisitlerin kalıntı seviyeleri ile ilgili sınırlı veri vardır, Türkiye'de de anne sütündeki kalıntı seviyeleri ile ilgili olarak çalışmalar oldukça azdır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, Isparta bölgesinde meyve üretiminde sık kullanılan OPP'lı pestisitlerin (Klorpyrifos, diazinon, etiyon, paratiyon metil ve diklorvos) anne sütünde var olup olmadıklarının tespit edilmesidir. Materyal ve Metot: Bu kesitsel çalışmada, yoğun meyve üretimi yapılan alanda (kırsal alan, n=50) ve şehir merkezinde yaşayan (kentsel alan n=50) rastgele örnekleme yöntemi ile seçilen toplam 100 kadından anne sütü numuneleri alındı. Analizler yüksek çözünürlüklü gaz kromatografi cihazında yapıldı. Bulgular: Çalışma grubunun % 17'sinde diklorvos kalıntıları tespit edildi. Pestisit kalıntılarının tespit düzeyi çiftçi eşlerinde, her zaman/sık pestisit uygulayıcılarında ve pestisitlerin hazırlanmasında aktif rol alanlarda daha yüksekti (p<0,05). Sonuç: Anne sütünde pestisit kalıntıları tespit edilmesi, çalışma alanında ve pestisit uygulamalarının yapıldığı bölgelere yakın alanlarda yaşayan kadınların özellikle hamilelik ve emzirme dönemlerinde maruziyetten kaçınmaları konusunda bilinçlendirilme gerekliliğini göstermiştir.