Chronic pesticide mixture exposure including paraquat and respiratory outcomes among Colombian farmers

Abstract

This study explored the potential association between chronic exposure to pesticide mixtures including paraquat and respiratory outcomes among Colombian farmers. Sociodemographic and occupational data, respiratory symptoms and spirometric data were collected. Paraquat in spot urine samples were quantified with solid-phase extraction high-performance liquid chromatography. Multiple Poisson regressions with robust variance were used to determine factors associated with respiratory outcomes. Profiles of pesticide mixtures used were identified among 217 farmworkers, but profenofos and methamidophos-based mixtures were more frequent. Chronic paraquat exposure was slightly associated with self-reported asthma (PR: 1.06; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.13). Different pesticide mixtures were associated with flu, thoracic pain, allergic rhinitis, and obstructive pattern in spirometry. Although acute exposure to paraquat is low among Colombian farmers participating in the study, associations between respiratory outcomes and chronic pesticide mixtures exposure including profenofos, methamidophos or glyphosate require further specific studies.

Insecticide Exposure and Risk of Asthmatic Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…In addition, a cross-sectional study by Arroyo et al (2018) [24] found that exposure to pesticides in the last 12 months was associated with asthma (OR = 1.55, 95%CI: 1.10-2.18). With regard to any association between herbicides and asthma, a study by Diaz-Criollo et al (2020) [16] showed that paraquat was associated with self-reported asthma with a prevalence rate of 1.06 (1.00-1.13). A study of Cha et al (2012) [25] also found the association between paraquat application and adverse respiratory health effects among farmers.…”

“…The inhalation of insecticides can cause serious damage to the nose, the throat, and lung tissues, causing inflammation of the airways and frequently leading to chronic respiratory disease [ 15 ]. According to previous studies, occupational exposure to insecticides is associated with an increased risk of the respiratory symptoms common in asthma and chronic bronchitis [ 16 ]. However, some studies have not found any association between insecticide exposure and asthma [ 17 ].…”

Health Symptoms Related to Pesticide Use in Farmers and Laborers of Ecological and Conventional Banana Plantations in Ecuador

“…Among the active substances there are also products that are already banned or soon to be banned in the European Union. An example is paraquat (Gramoxon©), mentioned by pesticide users in existing studies [38] and banned in the EU since 2007 [39].…”

Environmental exposures contribute to respiratory and allergic symptoms among women living in the banana growing regions of Costa Rica

“…Our cohort had a similar prevalence of rhinitis (9%) to a recent study in Colombia, which had a rhinitis prevalence of 10% and observed an increased risk for rhinitis in adults exposed to mixtures of paraquat, profenofos and glyphosate. 38 Similarly, a study of grape farmers in Greece had a higher prevalence of allergic rhinitis (37%) and found positive associations between use of some pesticides and allergic rhinitis. Consistent with our findings, this study did not find evidence of an association between OPs and rhinitis.…”