Effects of Pesticide Applications on Respiratory Health of Ethiopian Farm Workers

Mekonnen, Yalemtsehay; Agonafir, Tadesse

doi:10.1179/oeh.2002.8.1.35

Cited by 21 publications

(16 citation statements)

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“…Alternatively, the direct effects of the pesticides on the alveolar-capillary membrane via peripheral muscarinic receptors in the airways and nicotinic receptors in respiratory muscles can also be envisaged. Studies in laboratory animals have demonstrated epithelial hyperplasia, thickening of the alveolar capillary membrane, degeneration of alveoli 7,31,32) and neuromuscular changes in respiratory muscles 33) leading to impairment of lung function following exposure to OP aerosols.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chronic Exposures to Cholinesterase‐inhibiting Pesticides Adversely Affect Respiratory Health of Agricultural Workers in India

Chakraborty

Mukherjee

Roychoudhury

et al. 2009

Journal of Occupational Health

111

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Chronic Exposures to Cholinesteraseinhibiting Pesticides Adversely Affect RespiratoryHealth of Agricultural Workers in India: Sreeparna CHAKRABORTY, et al. Department of Experimental Hematology, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, India-Objective: The impact of long term exposure to cholinesterase (ChE)-inhibiting organophosphate (OP) and carbamate (C) pesticides on the respiratory health of agricultural workers in India was investigated. Methods: Three hundred and seventy-six nonsmoking agricultural workers (median age 41 yr) from eastern India who sprayed OP and C pesticides in the field and 348 age-and sex-matched control subjects with non-agricultural occupations from the same locality were enrolled. Prevalence of respiratory symptoms was obtained by questionnaire survey, and pulmonary function tests were carried out by spirometry. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was diagnosed by the Global Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) criteria, and erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was measured by the Ellman method. Results: Agricultural workers had greater prevalences of upper and lower respiratory symptoms, and appreciable reduction in spirometric measurements. Overall, lung function reduction was noted in 48.9% of agricultural workers compared with 22.7% of control, and a restrictive type of deficit was predominant. COPD was diagnosed in 10.9% of agricultural workers compared with 3.4% of controls (p<0.05 in χ 2 test), and the severity of the disease was greater in agricultural workers. Red blood cell (RBC) AChE was lowered by 34.2% in agricultural workers, and the fall in AChE level was positively associated with respiratory symptoms, lung function decrement and COPD after controlling for education and income as potential confounders. Conclusions: Long-term exposure to cholinesteraseinhibiting agricultural pesticides currently in use in India is associated with a reduction in lung function, COPD and a rise in respiratory symptoms. (J Occup Health 2009; 51: 488-497)

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chronic Exposures to Cholinesterase‐inhibiting Pesticides Adversely Affect Respiratory Health of Agricultural Workers in India

Chakraborty

Mukherjee

Roychoudhury

et al. 2009

Journal of Occupational Health

111

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“…13 While spraying the pesticide, the use of personal protective devices (PPDs) could reduce its direct contact with the skin and inhalation of pesticides, thereby potentially reducing the acute and chronic health hazards to the sprayers. 11 Only 44.5% (78/175) of the farmers have been wearing appropriate PPDs such as safety shoes, respirator, gloves, goggles, and hat. However, it has been reported that nearly 22.2% (39/175) of them have never worn any PPDs and 33.1% (58/175) have been applying the pesticides with their usual wear.…”

Section: Commentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Knowledge and Practices of Farmers With Reference to Pesticide Management: Implications on Human Health

Karunamoorthi

Mohammed

Wassie

2012

Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health

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A study was conducted to assess the knowledge and practices of Ethiopian farmers about pesticide management: implications for human health. A pretested standardized questionnaire was administered. The results revealed that the great majority 174 (99.4%) farmers had ample awareness about pesticide impact on human health. However, various hazardous practices have also been documented. One hundred thirty-five (77.2%) farmers make use of the empty pesticide containers for various household purposes. The most frequent self-reported toxicity symptoms associated with pesticide use were headache (58.8%), salivation and vomiting (38.2%), nausea (36.5%), and sneezing (12.5%). Chi-square analysis revealed a strong association between the farmer's educational status and reported toxicity symptoms (p = .0001; χ(2) = 498.2; df = 30). Creating awareness about safe usage of pesticide is extremely vital by special orientation programs. Besides, promoting alternative pest control strategies such as use of biopesticides and integrated pest management (IPM) could be productive.

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“…Two of them have shown that exposure to low levels of OP insecticides led to airway narrowing and decreased expiratory flow rate and volumes in sprayers showing decreased acetylcholinesterase (AChE) levels (Kesavachandran et al, 2006;Peiris-John et al, 2005). A higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms supported by reduced lung function test has been associated with occupational exposure to pesticides (Kossman et al, 1997;Bener et al, 1999;Mekonnen & Agonafir, 2002 and household exposure to insecticide sprays (Newton & Breslin, 1983). By contrast, contradictory studies showing no adverse lung effects after long-term spraying of either paraquat (Senanayake et al, 1993) or OPs (Ngowi et al, 2001) have also been reported.…”

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confidence: 96%

Low Level of Exposure to Pesticides Leads to Lung Dysfunction in Occupationally Exposed Subjects

Hernández

Casado²,

Pena

et al. 2008

Inhalation Toxicology

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Pesticides may contribute to adverse respiratory health effects among farmers and have been considered one causal factor for the rise in asthma prevalence. This cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate potential respiratory function abnormalities following long-term pesticide exposure by means of a complete pulmonary function testing, including spirometry, lung volumes, and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide. The study population was comprised by workers from a prominent intensive agriculture area of southern Spain that relied on pesticides for the control of plagues. Eighty-nine pesticide sprayers of plastic greenhouse farming and a control group of 25 nonspraying control farmers from the same area were interviewed by a general practitioner asking about sociodemographic factors, occupational exposure, and clinical symptoms by using a structured questionnaire. Multiple regression analyses showed a relationship of short-term exposure to pesticides (as indicated by a drop in serum cholinesterase >25% of baseline levels) with reduced forced expired volume in 1 s, and of long-term exposure (as indicated by a cumulative pesticide exposure index) with reduced forced expiratory flow rate. Exposure to bipyridilium-class herbicides was a determinant of a fall in the diffusing capacity of the lungs, and neonicotinoid insecticides showed a relationship with lower pulmonary volumes (total lung capacity, residual volume, and functional residual capacity), suggestive of restrictive lung disease, and with an increased risk of reporting irritative symptoms.

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Effects of Pesticide Applications on Respiratory Health of Ethiopian Farm Workers

Cited by 21 publications

References 0 publications

Chronic Exposures to Cholinesterase‐inhibiting Pesticides Adversely Affect Respiratory Health of Agricultural Workers in India

Chronic Exposures to Cholinesterase‐inhibiting Pesticides Adversely Affect Respiratory Health of Agricultural Workers in India

Knowledge and Practices of Farmers With Reference to Pesticide Management: Implications on Human Health

Low Level of Exposure to Pesticides Leads to Lung Dysfunction in Occupationally Exposed Subjects

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