Increased Beck Depression Inventory Score among Coffee Growers Pesticide Applicators

Abstract

The extensive use of pesticides has been followed by increasing concerns about their potential acute and chronic effects in general and mental health. Brazil is the greatest pesticides consumer in the world since 2008. Several studies describe the association between the pesticides toxicity and psychiatric disorders, especially depression, but efforts are needed to corroborate these studies. The aim was to map the region studied according to the percentage of people that apply pesticides in the tillage from each rural community included in this study and correlate this data with the percentage of workers with high Beck depression score on that community. A total of 122 male pesticide applicators from seven different cities distributed among thirteen different communities completed the Beck Depression Inventory II. According to the mapping of the region, the percentage of rural workers with high beck score in a given community is significantly correlated with the percentage of pesticide use on that place. This data corroborate many findings that suggest relationship between depressive symptoms and the use of pesticides.

Depression and Pesticide Exposure Among Male Farmers in Greece

“…Our results concerning the chemical groups are difficult to be compared with other studies, because most of them did not report an analysis by chemical group or, even so, provided limited data. Nevertheless, our results were consistent with previous studies per pesticide class as follows: insecticides, 18 herbicides, 14,18,22,27,51,67 fungicides, 18,68 OPs, 16,18,22,68 organochlorines, 18,22 fumigants, 18,22 and pyrethroids. 10,27,68 Our results are quite totally consistent with a nested case-control study in the Agricultural Health Study, 18 which could probably be due to the same methodology used, concerning the division of participants in three pesticide exposure groups (low, intermediate, high) and the measurement of acute pesticide exposure through self-reported diagnosis.…”

Alternative plant protection strategies for tomorrow's coffee

“…Traditional chemical pesticides (i.e., insecticides and fungicides) have been a mainstay of the Green Revolution, and thus commonly deployed in coffee production. With more than 470 licensed products approved for use in Brazil alone (Coelho et al, 2019), these agrochemicals are being used as a primary means of management in the onset of pests and diseases across all agricultural sectors including coffee (Allinne et al, 2016; Bramble, 1989; Conti et al, 2017; Montero Mora et al, 2021; Smith, 2001). Brazil is both the largest global user of pesticides (Conti et al, 2017) and leading producer of coffee (Volsi et al, 2019).…”

“…With more than 470 licensed products approved for use in Brazil alone (Coelho et al, 2019), these agrochemicals are being used as a primary means of management in the onset of pests and diseases across all agricultural sectors including coffee (Allinne et al, 2016; Bramble, 1989; Conti et al, 2017; Montero Mora et al, 2021; Smith, 2001). Brazil is both the largest global user of pesticides (Conti et al, 2017) and leading producer of coffee (Volsi et al, 2019). An overall 190% increase usage in pesticides has been reported in Brazil over the last decade (Conti et al, 2017; McDougall, 2017).…”

“…Brazil is both the largest global user of pesticides (Conti et al, 2017) and leading producer of coffee (Volsi et al, 2019). An overall 190% increase usage in pesticides has been reported in Brazil over the last decade (Conti et al, 2017; McDougall, 2017). Estimates show that production of 1000 kg of green coffee in Brazil requires approximately 10 kg of pesticides (Coltro et al, 2006).…”