Pesticide exposure in the local community of Vehari District in Pakistan: An assessment of knowledge and residues in human blood

Saeed, Muhammad Farhan; Shaheen, Mussarat; Ahmad, Iftikhar; Zakir, Ali; Nadeem, Muhammad; Chishti, Arif Ali; Shahid, Muhammad; Bakhsh, Khuda; Damalas, Christos A.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.02.086

Cited by 77 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…The results provide strong empirical support for the hypothesis that knowledge of pesticides and beliefs related to pesticide hazard control are closely associated with safety performance. They generally confirm the conclusions of numerous previous studies [ 13 , 15 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ] on the positive association of training with farmers’ attitudes to pesticide use. The novelty of the current study lies in the fact that, using original items (in terms of frequency of use in previous publications), it examines together and relates knowledge, beliefs, safety behavior in pesticide use, suggesting that both knowledge and beliefs are important components in shaping safety behaviors.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…Farmers’ knowledge of pesticides and safety behaviors in daily practice is important for providing valuable information that can contribute to educational and policy recommendations aimed at preventing or reducing health and environmental hazards associated with pesticides. It has been reported that poor knowledge regarding pesticide risks and handling among inhabitants of the Vehari District in Pakistan contributed to high exposure levels to organochlorine pesticides, particularly among farm workers [ 22 ]. As all stages in the use of pesticides on farms could generate risks for the operator and the environment, a basic recommendation is to promote training for pesticide users and adoption of good agronomic practices to improve sustainable use of pesticides [ 28 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Farmers’ Training on Pesticide Use Is Associated with Elevated Safety Behavior

Damalas

Koutroubas

2017

Toxics

112

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Occupational exposure to pesticides in agricultural applications may cause acute and long-term health effects to farmers, and thus research on factors that reduce exposure is useful. However, studies on the relevance and effectiveness of training are limited. The association of previous training in the form of intensive seminars relating to pesticide use (e.g., use of spraying equipment, application parameters, use of personal protective equipment, risks to human health and the environment) with farmers’ knowledge and behavior in pesticide use was studied via the self-reporting method in a purposive sample of 82 trained and non-trained farmers. Most trained farmers showed higher levels of knowledge of pesticide use, higher levels of beliefs in pesticide hazard control, and higher levels of safety behavior than non-trained farmers. Knowledge of pesticide use and beliefs regarding pesticide hazard control were significantly correlated with safety behavior in both groups of farmers. Concerning farmers’ beliefs regarding pesticide hazard control, trained farmers were more likely to think that safety precautions work very well and less likely to feel they had little control over avoiding pesticide hazards. Overall, previous training was associated with increased levels of farmers’ knowledge of pesticides and beliefs about pesticide hazard control, was accompanied by elevated safety behavior in farmers, and thus was connected with lower occupational exposure to pesticides. Interventions that facilitate knowledge and compliance with safety behaviors should become a priority for decreasing exposure to pesticides among farmers.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Farmers’ Training on Pesticide Use Is Associated with Elevated Safety Behavior

Damalas

Koutroubas

2017

Toxics

112

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“…This trend fully agrees with findings of a previous study, where awareness of pesticides high toxic potential tended to discourage overuse [36]. On the other hand, poor understanding of pesticide hazards among inhabitants and farm workers has been reported to imply high exposure potential to organochlorine pesticides [40]. Moreover, low competence in proper handling practices, farmers' reliance on pesticides, and limited opportunities to pesticide training were linked with high pesticide exposure risk levels [41].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Drivers of Personal Safety in Agriculture: A Case Study with Pesticide Operators

2019

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Agriculture is a hazardous occupational industry for farmers and farm workers; therefore, decisions to improve safety in the working place require understanding behavior of farmers and farm workers and factors affecting it. This study examined factors influencing perceived importance of personal safety and safe behavior of farmers in terms of personal protective equipment (PPE) use in pesticide spraying. Data were collected from a previous survey of farmers in rural areas of northern Greece. Over half of the farmers (55.4%) perceived low importance of personal safety in pesticide spraying. Perceived importance of personal safety increased in young farmers, with high education level, and large land area as well as with high perception of risk, knowledge of pesticide toxicity, seminar in pesticide use, access to internet, and perceived usefulness of PPE. Most farmers showed unsafe behavior in PPE use in terms of using long-sleeved shirt, long pants, chemical resistant gloves, socks, and shoes (58.9%). Farmers perceived low risk of pesticides (65.2%), despite the fact that two out of three farmers (66.1%) perceived high usefulness of PPE. Safe behavior in pesticide use increased in young farmers, with high education level, and small land area as well as with high perception of risk, knowledge of pesticide toxicity, seminar in pesticide use, access to internet, and perceived usefulness of PPE. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that knowledge of pesticide toxicity, education, age, and farm size were significant predictors of perceived importance of personal safety. In addition, self-confidence in spraying, following colleagues’ behaviors, risk perception, knowledge of pesticide toxicity, and farm size were significant predictors of safe behavior in terms of PPE use during pesticide spraying. Findings highlight differences in how farmers perceive personal safety and how they finally respond in daily action with respect to personal safety measures. Perception of risk, knowledge of pesticide toxicity, and farm size were common significant predictors for both variables. Lifelong education targeting promotion of knowledge about pesticide risks among farmers should be always a priority.

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“…Exposure to pesticides poses one of the most important occupational risks to farmers in countries in the Global South (e.g., [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]), being associated with a wide range of symptoms and disorders including respiratory problems, metabolic disorders, neurodegenerative diseases or cancer (e.g., [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]) aside from several biomarker changes (e.g., [ 10 , 11 , 12 ]). Identification of the hazards of pesticide use and the establishment of safe methods of pesticide handling is a challenge for occupational health and safety (see [ 13 ] for regulations or [ 14 ] for safety training).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Subjective Symptoms of Male Workers Linked to Occupational Pesticide Exposure on Coffee Plantations in the Jarabacoa Region, Dominican Republic

Hutter

Kundi

Lemmerer

et al. 2018

IJERPH

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Acute and sub-acute effects of pesticide use in coffee farmers have rarely been investigated. In the present field study, self-reported health symptoms from 38 male pesticide users were compared to those of 33 organic farmers. Results of cytological findings have been reported in an accompanying paper in this issue. The present second part of the study comprises a questionnaire based survey for various, potentially pesticide related symptoms among the coffee farmers. Symptom rates were generally higher in exposed workers, reaching significance in nine out of 19 assessed symptoms. Significantly increased symptom frequencies were related to neurotoxicity, parasympathic effects and acetylcholine esterase inhibition, with the highest differences found for excessive salivation, dizziness and stomach ache. We revealed a lack of precautionary measures in the majority of farmers. Better education, regulations, and safety equipment are urgently needed.

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Pesticide exposure in the local community of Vehari District in Pakistan: An assessment of knowledge and residues in human blood

Cited by 77 publications

References 47 publications

Farmers’ Training on Pesticide Use Is Associated with Elevated Safety Behavior

Farmers’ Training on Pesticide Use Is Associated with Elevated Safety Behavior

Drivers of Personal Safety in Agriculture: A Case Study with Pesticide Operators

Subjective Symptoms of Male Workers Linked to Occupational Pesticide Exposure on Coffee Plantations in the Jarabacoa Region, Dominican Republic

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