Pilot study on agricultural pesticide poisoning in Burkina Faso

Abstract

Epidemiologic data related to agricultural pesticide poisoning cases in Burkina Faso were collected. The study was carried out using retrospective (from January 2002 to June 2010) surveys conducted among farmers and healthcare centers. One hundred and fifty-three (153) pest control products were recorded during the survey and 56 active ingredients were identified. Out of the 153 pest control products, 49 (i.e. 32%) were authorized for sale in Burkina Faso. The main risk factors are socio-demographic characteristics of farmers, their low education level, and some attitudes and practices on using agricultural pesticides. Pesticide poisonings are relatively frequent and their management was not always efficacious. Actions are needed to reduce pesticide poisoning as a global public health problem and to improve management of pesticide poisoning. To this purpose, advanced investigations should be carried out over a longer period of time to complement the present pilot study.

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“…World Bank (2006) reports that in Bangladesh, 87% of farmers use incomplete protection measures during the handling of pesticides which with this study. The same reports were made in Burkina -Faso by Toe et al (2013) who asserts that very few farmers (0.93%) possess complete protection equipment. In Zimbabwe, even though Magauzi (2011) confirms that the PPE used were never complete, 71% of the surveyed farmers, nevertheless, said they received at least a PPE (overalls, boots, gloves, masks, hats or glasses) from local technical support structures.…”

Effect of sorghum seed treatment in Burkina Faso varies with baseline crop performance and geographical location

“…1) are both located on a geographical line running East-West in Burkina Faso, approximately 30 Km south of the capital Ouagadougou; whereas most of the other villages, of which several showed over all negative results (Bani, You, Kindi, Zorgho), are located north of this line. Since the effect of E. alba extract in both villages (Diapangou and Ipendo) appeared to be positive and robust (20-40% yield increase, 17 and 24 field tests respectively, Fig.1), it could make sense to focus solely on the plant extract since the pesticide, Calthio C, is toxic to humans (Cereser et al, 2001;Pino et al, 2015) and protective measures for farmers using this agent in Burkina Faso are insufficient (Toe et al, 2013). In addition, the plant, E. alba, can easily be found near the two villages Diapangou and Ipendo (Zida et al, unpublished results).…”

Poverty and Environmental Degradation in Southern Burkina Faso: An Assessment Based on Participatory Methods

“…A report from the district veterinary officer indicated that the cattle had been poisoned by eating fodder from a field that had been treated by herbicides used in cotton cultivation. Other studies in Burkina Faso identify similar cases in which cotton treatment resulted in agricultural poisoning that affected not only livestock but also human life [43,44]. …”

“…The term pesticide covers a wide range of compounds including insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, etc. A pilot study in Burkina Faso on agricultural pesticide poisoning indicates its effect on the environment, livestock and human health [44]. This study employs both a continuous variable of cotton produced (in kg) and a categorical variable for presence or absence of cotton cultivation at the farm level.…”