Risk assessment on pesticides exposure among farmers in the upper Northeast Thailand

Abstract

          This study was a cross sectional descriptive study aimed to investigate the health risk assessment on pesticides exposure among farmers in the upper northeast by using occupational health risk assessment matrix of 3 models. A total of 41 farmers were participate and collected data by the study structure questionnaire. The results showed that farmers were 87.80% male, 12.20 % female, average age was 51 years old, 75.61% of their main occupations were self-plantation crops 73.17%. The top three types of self-protection equipment (PPE) were worn by 87.80% of the population long-sleeved shirts and trousers, 82.93% of the population, rubber gloves and boots 48.78 %. Farmers had symptoms related to pesticide toxicity for 34.15%. Classified by severity, mild symptoms as itchy eyes, headache, dizziness and moderate symptoms included chest pain/tightness, fatigue, and watery eyes. The severe symptoms were heart disease, skin, burns, respectively. From health risk assessment 3 matrix models of exposure to pesticide, it showed that the risk level was acceptable. Field entry exposure pesticide was significantly linearity correlation with prevention behavior (r = 0.83) and quantity use of pesticide and PPE model (r = 0.92) at p-value <0.001. Risk levels from prevention behavior model correlated with the use of pesticides and self-protection with PPE significant (r = 0.85, p <0.001). Therefore, these three health risk matrix can be selected for monitoring and health surveillance program of appropriate farmers’ characteristic and difference risk of pesticides exposure.