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Impacts of Pesticide Exposure on Paddy Farmers’ Health

Shubhra Bhattacharjee
Department of Environmental Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Bangladesh

M. A. Z. Chowdhury
Agrochemical and Environmental Research Division, Institute of Food and Radiation Biology, Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Savar, Dhaka

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Effects of pesticide exposure on farmer’s health are conducted mostly in developed countries, which is rare in least developed countries like Bangladesh. Here farmers had less guidance and instruction about the preventive measures to protect themselves and environment. This work was studied to assess the impacts of pesticide exposure on the paddy farmer’s health in two different Upazilas of Manikganj, Bangladesh. The study was conducted as cross-sectional study with quantitative and qualitative components. Five hundred eighty two farmers (368 sprayers and 214 non-sprayers) were interviewed. Chi-squared tests and multinomial logistic regression analysis were performed for statistical analysis. Three hundred sixty eight farmers (64.3%) sprayed pesticides and were directly exposed to chemicals. Among them 64.22% and 9.06%, farmers used moderately and highly hazardous pesticides, respectively. 257 farmers (69.8%) were not taken any protective measures to handle pesticides. Excessive sweating, burning eyes and fatigue were reported by 26.3%, 24.4% and 18.8% of the farmers, respectively. These types of symptoms were significantly associated among male farmers. The study reveals that due to lack of awareness, occupational exposures of pesticides among farmers are common in Bangladesh and it also emphasize the importance of use of personal protective equipment.

Keywords: Paddy farmer; Bangladesh; Pesticide exposure; Health

Location: Ghior and Manikganj Sadar upazila

Start Date: 00-11-2009

End Date: 00-06-2010

Program Area: Pest Management

Commodity: Pesticide

Objectives:

To document the impact of indiscriminate use of pesticides on the farmer’s health in Manikganj district of Bangladesh.

Methodology:

The study was conducted at Ghior and Manikganj Sadar upazila. Kaliganga River is passed through these upazilas. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 572 farmers of paddy fields of two upazilas of Manikganj district of Bangladesh. The present study was conducted from November 2009 to June 2010. Manikganj district is one of the major rice producing districts of this country. Inclusion criteria was set because of directly handling pesticide (i.e. spraying, mixing, disposal of pesticide and weeding) and worked in same manners for at least six months. Farmers who had severe illness (requiring treatment in the last 30 days) were excluded from the present study. The farmers were informed about the purpose of the study and a verbal consent was taken before interview. The questionnaire was consisted of four pages with 38 items. All items were rephrased as statements in either a five point scale (completely true or false) and (always or never) or a dichotomous statement (yes-no). The key dependent variable of the present study was illness related with pesticide exposure. Independent variables included in the initial analyses were socio-demographic factors, knowledge about pesticide, the commonly used pesticides, attitude related with handling harmful insecticides, sign and symptom of illness related with pesticide exposure and access to health education and health counseling. Signs and symptoms about diseases were self-reported by farmers. Specific instructions of medical officer of Manikganj Modernized Sadar Hospital were followed regarding to collection of data. Pesticide related information was collected from local pesticide retailers and farmers. All analyses were done using SPSS 16.0 (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences). Univariable analyses were based on Chi-squared tests for trend. The multivariable analyses were done using multinomial logistic regression analysis. The accepted level of significance 0.05 was considered for confidence interval.

Source of Information: Jahangirnagar University Environmental Bulletin, Vol.2, 18-25, 2013

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Occupational pesticide exposure is common among the farmers of the paddy fields. The present study showed that hazardous chemicals were applied in Bangladesh without taken any protective measures by farmers. Due to inadequate knowledge about the pesticide handling, farmers were experienced acute pesticide poisoning. Use of personal protective equipment and integrated pest management are possible solutions to mitigate the present situation.

Knowledge Management: Journal