The agricultural health surveillance of chilli farmers exposure to pesticide : a case study of agricultural area, Hua-Rua sub-district, Muang District, Ubonratchathani Province, Thailand

Abstract

Health surveillance of chilli farmers in Hua-rua sub-district, Muang district, Ubonratchathani province, Thailand was conducted during March to April, 2012. There were 40 chilli farmers and 40 non-chilli farmers getting involved in this study.Most participated chilli farmers were male. The average age was 40.95 (±6.11) years old and average body mass index (BMI) was 23.18 (±4.48). Male and female was equally in the non-chilli farmers group. The average age and BMI were 38.15 (±11.28) years old and 23.01 (±4.21) respectively. From interview using the face to face questionaire, most chilli farmers usually wore personal protective equipments and had health effects related to central nervous system, such as irritability and memory problem. Organophosphate pesticides (chlorpyrifos and profenofos) residue was mostly found on their body, face, and hand, respectively. On the other hand, the residue on feet was not detected. Pesticides were detected in all air samples using personal air sampling technique. Residue on dermal was not associated with inhalation (Spearman’s rho =0.155; p>0.05). The average daily dose (ADD) was calculated by the US-EPA recommendation, the highest ADD was obtaining from whole body (dermal contact). The Hazard Index (HI) for risk characterization indicated that the HI of farmers was lower than the acceptable level 1.0. The urinary metabolite level investigated from participants, there was the association between the first post application morning void and pre application morning void (Wilcoxon signed ranks; p<0.05), similar to the first post application morning void and the second post application morning void. The urinary metabolite of the first post morning voidfrom chilli farmers was significantly different from the urinary metabolite of non-chilli farmers’ morning void. The main associated of pesticide exposure route and urinary metabolite was found from the dermal route (Spearman’s rho= 0.405; p<0.05). This research suggested that public health education training programs including using of appropriate personal protective equipments (PPEs) should be conducted for the chili growing farmers according to improve their ability to handle pesticide and their quality of life.