Effectiveness of agrochemical safety program to prevent health effects among chili farmers in Ubon Ratchathani province, Thailand

Abstract

Agrochemicals e.g. pesticides and chemical fertilizers are broadly used in agriculture throughout Thailand. Improper uses of agrochemicals lead to health and environmental problems. This study aims to evaluate effectiveness of an agrochemical safety program to prevent health effects related to agrochemical exposure among chili farmers. A quasi-experimental study was conducted in Huaruea subdistrict, Mueang district, Ubon Ratchathani province. Agrochemical safety program consisted of 4 components: 1) Agrochemical safety training with practical demonstrations using Tapioca Starch Tracer technique; 2) Educational media for promoting agrochemical safety behaviors i.e. VCDs and booklets; 3) Providing personal protective equipment i.e. chemical safety goggles, respirators, and gloves; and 4) Peer facilitators. A total of 73 chili farmers completely participated in this study (experimental group = 32, control group = 41). Face-to-face interviews were performed to gather information about agrochemical safety knowledge, self-efficacy, and behaviors as well as health effects related to agrochemical exposure. Both enzymes: erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and plasma cholinesterase (PChE) were tested with the EQM Test-mate Cholinesterase Test System (Model 400). Hand wipe samples were used for collecting residues on both hands and OP residues for chlorpyrifos and profenofos were measured using gas chromatography equipped with flame photometric detector (GC-FPD). Findings revealed that agrochemical safety program had significant effects on improving agrochemical safety knowledge score, self-efficacy score, behavior score, and AChE activity as well as reducing the number and severity scores of symptoms related to agrochemical exposure (Repeated measure ANOVA, p <0.001). However, the program showed no significant effects on improving PChE activity and reducing OP residues on hands. This study suggested that the program is effective to prevent health effects related to agrochemical exposure among chili farmers. Therefore, it should be introduced to other areas where have similar crops and agricultural activities. Moreover, it could be delivered to local partners e.g. public health officers, village health volunteers, and farmer representatives by training the agrochemical safety trainers to extend the study findings.