Occupational Pesticides Intoxication among Agricultural Workers | ||
| The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine | ||
| Article 1, Volume 81, Issue 5, October 2020, Pages 1916-1923 PDF (600.89 K) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejhm.2020.122712 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Mahmoud Ali Saleh; Hassan El Sayed El far; Omyma Mahmoud Hassan; Marwa Salah El-Dien AbdElRaouf* ; Shaima Adel Elsayed Ali | ||
| Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Background: Pesticide intoxication is a public health problem in many developing countries. Approximately 18.2 per 100 000 agricultural workers worldwide have occupational-related pesticide acute and chronic toxicity symptoms. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the toxic symptoms in pesticide-exposed agricultural workers. Patients and Method: A cross sectional study was conducted on 390 agricultural workers using an interview questionnaire that consists of socio-demographic and exposure data, safety practices and self-reported toxicity symptoms. Physical examination and investigations were done. Results: Among the self-reported toxicity symptoms, cough was the most common acute symptom (59%) while skin problems were the most reported chronic symptoms (11.5%). There was a statistically significant difference regarding age between those with & without blurring of vision [(median, 50 and 39 years respectively) P < .001], muscle spasm [(median, 49 and 40 years respectively) P < .001] and skin problems [(median, 48 & 41 years respectively) P < 0.007]. Regarding duration of exposure, there was a statistical significant difference between those with & without blurring of vision [(median, 10 and 50 years respectively) P < .001], muscle spasm [(median, 10 and 6 years respectively) P < .001] and skin problems [(median, 12 and 6 years respectively) P < .001]. There was statistical significant negative correlation between serum cholinesterase level and age, duration of pesticides exposure and body mass index. Conclusions: The most self-reported pesticides toxicity symptom was cough (59%) while walking problems were the least reported one (5.9%). Age and duration of pesticides exposure are significant risk factors for pesticides toxicity. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Pesticides; Toxicity; Agricultural workers | ||
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