Impact of Pesticides on Farmers: a case study in the Highlands
Keywords:
health risk, pesticide poisoning, personal protective equipment, personal hygiene
Abstract
This study investigates the symptoms of pesticide poisoning among vegetable farmers in the highland agricultural area of Pattapang Village, Tinggimoncong Subdistrict, Gowa Regency, South Sulawesi. Utilizing a descriptive method, 296 farmers were surveyed to assess pesticide application practices, personal hygiene, and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Data collection was conducted via structured questionnaires, focusing on exposure-related symptoms and contributing factors. Results reveal that 24.7% of respondents reported symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, and headaches, with PPE usage varying significantly—79.4% reported using PPE during pesticide application. However, 54.7% of farmers did not wear gloves, and only 24% used masks. Personal hygiene practices were generally good, with 72.6% of respondents following appropriate measures. The findings highlight the need for improved education and interventions to mitigate health risks associated with pesticide exposure. This study underscores the importance of safe pesticide practices and adequate PPE to safeguard farmer health.
References
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Bagheri, A., Emami, N., & Damalas, C. (2021). Farmers' behavior in reading and using risk information displayed on pesticide labels: a test with the theory of planned behavior. Pest Management Science, 77(6), 2903-2913. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.6326
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Manyilizu, W., Mdegela, R., Helleve, A., Skjerve, E., Kazwala, R., Nonga, H., … & Lyche, J. (2017). Self-reported symptoms and pesticide use among farm workers in arusha, northern tanzania: a cross sectional study. Toxics, 5(4), 24. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics5040024
Mariyono, J. (2019). Stepping up from subsistence to commercial intensive farming to enhance welfare of farmer households in indonesia. Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies, 6(2), 246-265. https://doi.org/10.1002/app5.276
Mariyono, J., Kuntariningsih, A., & Kompas, T. (2018). Pesticide use in indonesian vegetable farming and its determinants. Management of Environmental Quality an International Journal, 29(2), 305-323. https://doi.org/10.1108/meq-12-2016-0088
Mfopou, Y., Traoré, M., Kenmogne, P., Aboubakar, A., Manguele, G., Maboune, S., … & Nacro, H. (2017). Structure of vegetables farming and farmer’s perception of soil and water degradation in two periurban areas in yaounde cameroon. Open Journal of Soil Science, 07(11), 333-346. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojss.2017.711024
Mu, H., Chen, C., Yang, K., Pan, C., Lin, C., & Hung, D. (2020). The prevalence of esophageal cancer after caustic and pesticide ingestion: a nationwide cohort study. Plos One, 15(12), e0243922. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0243922
Neupane, D., Jørs, E., & Brandt, L. (2014). Pesticide use, erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase level and self-reported acute intoxication symptoms among vegetable farmers in nepal: a cross-sectional study. Environmental Health, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-069x-13-98
Njoku, K., Ezeh, C., Obidi, F., & Akinola, M. (2017). Assessment of pesticide residue levels in vegetables sold in some markets in lagos state, nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Biotechnology, 32(1), 53. https://doi.org/10.4314/njb.v32i1.8
Peñalver-Piñol, A. (2023). Occupational exposure to pesticides and endometrial cancer in the screenwide case-control study. Environmental Health, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-023-01028-0
Pradhan, A., Raju, S., Nithya, D., Panda, A., Wagh, R., Maske, M., … & Bhavani, R. (2021). Farming system for nutrition-a pathway to dietary diversity: evidence from india. Plos One, 16(3), e0248698. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0248698
Ribeiro, H. (2023). Exploring the utility of expanded clinical exome sequencing in cancer patients with pesticide exposure: insights from blood samples.. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3398168/v1
Sagolsem, S., Singh, N., & Singh, Y. (2016). Effects of agro-chemicals practices in economic production of cabbage in valley districts of manipur, india. Journal of Applied and Natural Science, 8(1), 459-463. https://doi.org/10.31018/jans.v8i1.817
Shil, E., Lee, Y., Moon, E., Kim, Y., Lee, Y., Jeong, W., … & Lee, W. (2012). Paraquat application and respiratory health effects among south korean farmers. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 69(6), 398-403. https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2011-100244
Silins, I., Korhonen, A., & Stenius, U. (2014). Evaluation of carcinogenic modes of action for pesticides in fruit on the swedish market using a text-mining tool. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 5. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2014.00145
Ssemugabo, C., Bradman, A., Ssempebwa, J., Sillé, F., & Guwatudde, D. (2022). Pesticide residues in fresh fruit and vegetables from farm to fork in the kampala metropolitan area, uganda. Environmental Health Insights, 16. https://doi.org/10.1177/11786302221111866
Sugeng, A., Beamer, P., Lutz, E., & Rosales, C. (2013). Hazard-ranking of agricultural pesticides for chronic health effects in yuma county, arizona. The Science of the Total Environment, 463-464, 35-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.05.051
Susilowati, S. (2023). Profit variability of vegetable farming in the upper citarum watershed, west java, indonesia. Iop Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science, 1230(1), 012193. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1230/1/012193
Vinson, F., Merhi, M., Baldi, I., Raynal, H., & Gamet-Payrastre, L. (2011). Exposure to pesticides and risk of childhood cancer: a meta-analysis of recent epidemiological studies. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 68(9), 694-702. https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2011-100082
Zhang, X., Wallace, A., Du, P., Kibbe, W., Jafari, N., Xie, H., … & Hou, L. (2012). Dna methylation alterations in response to pesticide exposure in vitro. Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis, 53(7), 542-549. https://doi.org/10.1002/em.21718
Zyoud, S., Sawalha, A., Sweileh, W., Awang, R., Al-Khalil, S., Al-Jabi, S., … & Bsharat, N. (2010). Knowledge and practices of pesticide use among farm workers in the west bank, palestine: safety implications. Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine, 15(4), 252-261. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12199-010-0136-3
Alavanja, M., Ross, M., & Bonner, M. (2013). Increased cancer burden among pesticide applicators and others due to pesticide exposure. Ca a Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 63(2), 120-142. https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21170
Anjelina, P. (2023). Sustainability and strategy of vegetable crops enterprises based on integrated pest management (case study in mekarsaluyu village, cimenyan subdistrict, bandung regency). Jurnal Perlindungan Tanaman Indonesia, 27(1), 41. https://doi.org/10.22146/jpti.72071
Avasiloaiei, D. (2023). The evaluation of carbon farming strategies in organic vegetable cultivation. Agronomy, 13(9), 2406. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13092406
Bagheri, A., Emami, N., & Damalas, C. (2021). Farmers' behavior in reading and using risk information displayed on pesticide labels: a test with the theory of planned behavior. Pest Management Science, 77(6), 2903-2913. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.6326
Bhandari, L. (2019). Increasing trend of pesticides' use in vegetable farming and its impact for human health. Nepal Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 2(3), 50-67. https://doi.org/10.3126/njmr.v2i3.26975
Bhat, A., Wani, M., & Kirmani, A. (2010). Brain cancer and pesticide relationship in orchard farmers of kashmir. Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 14(3), 78. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5278.75694
Burns, C. and Juberg, D. (2021). Cancer and occupational exposure to pesticides: an umbrella review. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 94(5), 945-957. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-020-01638-y
Damalas, C. and Koutroubas, S. (2016). Farmers’ exposure to pesticides: toxicity types and ways of prevention. Toxics, 4(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics4010001
Dias, J. (2019). Nutritional quality and effect on disease prevention of vegetables. Food and Nutrition Sciences, 10(04), 369-402. https://doi.org/10.4236/fns.2019.104029
Dias, J. and Imai, S. (2017). Vegetables consumption and its benefits on diabetes. Journal of Nutritional Therapeutics, 6(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-5634.2017.06.01.1
El-Sheikh, E., Ramadan, M., Elsobki, A., Shalaby, A., McCoy, M., Hamed, I., … & Hammock, B. (2022). Pesticide residues in vegetables and fruits from farmer markets and associated dietary risks. Molecules, 27(22), 8072. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27228072
Gil, H., Hong, J., Song, H., & Hong, S. (2012). A case of methanol intoxication caused by methomyl pesticide ingestion. Human & Experimental Toxicology, 31(12), 1299-1302. https://doi.org/10.1177/0960327112459532
Hohenadel, K., Harris, S., McLaughlin, J., Spinelli, J., Pahwa, P., Dosman, J., … & Blair, A. (2011). Exposure to multiple pesticides and risk of non-hodgkin lymphoma in men from six canadian provinces. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 8(6), 2320-2330. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph8062320
Jallow, M., Awadh, D., Albaho, M., Devi, V., & Thomas, B. (2017). Pesticide knowledge and safety practices among farm workers in kuwait: results of a survey. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(4), 340. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14040340
Jin, J., Yu, M., Hu, C., Li, Y., Xie, L., Jin, J., … & Tong, H. (2014). Pesticide exposure as a risk factor for myelodysplastic syndromes: a meta-analysis based on 1,942 cases and 5,359 controls. Plos One, 9(10), e110850. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0110850
Kachuri, L., Harris, M., MacLeod, J., Tjepkema, M., Peters, P., & Demers, P. (2017). Cancer risks in a population-based study of 70,570 agricultural workers: results from the canadian census health and environment cohort (canchec). BMC Cancer, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-017-3346-x
Koutros, S., Freeman, L., Berndt, S., Andreotti, G., Lubin, J., Sandler, D., … & Alavanja, M. (2010). Pesticide use modifies the association between genetic variants on chromosome 8q24 and prostate cancer. Cancer Research, 70(22), 9224-9233. https://doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.can-10-1078
Malešević, Z. (2023). Comparative analysis of phenolic, flavonoid and antioxidant content in root vegetables from organic and conventional production. Horticultural Science, 50(4), 283-289. https://doi.org/10.17221/26/2022-hortsci
Manyilizu, W., Mdegela, R., Helleve, A., Skjerve, E., Kazwala, R., Nonga, H., … & Lyche, J. (2017). Self-reported symptoms and pesticide use among farm workers in arusha, northern tanzania: a cross sectional study. Toxics, 5(4), 24. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics5040024
Mariyono, J. (2019). Stepping up from subsistence to commercial intensive farming to enhance welfare of farmer households in indonesia. Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies, 6(2), 246-265. https://doi.org/10.1002/app5.276
Mariyono, J., Kuntariningsih, A., & Kompas, T. (2018). Pesticide use in indonesian vegetable farming and its determinants. Management of Environmental Quality an International Journal, 29(2), 305-323. https://doi.org/10.1108/meq-12-2016-0088
Mfopou, Y., Traoré, M., Kenmogne, P., Aboubakar, A., Manguele, G., Maboune, S., … & Nacro, H. (2017). Structure of vegetables farming and farmer’s perception of soil and water degradation in two periurban areas in yaounde cameroon. Open Journal of Soil Science, 07(11), 333-346. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojss.2017.711024
Mu, H., Chen, C., Yang, K., Pan, C., Lin, C., & Hung, D. (2020). The prevalence of esophageal cancer after caustic and pesticide ingestion: a nationwide cohort study. Plos One, 15(12), e0243922. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0243922
Neupane, D., Jørs, E., & Brandt, L. (2014). Pesticide use, erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase level and self-reported acute intoxication symptoms among vegetable farmers in nepal: a cross-sectional study. Environmental Health, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-069x-13-98
Njoku, K., Ezeh, C., Obidi, F., & Akinola, M. (2017). Assessment of pesticide residue levels in vegetables sold in some markets in lagos state, nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Biotechnology, 32(1), 53. https://doi.org/10.4314/njb.v32i1.8
Peñalver-Piñol, A. (2023). Occupational exposure to pesticides and endometrial cancer in the screenwide case-control study. Environmental Health, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-023-01028-0
Pradhan, A., Raju, S., Nithya, D., Panda, A., Wagh, R., Maske, M., … & Bhavani, R. (2021). Farming system for nutrition-a pathway to dietary diversity: evidence from india. Plos One, 16(3), e0248698. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0248698
Ribeiro, H. (2023). Exploring the utility of expanded clinical exome sequencing in cancer patients with pesticide exposure: insights from blood samples.. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3398168/v1
Sagolsem, S., Singh, N., & Singh, Y. (2016). Effects of agro-chemicals practices in economic production of cabbage in valley districts of manipur, india. Journal of Applied and Natural Science, 8(1), 459-463. https://doi.org/10.31018/jans.v8i1.817
Shil, E., Lee, Y., Moon, E., Kim, Y., Lee, Y., Jeong, W., … & Lee, W. (2012). Paraquat application and respiratory health effects among south korean farmers. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 69(6), 398-403. https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2011-100244
Silins, I., Korhonen, A., & Stenius, U. (2014). Evaluation of carcinogenic modes of action for pesticides in fruit on the swedish market using a text-mining tool. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 5. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2014.00145
Ssemugabo, C., Bradman, A., Ssempebwa, J., Sillé, F., & Guwatudde, D. (2022). Pesticide residues in fresh fruit and vegetables from farm to fork in the kampala metropolitan area, uganda. Environmental Health Insights, 16. https://doi.org/10.1177/11786302221111866
Sugeng, A., Beamer, P., Lutz, E., & Rosales, C. (2013). Hazard-ranking of agricultural pesticides for chronic health effects in yuma county, arizona. The Science of the Total Environment, 463-464, 35-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.05.051
Susilowati, S. (2023). Profit variability of vegetable farming in the upper citarum watershed, west java, indonesia. Iop Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science, 1230(1), 012193. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1230/1/012193
Vinson, F., Merhi, M., Baldi, I., Raynal, H., & Gamet-Payrastre, L. (2011). Exposure to pesticides and risk of childhood cancer: a meta-analysis of recent epidemiological studies. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 68(9), 694-702. https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2011-100082
Zhang, X., Wallace, A., Du, P., Kibbe, W., Jafari, N., Xie, H., … & Hou, L. (2012). Dna methylation alterations in response to pesticide exposure in vitro. Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis, 53(7), 542-549. https://doi.org/10.1002/em.21718
Zyoud, S., Sawalha, A., Sweileh, W., Awang, R., Al-Khalil, S., Al-Jabi, S., … & Bsharat, N. (2010). Knowledge and practices of pesticide use among farm workers in the west bank, palestine: safety implications. Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine, 15(4), 252-261. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12199-010-0136-3
