Vulnerability and risk situations related to the use of pesticides in irrigated fruit farming

Revista Brasileira de Epidemiologia

Pereira, Paulo José²  Rêgo, Marco Antônio Vasconcelos³  Bedor, Cheila Nataly Galindo²  Augusto, Lia Giraldo da Silva⁴  Ramos, Lara Oliveira²  Pavão, Antonio Carlos¹ 

[1] Universidade Federal de Pernambuco;Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco;Universidade Federal da Bahia;FIOCRUZ

关键词: Pesticides;    Vulnerability;    Risk situations;    Occupational health;    Environmental health;    Semi-arid region;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S1415-790X2009000100005

学科分类：过敏症与临床免疫学

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

Determining therisks in a population that uses pesticides is a complex task. The purpose ofthis study was to outline the socio-economic and cultural context and some ofthe health vulnerabilities related to fruit production in the São FranciscoRiver valley in Brazil. Semi-structured questionnaires were applied to randomsamples of farm workers to obtain data on social, economic and cultural characteristics,as well as the morbidity related to pesticide poisoning. These farm workershave low level of schooling, and this is a major vulnerability for understandingthe labels of pesticides and their toxicological and environmental implications.This study found indiscriminate use of pesticides in unsafe and unhealthy conditionsof work that compromise the health of exposed workers. Symptoms suggestive ofpesticide poisoning are closely related to exposure to organophosphates, carbamatesand pyrethroid, which match pesticides used in fruit farming. Seven percentof the population reported poisoning events at some point in their lives. Technicalassistance related to the management of pesticides is poor, and actions towardthe improvement of health, environment and work conditions were not seen. Thesevulnerabilities corroborate those related to a technological model that aimsmerely at productivity and good financial performance.

【 授权许可】

CC BY