The impact of the use of personal-protective-equipment on the minimization of effects of exposure to pesticides among farm-workers in India

Frontiers in Public Health

Public Health

Babban Jee¹  Balakrishnan Senthil Kumar²  Padmaja R. Jonnalagadda²  Arun Pandiyan²  Mohan Naidu²  Janardhan Vanka²  Praveen Yamagani²  Summaiya Lari³ 

[1] Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi, India;ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, Telangana, India;ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, Telangana, India;Department of Biochemistry, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India;

关键词: pesticides;    farm-workers;    occupational exposure;    personal-protective-equipment;    risk assessment;    cholinesterase;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpubh.2023.1075448

 received in 2022-10-28, accepted in 2023-02-20,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

IntroductionAlthough excessive use of pesticides and unsafe agricultural practices may contribute to numerous intoxications, the role of PPE (personal-protective-equipment) in the minimization of toxicological effects due to pesticide exposure has not been addressed so far. The present study aimed to assess the impact of the use of PPE on the minimization of effects of exposure to pesticides among farm-workers.MethodsA community-based follow-up study with questionnaire-based survey and field observations was undertaken among farm-workers (n = 180) of Rangareddy district, Telangana, India. Biomarkers of exposure such as cholinesterase activity, inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, cortisol, and hs-C reactive protein), nutrients (vitamins A, E), liver function (total protein and A/G ratio, AST and ALT levels) were investigated in the laboratory by following the standard protocols.ResultsFarm-workers who had a mean farming exposure of 18 years of and who neither followed safe pesticide handling practices nor used PPE and also showed reluctance to obey good agricultural practices (GAPs). Inhibition of AChE (acetylcholine esterase) with increased inflammation was found among farm-workers as compared to their respective normal values when they have not used PPE. Linear regression statistical analysis revealed a profound effect on inhibition in the AChE activity and various inflammatory markers with the increase in the duration of pesticide exposure. Further, there was no effect of the duration of pesticide exposure on the levels of vitamins A, E, ALT, AST, total protein, and A/G ratio. Further, intervention studies carried out on the use of PPE provided (commercially available and cost-effective) for 90 days showed a significant reduction in the biomarker levels (p < 0.01).ConclusionThis study demonstrated the importance of the use of PPE during pesticide applications and other agricultural tasks to minimize pesticide-associated adverse health effects.

【 授权许可】

Unknown   
Copyright © 2023 Lari, Yamagani, Pandiyan, Vanka, Naidu, Senthil Kumar, Jee and Jonnalagadda.