Awareness of farm workers regarding health problems and use of protective clothing during pesticide application

Abstract

Pesticides are widely used in agricultural production to prevent or control pests, diseases, weeds, and other plant pathogens in an effort to reduce or eliminate yield losses of cotton crop and maintain high product quality. Because of high biological activity, and in some cases, long persistence in the environment, pesticides (pyrethroids, carbamate, oganophosphate, organochlorines) may cause harmful effects to human health and to the environment. Occupational exposure to pesticides often occurs in the case of agricultural workers in open fields and greenhouses. Farmers who perform spray activity are routinely exposed to high levels of pesticides (Monocarbamide dihydrogen sulfate, pyrethroids and carbamates), than the other farm workers such as pesticide loader, evaluator. The dermal and inhalation routes of entry are typically the most common routes of farmers’ exposure to pesticides. Farmers’ exposure to pesticides can be reduced through less use of pesticides and use of the appropriate protective clothing and equipments in all stages of pesticide handling. The present study was conductedon 270 respondents from all nine blocks of Hisar district of Haryana state to create awareness amongst them regarding health problems and use of protective clothing during pesticide application.An educational package in the form of Video CD and Leaflet was used. Pamphlets were distributed; lecture-cum-demonstrations and film shows were organized. Protective clothing and accessories were also exhibited for better impact. It was recorded that respondents succeeded in acquiring awareness at post exposure level, through print and electronic media for each message viz. breathing problems (23.3%), eyes related problems (100%), skin allergy (43.3%), headache (60.3%), fainting due to inhalation of pesticide (64.33%) and stomach related problems (23.56%).