Pesticide exposure among Bolivian farmers: associations between worker protection and exposure biomarkers.

ABSTRACT: The use of pesticides has increased during the past decades, also increasing the risk of exposure to toxic pesticides that can cause detrimental health effects in the future. This is of special concern among farmers in low-to-middle-income countries that may lack proper training in the safe use of these chemicals. To assess the situation in Bolivia a cross-sectional study in three agricultural communities was performed (n = 297). Handling, use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and pesticide exposure were assessed by a questionnaire and measurements of urinary pesticide metabolites (UPMs). Results showed that methamidophos (65%) and paraquat (52%) were the most commonly used pesticides and that 75% of the farmers combined several pesticides while spraying. Notably, only 17% of the farm

SUBMITTER: Barron Cuenca J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8608618 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature