A survey of the health of pesticide-handling farmers in rural Bihar.
Dhiraj Kumar, Singh R. N., Verma A. P.
Author Affiliation: Plant Physiology & Biochemistry Laboratory, P.G. Deptt. of Botany, A.N. College, Patna (Bihar), India.
Bionotes 14 : 81-82
Abstract : The health conditions of pesticide-handling farmers in Bihar, India, were studied. Sixty-nine farmers (61 and 8 were male and female, respectively) from 8 districts and 28 rural villages were interviewed from 6 November to 10 December 2009. The crops grown in the surveyed areas included rice, wheat, pulses, mango, sugarcane, cotton, tobacco, potato and vegetables (such as aubergine, cauliflower, okra and tomato). The majority of the farmers (90%) reported the intensive use of pesticides in vegetables. More than 75% of the farmers applied pesticide themselves, and more than 75% of the farmers applied moderately hazardous or highly hazardous pesticides. Eighty-eight percent of the farmers did not use protective clothing while applying pesticides. Approximately 50% of the sprayers mixed different brands of pesticides, many of which could be used as substitutes to each other. Fifty-six percent of the farmers obtained information on pesticides from retail shop owners. The farmers reported the following acute symptoms associated with pesticide application: excessive sweating (27.53%); burning or stinging sensation in the eye area or itching of the eyes (39.13%); chest pain (44.92%); and stomach pain, cramps or diarrhoea (40.57%). Chest pain, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, and stinging or burning sensation in the eye area or itching of the eyes were more prevalent in women than in men. However, excessive sweating, shortness of breath, and stomach pain, cramps or diarrhoea occurred at greater frequencies in men. The results indicated that pesticides have harmful effects on pesticide sprayers and their families.