Pesticide use among farmers in the Amazon basin of Ecuador.
Pesticide use is one of the most significant occupational exposures for agricultural workers in the Amazon basin of Ecuador. A structured questionnaire was developed focusing on sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge and experience of adverse health effects related to pesticide use, details of work practices, and an inventory of pesticides used on the farm. Of the 112 farmers interviewed, 111 (99.1%) used pesticides. Paraquat was most commonly used (77.4%), followed by glyphosate (65.7%). Respondents had good knowledge about the acute health effects of pesticides and their exposure routes. Risk behaviors were identified as frequent pesticide use, washing pesticide equipment in water sources used by humans, inadequate disposal of empty pesticide containers, eating and drinking during pesticide application, and using inadequate protective clothing. Training and educational campaigns on pesticide use should be encouraged for this cohort, along with suggestions for alternative methods of pest control.
Hurtig
Anna Karin
AK
Instituto de Epidemiología y Salud Comunitaria "Manuel Amunárriz", Quito, Ecuador. akhurtig@hotmail.com
San Sebastián
Miguel
M
Soto
Alejandro
A
Shingre
Angel
A
Zambrano
Diocles
D
Guerrero
Walter
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000383:Agriculture / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004484:Ecuador / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010575:Pesticides / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000145:classification; D011481:Protective Clothing; D012309:Risk-Taking; D045483:Rivers; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D010575:Pesticides