[Exposure to pesticides among pregnant women working in agriculture].
BACKGROUND
Pesticides have been used since the early days of modern agriculture. They are biologically active compounds that may pose a grave risk to health during or after their use. The available data, documenting pesticide exposures and related health effects in farmers, especially in pregnant women, are limited.


METHODS
Women were informed that the purpose of the research was to gather information about the exposure to pesticides during pregnancy. They were asked to provide information about their work in the field, spraying or preparatory work (washing clothes after spraying, cleaning, spraying equipment, preparing mixture for spraying). We received information about all spraying in household during woman's pregnancy, trade names of pesticides, names of active ingredients, type of cultivation and its area.


RESULTS
The survey of pregnant women working in agriculture provided us with knowledge of potential hazards resulting from their work during pregnancy, especially from their involvement in spraying or preparatory work and working in the field after spraying. Other data obtained informed us what kind of pesticides were used in agriculture.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate the necessity for increasing awareness of potential exposure to pesticides and their harmful effect among workers, especially among pregnant women. There is also a need to estimate real exposure via biological monitoring.
Gawora-Ziółek
Małgorzata
M
Niepublicznego Zakładu Opieki Zdrowotnej "Sanitas" w Bielawach koło Lowicza, Instytutu Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera w Lodzi.
Jurewicz
Joanna
J
Hanke
Wojciech
W
D000328:Adult; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000592:standards; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010575:Pesticides / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000506:poisoning; D011044:Poland; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health
D010575:Pesticides