title: [Evaluation and management of pesticide risk in agriculture: the experience of the Region of Lombardy (Italy)].
abstract: The evaluation of chemical risk in agriculture is complicated because of difficulties in obtaining measures representative of working conditions. This is the reason why experiences finalized at producing risk estimates are running. In this frame, a Regional working group has developed the project "Pesticide exposure and risk profiles in agriculture". Priority scenarios have been selected and the main variables correlated with pesticide exposure have been pointed out. A value for each variable has been defined. The sum of these values allows the definition of "Exposure Indices" (EI), which can be reduced by multiplication for a coefficient calculated based on use of personal protective devices, training and education and equipment conditions. A Risk Index is calculated as the product of EI per a toxicity index, calculated based on the risk phrases of the substances used ("Risk Profile"). Risk Profiles allow the production of risk estimates and the definition of the appropriate preventive interventions. Next phase will be addressed at the validation of the model, to be carried out through the determination of the levels of concordance between the risk class allocation obtained from the model and the one obtained from environmental and biological measures, in the same groups of workers.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina del Lavoro dell'Università degli Studi di Milano, Sezione Ospedale San Paolo, Via Di Rudini 8, 20142 Milano.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Colosio
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ariano
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Catenacci
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Paschale
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Firmi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Metruccio
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moretto
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Savi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Settimi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Somaruga
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Macchi
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010575:Pesticides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012308:Risk Management
chemical_list: D010575:Pesticides