title: Health symptoms related to pesticide exposure and agricultural tasks among rice farmers from Northern Thailand.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this cross-sectional study was to investigate health symptoms related to occupational pesticide exposure and agricultural tasks in rice farmers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on demographic variables and health symptoms associated with pesticide exposure were collected from 182 rice farmers (exposed subjects) and 122 non-farmers (controlled group) using interviews and measuring whole blood acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity during August and October 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rice farmers had a significantly lower median AChE activity than the controls (9,594 vs. 10,530 U/L, respectively) and a significantly higher prevalence of difficulty in breathing and chest pain [odds ratio (OR) 2.8, P < 0.01 and OR 2.5, P < 0.05, respectively]. The prevalence of dry throat and cramp was associated with those farmers who sprayed and mixed pesticides (OR 2.5 and 2.6 for dry throat, OR 2.5 and 2.9 for cramp, respectively; P < 0.01). The prevalence of numbness and diarrhea was associated with those farmers who scattered seed (OR 2.2, P < 0.01 and OR 3.6, P < 0.05, respectively). The prevalence of numbness and increasing anxiety was also associated with those farmers who harvested crops (OR 3.6, P < 0.01 and OR 3.0, P < 0.05, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that occupational pesticide exposure and agricultural tasks in the paddy field may be associated with the increasing prevalence of respiratory tract and muscle symptoms. This possibility warrants further investigation in more detail.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Phayao, 19 Moo2, Mae Ka Subdistrict, Muang District, Phayao, 56000, Thailand, lekratana56@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ratana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sapbamrer
authors.forename: Sakorn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nata
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D012275:Oryza; D010575:Pesticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D015995:Prevalence; D012621:Seasons; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D010575:Pesticides; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase