title: Exposure to organophosphate (OP) pesticides and health conditions in agricultural and non-agricultural workers from Maule, Chile.
abstract: The objective was to evaluate the characteristics of exposure to OP pesticides and health status in Chilean farm workers from the Maule Region. An occupational health questionnaire was administered in 207 agricultural and non-agricultural workers. For the group of agricultural workers, we asked about specific occupational exposure history and symptoms of OP pesticide poisoning. The main health problem of the exposed group was previous OP pesticide poisoning (p < 0.001). Fifty-six percent of agricultural workers reported symptoms consistent with acute OP pesticide poisoning. The use of respiratory personal protective equipment and younger age were protective against these symptoms, and number of years of OP pesticide exposure was positively associated with reporting symptoms of poisoning. Of the pesticide applicators 47 % reported using chlorpyrifos. The regulations regarding use and application of pesticides should be strengthened, as should training and intervention with workers to improve the use of personal protective equipment.
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Health Sciences , Universidad Católica del Maule , Talca , Chile.
authors.forename: María Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Muñoz-Quezada
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Health Sciences , Universidad Católica del Maule , Talca , Chile.|b Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health , Universidad de Chile , Santiago , Chile.
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lucero
authors.affiliation: c Laboratory of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences , Universidad Católica del Maule , Talca , Chile.
authors.forename: Verónica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Iglesias
authors.affiliation: d Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health , Emory University , Atlanta , GA , USA.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.affiliation: c Laboratory of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences , Universidad Católica del Maule , Talca , Chile.
authors.forename: María Pía
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Health Sciences , Universidad Católica del Maule , Talca , Chile.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Achú
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Health Sciences , Universidad Católica del Maule , Talca , Chile.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cornejo
authors.affiliation: e Health Ministerial Regional Secretariat of the Maule , Government of Chile , Talca , Chile.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Concha
authors.affiliation: f Regional Hospital of Talca , Chile.
authors.forename: Ana María
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Brito
authors.affiliation: g The Agricultural and Livestock Service of the Maule Region , Government of Chile , Talca , Chile.
authors.forename: Marcos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Villalobos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002677:Chile; D000067565:Farmers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D062025:Organophosphate Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D010575:Pesticides / Q000506:poisoning*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010575:Pesticides
keywords: Pesticides; agricultural workers; exposure; occupational hazards; organophosphates