title: Pesticide exposure in the local community of Vehari District in Pakistan: An assessment of knowledge and residues in human blood.
abstract: The present study is based on cross-sectional data collected from rural and market areas of Vehari District in Pakistan to assess public awareness of pesticide risks and determine the levels of exposure to organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the local community. Blood samples were collected from 56 volunteer donors (VDs) including children, female workers, farm workers involved in pesticide business, farm workers involved in pesticide spraying activities, and people who were living away from agricultural fields. Blood analysis showed that VDs who were involved in spraying activities had significantly higher levels of OCP residues in their blood samples than VDs from the other groups, with mean concentrations of 1.13, 0.92, 0.68 and 1.96ngmL-1for pp-DDT, aldrin, dieldrin, and endosulfan, respectively. However, VDs who were living away from agricultural fields had significantly lower levels of pesticide residues in their blood samples, with mean concentrations of 0.30, 0.19, 0.14 and 0.41ngmL-1for pp-DDT, aldrin, dieldrin, and endosulfan, respectively. A survey of 179 volunteer respondents (VRs) showed that a significant proportion of the VRs had little knowledge of using the recommended amounts of pesticides (65.9%). Furthermore, the majority of the VRs was found using limited protective measures during pesticide use (62.6%) and was practising unsafe storage of pesticides (87.7%). In addition, most farm workers (88.8%) reported an increasing trend in pesticide use in their farms each year. Knowledge of pesticide risks on human health increased with formal education and training. Poor knowledge regarding pesticide risks and handling among inhabitants of Vehari District contribute to high exposure levels to OCPs, particularly among farm workers. Findings are useful for policy formulation aimed at reduction of pesticide exposure in Pakistan.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Vehari, Pakistan. Electronic address: farhansaeed@ciitvehari.edu.pk.
authors.forename: Muhammad Farhan
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Saeed
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Vehari, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Mussarat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shaheen
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Vehari, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Iftikhar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Vehari, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zakir
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Vehari, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nadeem
authors.affiliation: Dr. A. Q. Khan Institute of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering, University of Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Arif Ali
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Chishti
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Vehari, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shahid
authors.affiliation: Department of Management Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Vehari, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Khuda
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bakhsh
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Development, Democritus University of Thrace, GR-68200 Orestiada, Greece. Electronic address: chris.damalas@yahoo.gr.
authors.forename: Christos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Damalas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000383:Agriculture; D000452:Aldrin / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D004026:Dieldrin / Q000032:analysis; D004726:Endosulfan / Q000032:analysis; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000067565:Farmers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D007306:Insecticides / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D010154:Pakistan; D010573:Pesticide Residues / Q000097:blood*; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D007306:Insecticides; D010573:Pesticide Residues; D010575:Pesticides; D004026:Dieldrin; D004726:Endosulfan; D000452:Aldrin
keywords: Awareness; Blood samples; Farm workers; Organochlorine pesticides; Risk