Acute health effects of organophosphorus ( OP ) pesticides on coffee farmworkers in 1991 -1992 in Tanzania are reported to provide a basis for concern over farmworkers being overexposed during application. Workers exposed to OP pesticides ( N = 133 ) were drawn from a population of about 240,000 coffee farmers. They were interviewed on symptoms and personal protection, and their erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase ( AChE ) activity was determined during both spraying and nonspraying period. AChE activities during spraying and nonspraying period were comparable ( mean 32.0, SD 7.8 vs. 33.0, SD 8.7 U / g HgB, P= 0.26 ) . The prevalence of cough, headache, abdominal pain, excessive sweating, nausea, excessive salivation, diarrhea, and vomiting did not differ significantly between spraying and nonspraying periods. There was no suggestion of decreased AChE in exposed subjects who complained of OP -related symptoms compared to symptomless exposed subjects. Use of gloves, long boots, head cover, face cover, and coverall was not significantly associated with AChE activity. No marked AChE depression was found during spraying season, which may explain the lack of association between symptoms and AChE. The fact that only moderately toxic OP pesticides were used may indicate that toxicity was not sufficiently high to cause depression. Experience, however, suggests that occupational poisoning remains a potential serious danger in coffee cultivation in Tanzania.

No abstract

The practices of pesticide handling in agriculture were surveyed in 1991-1993 in Tanzania, to identify hazardous practices and farms where they occurred. The study involved 23 coffee farms with 246 persons exposed to hazardous practices, and four cotton farms with 45 exposed. An observation form addressed locations of important places with respect to pesticide spraying, storage, disposal, and equipment; personal protection; and hygiene. More pesticide formulations were used for coffee compared with cotton and by individual rather than cooperative farms. Coffee farms more often had unlabeled pesticide containers and missing mixing instructions, while cotton pesticides were stored in bedrooms, near food, and near open fires, and pesticide leftovers were often present. Hazardous practices were more pronounced at individual than cooperative farms, with significant differences in pesticide storage areas, as well as unlabeled and non-original containers. The study demonstrated the need to train farmers in pesticide safety, strengthen advisory and regulatory services, and extend protection to farm workers' families.

No abstract

14C-labelled p,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDE were used to study the dissipation and degradation rates in soil under tropical field conditions in two locations.Dissipation of DDT was more rapid at Magugu (with hot and wet climate) than at Arusha (with cool and wet climate). After 350 days the methanolextractable residues declined to 14.44% and 33.76% for Magugu and Arusha respectively; while the bound residues gradually increased to a maximum of 10.03% after 106 days in Magugu and 11.99% after 286 days in Arusha. The overall half-life for 14 C-dissipation was 174 days for Magugu and 335 days for Arusha. DDT degraded mainly to DDE and to a smaller extent to DDD.The dissipation rate of 14 C-DDE in Arusha was little higher than DDT under similar field conditions, with an overall half life of 233 days. 65