Pesticide handling in farming activities involves substantial hazards for the rural population and for the environment. In Latin America, it is estimated that the population at risk of being affected by heavy metals is over 4 million. This research describes the different types of exposure to pesticides and heavy metals in a rural population (Loma del Gallo), considering both environmental and occupational exposure. This study consists of an inspection in a former pesticide factory (QUIMAGRO), analysis of heavy metals in samples from surface and ground water in the community close to the factory, and a survey to the local population about their perceptions of pesticide exposures. Containers with 34.6 tons of chemicals improperly stored were identified in the former factory and removed by the government. Arsenic and cadmium were found in groundwater, and the highest values were 0.012 and 0.004 mg/l, respectively. These contaminants were also detected in most surface water samples, with maximum values of 0.026 and 0.0001 mg/l, respectively. Results of the survey show that of the 44 participants 42 % were farmers. Farmers used 19 different pesticide products containing 11 active ingredients. The most used active ingredients were paraquat (65 %), methamidophos (35 %), and atrazina (29 %). Eighty-two percent of the farmers did not use personal protective equipment. In addition to the pesticides used in the agriculture of the area, pesticide containers were removed from the QUIMAGRO area, but the pollution was still present at time of sampling and it is evident by the odor of the site. Surface water had the major concentration of heavy metals than the groundwater. Loma del Gallo population has been exposed to toxic pesticide from QUIMAGRO and agriculture for many years. The farmers carry out mishandling of pesticides and they not use PPE.

Introduction: The occupational toxic risks from agricultural activities in El Salvador affect human and environmental health. The objective of this paper is to describe the management of pesticide by farmers confirmed with a chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology (CKDu) not associated to diabetes mellitus or hypertension. Methods: The study involved 42 male patients older than 18 years old with confirmed CKDu that have participated in different stages of pesticides management. This is a cross-sectional study; it was conducted from January to June 2011, in three communities of Bajo Lempa region, El Salvador. An interview was especially designed to investigate which pesticides were used and the farmer practices at different stages of pesticide use. Statistical descriptive analysis was carried out for the several studied variables. Results: All interviewed people had a direct relationship with agricultural activities. The majority of patients had poor education, 19% were illiterate and 55% only have primary education. Most farmers with CKDu had been exposed more than 10 years to hazardous pesticides. The most used pesticide was Hedonal/2, 4 D (100%). 95% interviewed patients mixed different pesticides and 63% dumped empty pesticide containers in the fields. Interviewees did not use appropriate personal protective equipment (100%). Conclusions: There is high use of hazardous pesticides by patients and some of these are banned and some are legal in El Salvador, but prohibited by other countries. Interviewed CKDu patients had high exposure to toxic pesticides due to the misuse in almost all stages. There is inadequate legislation and a poor law enforcement to prevent the misuse of pesticides in El Salvador. R. Mejía et al.

Introduction: In El Salvador Mosquito Borne Diseases (MBDs) is a serious public health problem due to produce morbidity and mortality. They produce a high economic loss, which contributes to the collapse of the public health system. Over the years, the Salvadoran public health system has invested large amounts of resources to minimize the problem through campaigns against MBDs. Despite this, the population is still affected by diseases such as dengue, and more recently chikungunya and zika outbreaks. The aim of this study is to evaluate sanitation conditions variables and identify knowledge, attitudes, practices related to the prevention of MBDs. Methods: A cross-sectional survey about sanitation conditions and knowledge, attitudes and practices on prevention of MBDs of inhabitant's ≥ 15 years from an urban community of a municipality with the highest number of cases reported in 2015. Results: Majority of respondents (98.2%) had direct supply of drinking water; however 96.4% of respondents were agreed that they had an inconsistent water supply. Regarding MBDs prevention respondents showed high acceptable knowledge (76.8%), high favorable attitude (92.1%) and an acceptable implementation of practices toward prevention reproduction of mosquitoes (58.5%) and a poor implementation of practices to prevent mosquito bites (38.3%). Conclusions: The findings revealed high acceptable knowledge about MBDs and a high favorable attitude regarding to prevent them, but also revealed a scarce implementation of prevention practices. The generalized storage of water on non-covered barrels because the inconsistent water supplies, can be source of proliferation of mosquitoes and therefore increases the risk How to cite this paper:

Introducción: La Organización Mundial de la Salud considera las Enfermedades Trasmitidas por Alimentos (ETA) un serio problema de salud pública a nivel mundial, especialmente en países en desarrollo. Se estima que 600 millones de personas se enferman cada año por ingerir alimentos contaminados y las muertes ascienden a 420 000. En El Salvador, el sistema de salud registró entre el 2012 – 2015, 1 397 intoxicaciones por alimentos, 2 381 casos de posible fiebre tifoidea y 1 064,606 de casos de diarreas y gastroenteritis.  El presente estudio tiene como objetivo determinar la presencia de Salmonella spp, E. coli y S. aureus en la carne fresca de pollo que se comercializa en supermercados. Metodología: Estudio descriptivo de corte transversal. Se colectaron muestras de carne de pollo en los supermercados autorizados de los municipios de San Salvador y Mejicanos. Se tomaron un total de 302 muestras de carne de pollo en un total de 43 establecimientos, con un error estadístico estimado de +/-5.9%. El levantamiento de datos y toma de muestra se realizó entre mayo a noviembre del año 2015. Resultados: La presencia total de Salmonella spp fue del 56%, E. coli del 14% y de S. aureus del 13% en la carne fresca de pollo. Conclusiones: Existe una importante contaminación microbiológica de la carne de pollo, que evidencia posibles fallas en la cadena de manipulación del alimento desde la producción, traslado, hasta la comercialización. La presencia de los tres microorganismos representa riesgo para la salud de los consumidores y evidencia la necesidad de mejorar las buenas prácticas de manipulación de los alimentos en todas las etapas. Alerta Año 2018, Vol. 1 No. 2: 45-53 Palabras Claves: Salmonella spp, E. coli, S. aureus, Carne de pollo, Supermercados.

Introducción. La Organización Mundial de la Salud reconoce las intoxicaciones por plaguicidas como un serio problema de salud pública. En El Salvador se reportan alrededor de 900 intoxicaciones por plaguicidas cada año. Objetivo. Caracterizar los factores de riesgo de las intoxicaciones agudas por plaguicidas en El Salvador durante el año 2017. Metodología. Este es un estudio transversal analítico a partir del análisis secundario de una base de datos extraída del Sistema Nacional de Vigilancia en Salud de El Salvador. La base de datos utilizada está compuesta por 945 casos de intoxicación. Los datos fueron analizados con el programa Statistical Package for the Social Science versión 24. Se realizaron análisis de frecuencia, incidencia, asociación y razones de prevalencia. Resultados. La mayor parte de intoxicados fueron hombres (70.7%). La mitad de las intoxicaciones (50.3%) fueron debidas al suicidio. Los plaguicidas más implicados fueron el paraquat (27.6%) y el fosfuro de aluminio (13.4%). El 11.3% de los intoxicados, falleció. Las intoxicaciones por suicidio tienen más probabilidades de tener un desenlace grave (RP=1.90, IC95%=1.71-2.11). Las personas intoxicadas con paraquat (RP=1.33, IC95%=1-1.76) o fosfuro de aluminio (RP=4.32, IC95%=3.08-6.06), tienen más probabilidades de morir. Conclusión. Los hombres representaron la mayor proporción de intoxicados. Los casos de intoxicación fueron más frecuentes en la zona rural. El suicidio fue la principal causa de las intoxicaciones por plaguicidas. El paraquat y el fosfuro de aluminio fueron los dos plaguicidas más implicados en las intoxicaciones y los más relacionados con las muertes.