Effects of pesticide exposure on public health are monitored in developed countries, which is rare in the least developed countries like Bangladesh. Here, a surveillance study was conducted to investigate the farmer's knowledge and perception toward pesticide use and the impact of occupational exposure as well as an environmental hazard in six agro-based districts (Gazipur, Khulna, Manikganj, Naogaon, Mymensingh and Tangail) in Bangladesh. A questionnaire was designed for a face to face interview of the farmers (at least 100 farmers in each district), and the data was collected. The farmer during cultivations used pesticides as single, double or several times in a single crop cycle. Among different types of pesticides, insecticides were highly used (38%), whereas Imidacloprid, and Lamda cyhalothrin insecticide was top used by the farmers. Weedicides or herbicide, fungicides and rodenticides were used 11%, 48%, and 0.5%, respectively. The knowledge and perception of the farmers towards pesticide usage are minimum, whereas the environmental pollution aspect is deficient. The knowledge of using personal protective equipment is the least. Eighty five percent of farmers use pesticides by spraying in the field. Thirty nine percent of farmers suffered from sneezing, burning sensation on face, conjunctivitis, dizziness and headache during pesticide application, and 3% suffered from skin rash of long time exposed with pesticide. The exposure of pesticides is widespread in the professional life of a farmer in Bangladesh. So, it is essential to ensure different training and awareness building program for the farmers to cope the adverse situation.

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Background and Aim: Nowadays, toxic chemical contaminants in food are a major food safety problem in Bangladesh. Among toxic food contaminants, formalin is used to preserve fruit, vegetables, and fish, where urea is used for the whitening of rice and puffed rice. The purpose of this study was to determine the biochemical and histopathological effects on the liver of young and adult pigeons after exposure to formalin and urea contaminated feed. Materials and Methods: A total of 15 young and 15 adult pigeons were divided into control group, formaldehyde exposed group (2.5 mL formalin/kg feed), and urea exposed (1 g/kg feed) group. Each group consisted of five pigeons. After the experimentation procedures, the blood samples were collected for biochemical study, and the liver tissue was collected for histomorphological study. The statistical analysis was performed using the Student's t-test, and p<0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: The aspartate transaminase serum hepatic enzyme was significantly increased in both formalin and urea exposed young and adult pigeons than the control pigeons. In control pigeons, parenchymal hepatocytes and non-parenchymal cells are regularly arranged. However, histological observation of the liver of formalin and urea exposed young, and adult pigeons showed coagulation necrosis with infiltration of many inflammatory cells around the central and portal veins. The necrotic areas are more extensive with massive infiltration of inflammatory cells in the liver of formalin-treated pigeons than the urea treated pigeons. Conclusion: The present study results show that low concentrations of formalin and urea in feed induced liver lesions in pigeons in different extents and indicate that exposure to toxic chemicals may affect homeostasis of the liver and cause liver injury or act as a co-factor for liver disease.

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