Intoxicações por agrotóxicos entre trabalhadores rurais de fruticultura, Bento Gonçalves, RS

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:To describe the occupational exposure to acute poisoning by pesticides, especially organophosphates, and its incidence. METHODS:A descriptive study was carried out on 290 family fruit farmers in the municipality of Bento Gonçalves, Southern Brazil, conducted in two stages in 2006. Two hundred and forty-one of these workers completed the two stages, which corresponded to periods of low use and intense use of pesticides. Data on the property, occupational exposure to pesticides, sociodemographic data and frequency of health problems were gathered using a standardized questionnaire. Poisoning was characterized by reports of episodes, symptoms relating to pesticides and plasma cholinesterase examinations. Cases were classifi ed according to the matrix proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO). RESULTS:On average, each property used 12 different types of pesticides, consisting mainly of glyphosate and organophosphates. Most of the workers used tractors for pesticide application (87%), set aside the containers for selective garbage collection (86%) and used protective equipment during activities involving pesticides (≥ 94%). Among these family farmers, 4% reported occurrences of poisoning by pesticides over the 12 months preceding the investigation, and 19% at some time during their lives. According to the criterion proposed by WHO, 11% were classifi ed as probable cases of acute poisoning. Among the workers who had used organophosphates over the tenday period preceding the examination, 2.9% presented two or more symptoms relating to pesticides and a 20% reduction in cholinesterase. CONCLUSIONS:The poisoning occurrences according to the workers' perceptions were within what was expected, but the estimate based on the WHO classifi cation picked up a larger proportion of the cases. A fall in the harvest reduced the use of insecticides and may explain the low occurrence of abnormalities in the laboratory results. The criteria for defi ning pesticide poisoning, as well as the offi cial monitoring parameters, should be reevaluated in order to increase the workers' protection.

Vulnerabilidades de trabalhadores rurais frente ao uso de agrotóxicos na produção de hortaliças em região do Nordeste do Brasil

“…(ORGANIZAÇÃO PAN-AMERICA-NA DA SAÚDE; ORGANIZAÇÃO MUNDIAL DA SAÚDE, 1997, p. 35) O uso de proteção individual específica, além de ser pouco adotado, não tem sua efetividade comprovada no contexto socioambiental das atividades agrí-colas no Brasil, podendo até constituir uma fonte adicional de contaminação (VEIGA et al, 2007;FARIA;ROSA;FACCHINI, 2009). Segundo Sam et al (2008), os agricultores dos países em desenvolvimento consideram os equipamentos de proteção pouco práticos e caros, sobretudo em climas tropicais.…”

“…As mulheres que trabalham na área de plantio se dedicam à capina manual e à colheita das hortaliças, sem uso de qualquer tipo de EPI. Resultados semelhantes são encontrados em outros estudos (SOARES; ALMEIDA; MORO, 2003;FARIA;ROSA;FACCHINI, 2009). Estudos adicionais são necessários para avaliar as condições de exposição destas mulheres, uma vez que elas podem estar mais expostas que os homens (PERES et al, 2004).…”

Avaliação funcional do sistema vestibular de cobaias intoxicadas agudamente por organofosforado por meio da prova calórica

“…As a method, these studies used interviews with rural workers exposed to these compounds [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] .The results showed dizziness as a recurrent symptom reported by these workers. This suggests functional impairment, but the present study did not find significant differences between intoxicated and non-intoxicated guinea pigs by the caloric test.…”

Cases of acute pesticide poisoning in Colonia Puerto Pirapó, Itapúa-Paraguay, february 2014

“…Al igual que en otros países, se constató que solo las personas con manifestaciones graves buscaron atención médica, pues en los casos leves o moderados los afectados no siempre acuden a los servicios de salud y no son diagnosticados (19,20).…”

“…Dada la poca disponibilidad de biomarcadores, en especial en zonas rurales, se ha visto la ventaja de utilizar los cuestionarios sobre los síntomas como criterio para la definición de casos (20).…”