A Pest to Mental Health? Exploring the Link between Exposure to Agrichemicals in Farmers and Mental Health

N, Khan; Kennedy, Alison; Cotton, Jacqueline; Brumby, Susan

doi:10.3390/ijerph16081327

Cited by 38 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 98 publications

(194 reference statements)

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“…The results showed that worries about the harmful effects of pesticides on health were related to depressive symptoms in men; men who had such worries were 2.6 times as likely to be depressed than in those who did not, while there was no association among women. The association between pesticide exposure and depression has been a major concern in previous research [45]. It is understandable that farmers with concerns about the harmful effects of pesticides tended to be prone to depressive symptoms, but we are not sure why only men showed this association.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Gender Differences in Depressive Symptoms and Work Environment Factors among Dairy Farmers in Japan

Sato

Kato

Noguchi

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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Dairy farmers are more likely than nonfarmers to experience high demands and are at risk of mental health problems. However, there is scarce evidence on the current state of psychological health and related factors among dairy farmers, and the knowledge of potential gender differences is limited. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of depressive symptoms assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and its association with work environment characteristics and to identify gender differences. Data were collected from 273 dairy farmer participants (169 males and 104 females) in Japan. Females were more likely to be depressed, and young and middle-aged women appeared to be at risk of depression. For both genders, a demanding work environment was related to depression. There were some gender differences; for example, worries about the harmful effects of pesticides on health and the balancing of family roles and work roles were related to depression in men, while worries about one's financial situation and the health status of livestock were associated with depression in women. Females benefited from support through direct interaction, while males benefited from involvement in social activities. These findings will contribute to the development of a gender-specific approach to promote psychological health in the dairy farming community.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Gender Differences in Depressive Symptoms and Work Environment Factors among Dairy Farmers in Japan

Sato

Kato

Noguchi

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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“…A review found that a higher prevalence of mental health outcomes, notably depression, anxiety, and suicide attempts, were found positively associated with exposure to pesticide among farmers in high-income countries as the USA, England, South Korea, and Spain 10 . Depression was significantly associated with a history of pesticide poisoning, but not low or high cumulative exposure in spouses of pesticide applicators in the USA 29 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In LMIC, the occupational exposure to pesticides has been associated with gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, respiratory, allergic, and nervous effects [3][4][5][6] , and common mental disorders (CMD) such as depression, anxiety, and suicide [7][8][9] . However, these adverse effects are not restricted to LMIC, and occupational exposure to pesticides was associated with health outcomes in high-income countries such as the USA, England, South Korea, and Spain 10,11 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Occupational exposure to pesticides and health symptoms among family farmers in Brazil

et al. 2020

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OBJECTIVE: To explore the association of occupational pesticide exposure with acute and mental health symptoms. METHODS: Cross-sectional survey carried out with 78 Brazilian family farmers, who were pesticide applicators and helpers conveniently selected. Symptoms and exposure data were collected by interviews, and mental health outcomes by the Self-Reporting Questionnaire. Blood samples were analyzed to assess cholinesterase levels. Exposure indicators and symptoms were compared between applicators and helpers, and Poisson regression was performed to estimate prevalence ratios. RESULTS: Farmers reported exposure to multiple pesticides from early ages; they worked without safety training, technical support, and full protective equipment, and they had a high prevalence of acute and mental health symptoms (e.g., headache, mucosal irritation, tachycardia, and depressive signs). Applicators had more cholinesterase changes than helpers, but less symptoms. Helpers used less personal protection and had significantly higher prevalence ratio of headache, dyspnea, wheezing, cough, poor digestion, tiredness, and feeling worthless, after adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: Acute and mental health symptoms were observed, both among farmers and helpers. Thus, surveillance actions must be reinforced in Brazil, technical support and safety training improved, focused on applicators and helpers, who are occupationally and environmentally exposed to pesticides. Agricultural practices of these groups with less pesticide use should receive incentive.

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“…16 Exposure to pesticides, mainly organophosphates, has also been linked to poor mental health among farmers, but this is still debated. 17 A systematic review and meta-analysis of 32 studies reported a pooled excess risk of suicide among AFFH workers of 1.48. 18 However, the review found substantial heterogeneity according to study design, measure of effect size and the reference group used for comparisons.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mortality from suicide among agricultural, fishery, forestry and hunting workers in Italy and the contribution of work-related factors

et al. 2020

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ObjectivesExcess risk of suicide has been reported among workers in agriculture, fishery, forestry and hunting (AFFH). However, there is still uncertainty in the quantification of the risk and in the contribution of work-related factors. We aimed to quantify the suicide mortality risk among these workers in Italy.MethodsWe carried out a historical cohort study based on record linkage between the 2011 Italian census and the mortality archives for years 2012–2017. The mortality rate ratio (MRR) was used as a measure of risk. MRR was estimated through quasi-Poisson regression models using workers in other sectors as reference category. Models were adjusted for age, citizenship, marital status, area of residence, education, employment status and hours worked per week.ResultsThe cohort included 1 004 655 workers employed in the AFFH sector and 15 269 181 workers in other sectors. During the 6-year follow-up, 559 deaths from suicide (500 men and 59 women) occurred among AFFH workers and 5917 (4935 men and 982 women) among workers in other sectors. The MRR for suicide was 1.36 (95% CI 1.19 to 1.55) among men and 1.18 (95% CI 0.87 to 1.60) among women. The excess risk was remarkably high for casual and fixed-term contract workers (3.01, 95% CI 1.50 to 6.04).ConclusionsMale workers in AFFH are at high risk of suicide mortality, and casual and fixed-term contract workers are at exceedingly high risk. Our study also suggests a higher risk among single, highly educated and long-hours workers. Female workers in AFFH do not have an appreciably increased risk.

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A Pest to Mental Health? Exploring the Link between Exposure to Agrichemicals in Farmers and Mental Health

Cited by 38 publications

References 98 publications

Gender Differences in Depressive Symptoms and Work Environment Factors among Dairy Farmers in Japan

Gender Differences in Depressive Symptoms and Work Environment Factors among Dairy Farmers in Japan

Occupational exposure to pesticides and health symptoms among family farmers in Brazil

Mortality from suicide among agricultural, fishery, forestry and hunting workers in Italy and the contribution of work-related factors

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