Behavioral observation used to estimate pesticide exposure for farm workers in Brazil.

Abstract

Assessment of the harm caused by exposure to pesticides requires that a measure of exposure be available. While such information is available without difficulty in controlled laboratory studies, estimating the exposure of humans who have been exposed in the real world is difficult. The difficulty is increased if exposures have taken place over an extended time period and the documentation of specifics is unavailable. Three methods of exposure assessment have previously been used: comparison of exposed and nonexposed groups, estimation of exposures through self-report of the individuals, and estimation of exposure through assessment of biomarkers or environmental levels. Each approach imposes limitations. We propose an additional approach -estimation of the degree of exposure for individuals through direct observation of their behavior and their use of personal protective equipment (PPE) during periods of exposure. We also obtain opinions from experts regarding the risk associated with the various behaviors and PPE use and combine these with the observations to create a personal risk index for each individual. By including information on chemicals in use during this period, we can characterize recent (observed) exposure for that individual. By these steps, the degree of risk may be determined for recent (observed) exposure. An estimate of long-term risk resulting from workrelated exposures can be obtained for individuals by summing across their work histories.

The Health Impacts of Hazardous Chemical Exposures among Child Labourers in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

“…For example, children as young as five may be able to provide self-reports of pain, though only older children can understand concepts such as self-esteem [105]. Self-reports could also be validated by adding an OSH observational component to studies, with OSH researchers following child labourers at work to record chemical exposures observed, using standardized assessment forms and procedures [107].…”

Migrant Agricultural Workers and Their Socio‐Economic, Occupational and Health Conditions – A Literature Review

“…This definition was selected to specify the scope of our study. A systematic search was carried out on LibHub (Lund University's library tool for searching books, e--books, journals and dissertations) and Google Scholar in order to compile the existing peer--reviewed publications, research reports, and published papers concerning migrant work in Reflecting this global trend, the results of our literature review indicate that the exposure to pesticides among farmworkers, including migrants, and its implications for health issues, is probably the most researched area within agricultural occupational health (52,53,57,74,79,80,81).…”

O monitoramento comportamental como medida de exposição ocupacional e ambiental de agentes tóxicos

“…Esse alinhamento deve considerar ainda as situações de exposições ambiental, quer sejam agudas em altas doses, ou crônicas em baixas doses. Nesse sentido, Eckerman et al 5 descrevem quatro abordagens utilizadas em estudos observacionais para estimar a exposição humana a agentes tóxicos: (a) comparações de grupos; (b) caracterização da exposição individual por meio de autorrelatos ou registros de arquivos; (c) avaliação biológica ou ambiental de exposição e (d) observação direta e repetida do comportamento. A última dessas quatro alternativas talvez seja a mais recente e controversa.…”

“…Pois poderia o comportamento, em sua complexidade neurológica e psicológica, ser uma medida (síntese funcional) dos sistemas fisiológicos? O que se busca defender e exemplificar neste texto é que a observação direta e o registro de comportamentos previamente determinados, são uma alternativa que permite estimar o grau de exposição ambiental a toxicantes, com moderado a alto grau de confiabilidade 5 . Embora a observação direta e repetida do comportamento possa apresentar vantagens frente às demais abordagens epidemiológicas (por exemplo a identificação precoce do efeito de toxicantes sobre o organismo), também possuiu limitações (como os resultados de testes que dependem do esforço do indivíduo testado), o que levanta novamente a questão do alinhamento desse delineamento frente aos objetivos e condições da investigação.…”