Occupational exposure to pesticides, nicotine and minor psychiatric disorders among tobacco farmers in southern Brazil

Abstract

The study reinforces the evidence of the association between pesticide poisoning and mental health disorders. It also points to increased risk of MPD from low socioeconomic status, dermal pesticide exposure as well as from exposure to organophosphates. Furthermore, the study reveals intense nicotine exposure as a risk for tobacco farmers' mental health.

Exposure to pesticides and mental disorders in a rural population of Southern Brazil

“…Several studies have suggested that pesticide exposure, such as organochlorine, organophosphate, pyrethroid, is a risk factor for the development of mental disorders, in particular depression (Stallones and Beseler, 2002;Beseler et al, 2006Beard et al, 2013;Weisskopf et al, 2013;Faria et al, 2014). However, the results from these studies have been inconsistent, especially concerning the effects of chronic exposure to low doses (Freire and Koifman, 2013), while the association with acute poisoning events has been more apparent (Faria et al 1999).…”

Sistema integrado de produção do tabaco: saúde, trabalho e condições de vida de trabalhadores rurais no Sul do Brasil

“…Em estudo de prevalência de distúrbios psiquiátricos menores (DPM) entre agricultores do tabaco, Faria et al 23 inferiram a existência de associação entre DPM e intoxicações por agrotóxicos, uso de organofosforados e ocorrência da DFVT. A aplicação do teste SRQ-20 revelou que a prevalência de DPM foi de 12%, sendo as mulheres mais acometidas.…”

Planejamento familiar: uma base de dados Family planning: a database

“…13 It is characterized by intensive use of pesticides and a large number of workers are directly exposed to these chemicals during cultivation of tobacco. 10 In Brazil, according to estimate of the Association of Tobacco Growers in Brazil (AFUBRA), during the 201415 harvest, tobacco farming involved 168,530 families in 14 of the 26 federate states. 14 In recent years, the amount of pesticides used in the tobacco production has been reduced in Brazil.…”

“…13 In a study in São Lourenço do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, 7% of growers reported that they had had at least one episode of pesticide poisoning in their lives, moreover, it found a linear association between the number of poisoning by pesticides and minor psychiatric disorders. 10 Studies with tobacco growers have pointed out a greater risk of developing neurobehavioral alterations that could develop into cases of depression and suicide among the group associated with the use of pesticides. 15,19-20-21 In addition, other Brazilian studies [22][23] identified association between exposure to pesticides and psychiatric problems.…”